1. Focus on the "Zoom Coup Group" has duly focused on the western diplomats. Understandable. To this Muchly Much Caffeinated Fitawrrari Wonqette though, what has been valuable is understanding how #TPLF talks to its (let's face it) mainly democratic supporters. Let's refocus.
2. The talking points TPLF uses are the same ones it has hammered for 27yrs & has become the guiding principle at @nytimes, @USAID and every bleeding-heart HR/NGO. What my Zemene Wonqette Colleague called "warrior/victim" mentality. It is clearly on display here. Take notes.
3. These TPs can be found within the 1st 25 minutes of the video, courtesy of @jeffpropulsion. And yes, this is how @PowerUSAID conducts her team meetings. The diplomats here might be old guard, but this sympathy for #TPLF is driving policy TODAY.
https://twitter.com/jeffpropulsion/status/1463540192145555462.
4. Some have dismissed the video as "ramblings of former diplomats" and that it has no bearing on the current position of the Biden admin. Mistake. State is a very tight fraternity/sorority/cult. Like lazy journalists, the cut-n-paste culture very much guides policy.
5. If you don't think @vickihuddleston is still connected to Biden admin network, I have a bridge in Tekeze to sell you. Especially true when it comes to Africa- that troubled adopted child of every woke liberal who just wants to fix the damn place but “Africans won't us!”
6. @GayleSmith traveled w/ @SecBlinken to Africa; @PowerUSAID is, check this, heading @USAID and runs in the @AmbRice46 circles. So Clinton>Obama>Biden is recycling the same people. The gene pool needs chlorine,is what I am saying. So yes. As tertiary as it seems, its connected.
7. @StateDept acknowledging @PMEthiopia is duly elected & #TPLF is newly-yucky is legit sus timing. Could have been defining moment in June. But that would have been brave. It's @SenateDems who're using AGOA as a silly stick, @SenatorMenendez unilaterally declaring genocide.
8. What's clear is that the @TheDemocrats are way into #TPLF- tacit/implicit. Not the US en toto. It is a big distinction to make and one that might be getting diluted. As Americans who vote, and who need to vote as a block, we need to bring back into focus who needs to not lead.
9. Interesting that #TPLF leader mentions “meetings that you have every week or every two weeks.” Note- @eisaac5 is conducting these under the guise of "peace." Group sat through a presentation on militarily ousting a seated govt. If irony is not dead, it is in PVS after this.
10. So it would be interesting to find out who the other special speakers have been in these weekly-ish meetings and what "peace" initiatives were discussed. And who Stefan Gomperts' "friend from Addis" was who could not join this call. So much to unpack there, btw.
11. #TPLF showed its hand and it's a pretty weak one. To argue that it's 27-year terror was, haha, a model of federalism that upheld tenants of a "decentralized" power, vs Abiy who just wants to be erribaddi's King-- no, irony is most definitely dead.
12. #TPLF's narrative that it just had 9k "police" and this is the greatest military ascendancy that's ever happened in the history of wars... while FIGHTING FIVE STATES, people! (One of those states being the Amhara, because damn straight.) Potent pull for groupie @declanwalsh.
13. So @DNC, @SecBlinken have a problem: their party has had a LONG flirtatious relationship with the #TPLF, whose clownish lobbying group @batten_von has provided ample evidence for. From a diaspora POV, this is the rallying cry. @SenateDems need to lose the midterm elections.
14. And what this video (and maybe subsequent videos) shows is just how entrenched the narrative is (these are Clinton/Obama people). Ds are slow to realize they are turning massive and organized diaspora permanently in #DemExit trajectory. You break it, you own it, @POTUS.
15. So not so much "US Out of Ethiopia" as "Democrats out of Ethiopia." Abiy knows US can be a powerful partner. But he is turning the table to dictate WHICH US he wants to deal with. Diaspora finally has the power to help. Make space for workhorses.
https://twitter.com/PMEthiopia/status/1463842363604938758?s=20
15. So, as Princess @BilleneSeyoum put it, everything else is noise. Hearts up. Heads down and plan for a post-TPLF life that is led by technocrats. Let Democrats work for us. And enough begging. What are our terms? /end
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