VIETNAM WAR VITA AMBAYO MAREKANI ILISHINDWA VIBAYA

Vita maarufu ya Vietnam ni moja ya vita katika historia ya Marekani ambazo taifa kubwa na lenye nguvu duniani lililazimika kuondoka uwanja wa mapambano baada ya kushindwa vibaya.
Vita hii ilipiganwa kuanzia mwaka 1955 mpaka 1975, na ilipiganwa maeneo ya Vietnam kwenyewe, Laos na Cambodia.

Kwa juu juu ilikuwa ni vita iliyopiganwa kati ya Vietnam Kaskazini na Vietnam Kusini lakini nyuma ya pazia ilikuwa ni vita ya kijasusi kati ya wababe wa dunia wa wakati huo yaani Marekani na Urusi ya Kisovieti(proxy war), huku kila mbabe akitaka kupandikiza itikadi yake kwa upande huo, Marekani akitaka Ubepari utawale na Mrusi akitaka Ukomunisti utawale.

Vietnam ya Kaskazini ilisapotiwa na Urusi ya wakati huo(USSR), China na nchi nyingine za Kikomunisti huku Vietnam ya Kusini ikisapotiwa na Marekani, Korea Kusini, Australia, Thailand na nchi nyingine zilizokuwa zikipinga Ukomunisti.

Wakati vuguvugu la vita limeanza kukolea mwaka 1950 Marekani ilituma kikosi cha majasusi wake nchini Vietnam wakati huo ikiwa Koloni la Mfaransa ikijulikana kama French IndoChina kwa ajili ya mafunzo, udukuzi na kukusanya taarifa za kijasusi kabla ya kuanza mashambulizi mazito, lengo likiwa kutoa mafunzo ya kijeshi na kijasusi kwa askari wa Vietnam ya Kusini na kuviandaa vikosi vyake kwa ajili ya mapigano ya kukata na shoka.

Ilipofika mwaka 1961 wakati vita imekolea Marekani kwa kutumia taarifa za kijasusi ilizokusanya ilipeleka kikosi maalumu cha makomando wa Jeshi la Anga maarufu kama Green Berets kwa kazi kuu ya kufanya operations za kimya kimya za anga ili kulidhoofisha jeshi la Vietnam Kaskazini.
Kikosi hiki kiliungana baadaye na kikosi cha makomando wa anga waliojulikana kama ECO 31 na US Marines.

Hata hivyo kutokana na udhaifu wa taarifa za kijasusi vikosi hivi havikufanikiwa sana hali iliyopelekea kuvunjwa na kuundwa kikosi maalumu kingine mwaka 1962 kilichoitwa U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) kilichokuwa chini ya Idara ya Usalama ya Marekani.

Pamoja na uwezo mkubwa wa Marekani kimafunzo na kisilaha lakini kulikuwa na udhaifu mkubwa wa idara za kijasusi hali iliyopelekea Idara nyeti za usalama za Marekani
ikiwemo C.I.A kushindwa kutoa makadirio hasa ya kijeshi juu ya uzito wa Vita ile.

Kutokana na nature ya nchi za Kikomunisti kuendeshwa kwa uzalendo uliotukuka, Marekani alishindwa kukusanya taarifa za msingi za kivita kwa kutumia ujasusi wa kitaaluma, badala yake alitegemea zaidi kuwahoji askari wa adui waliokamatwa na kuteswa.

Vietnam Kaskazini kwa kusaidiwa na Majasusi wa Russia aliweza "kuwauzia taarifa feki" majasusi wa Kimarekani, na Marekani ikaingia mkenge kwa ku-underestimate uwezo wa Vietnam Kaskazini katika ulingo wa vita, kifupi taarifa za Kijasusi zilizopelekwa Washington na washirika wake zilikuwa tofauti kabisa na kilichokuwa uwanja wa mapambano.

Kwa mfano Majasusi wa Marekani walishindwa kujua Formation ya Vita(Battle Formation) waliyokuwa wanatumia Wavietnam.
Wavietnam wakiwa chini ya Majasusi wao wa VCSS waliweza kuunda vikosi vinne ya kimapambano vilivyopambana kwa wakati mmoja huku makamanda na wale wapiganaji mahiri wa kikosi kimoja wakibadilishana na wa Kikosi kingine huku mapambano yakiendelea.

Kwamba unaweza kumuona leo kamanda fulani anapigana eneo A na kikosi chake akitumia mbinu fulani za msituni, mara baada ya siku tatu unashangaa imefanyika substitution kama ya kwenye mpira kaingia kamanda mpya na mbinu mpya kwa kutumia kikosi kile kile au akaleta wapiganaji wapya kabisa, huku yule wa eneo A akipelekwa eneo B na akabadili pia mbinu za kimapambano.

Hali hii ilidumu kwa miaka 11 mfululizo mpaka mwaka 1966 Marekani ilipostukia mchezo huu wa kubadilishana makamanda na wapiganaji waliyokuwa wakitumia wa Vietnam, na ikapelekea idara za Kijasusi za Marekani husasani C.I.A na N.A.S.A kutuma upya majasusi maalumu wa kukusanya intelijensia nyingine mpya mwaka 1967.

Lakini pia Majasusi wa Marekani walishindwa kujua uwezo wao majasusi wa Kivietnam kujipenyeza kwenye kambi ya adui(Inflitration Capabilities) waliokuwa nao Wa Vietnam.
Inasadikika wengi wa askari wa Kivetman ya Kusini waliokula mafunzo na mbinu za Kivita kutoka Marekani na washirika wake mwanzoni kabisa mwa vuguvugu la kivita walikuwa wa Vietnam ya Kaskazini.
Kifupi Vikosi vya Marekani viliwapa mafunzo ya kijeshi adui zao na wakauziwa Intelijensi ya uongo.

Kubwa kuliko Yote Marekani na washirika wake hawakujua hasa Vietnam ana askari wangapi walio mstari wa mbele kwenye mapambano na wale wa akiba, iwapo wa mstari wa mbele
wakilemewa, hali hii ilisababishwa na ukweli kuwa Vietnam Kaskazini ilikuwa inafuata itikadi za Kikomunisti, kila mtu alikuwa askari wa kuilinda nchi yake.

Hata kama ungefanya shambulizi ukaua askari 1000 leo, kesho watakuja wengine wapya 1000 walio na morale ya kupambana mpaka kufa kama wale wa kwanza.
Mwanzoni hili Wamarekani hawakulijua ila kadri mapigano yalivyopamba moto, askari wengi wa Marekani na Washirika wao walianza kuogopa kwenda mstari wa mbele hasa baada ya kugundua wanapambana na askari wengi wasioisha waliokuwa tayari kufa kwa ajili ya nchi yao.

Baada ya Ripoti ya Kikosi kipya kilichoundwa na C.I.A kuja na taarifa zao za kijasusi walizokusanya uwanja wa mapambano, mwishoni mwa mwaka 1967 walikuja kupata taarifa
za kustua sana kuwa Vietnam nao walikuwa na Shirika lao la Kijasusi lenye nguvu kubwa na lililokuwa limebobea katika tasnia ya Ujasusi lililokuwa linapewa mafunzo ya Kijasusi toka KGB Na China, Shirika hili liliojulikana kama Viet Cong Security Service (VCSS).

Mwanzoni taarifa za Kijasusi walizozipata Wamarekani zilikuwa feki kuwa VCSS walikuwa kikosi maalum tu cha wapambanaji walio na silaha dhaifu na si majasusi.

VCSS walikuwa wababe wa mapigano ya msituni na guilera war huku wakiwa na maajenti wengi zaidi ya 100,000.

Walikuwa mabingwa wa vita vya kuviziana huku askari wachache wakijificha na kufanya ambush za kijeshi dhidi ya askari wa adui zao, wakati mwingine walivaa nguo za Kiraia na kuingia mtaani na kuishi maisha ya kawaiada kabisa huku wakipanga mikakati yao ya mashambulizi ya kuvizia.

Ilikuwa ni ngumu sana kujua yupi ni raia yupi ni askari, hali hii iliwatia hofu mno askari wa Kimarekani na washirika wao waliokuwa mstari wa mbele wa mapambano, wengi wa waliokuwa wakidhani ni raia wa kawaida walikuwa ni maajenti wa VCSS.

Kutokana na usiri mkubwa na umakini wa hali ya juu wa VCSS ilikuwa ni ngumu kwa Marekani kupata intelijensia kutoka vyanzo vya kuaminika, taarifa nyingi zilizokusanywa zilikuwa kupitia kukamata na kutesa askari wa adui waliokamatwa uwanja wa mapambano ambao wengi walikuwa ni askari wa vyeo vya chini au raia waliojitolea kupigana waliopewa mafunzo ya muda mfupi kwa ajili ya kupambana.
Wengi wao walikuwa na taarifa za kupikwa walizopewa makusudi kwa ajili ya kupotosha iwapo wangekamatwa.

Moja ya mbinu iliyowashusha morale askari wa kimarekani uwanja wa vita ni hit-and-run technique waliyotumia Wavietnam, Marekani alitegemea sana jeshi la anga na vikosi maalumu kupambana huku wakiwa na silaha nzito nzito za kubeba kwa magari.
Wavietnam walichimba mahandaki njiani kuzuia magari ya silaha na mizinga kupita msituni,
wali-block njia za kupitishia silaha za adui kwa kuangusha miti mikubwa kabla ya kufanya ambush, walitengeneza kambi za feki za kijeshi msituni na kila mbinu ya guilera war inayofahamika katika uwanja wa mapambano kubwa ikiwa kuviziana.

Mfano askari wa ki-Vietnam walivizia kambi ya adui na kufanya ambush ndani ya saa moja na kisha kila askari kutimuka njia yake kilomita kadhaa baada ya kufanya shambulio kabla ya kukukutana tena eneo fulani kwa ajili ya kupanga shambulio jingine, na endapo wakizidiwa katika ambush zao iliwabidi askari hao kuficha silaha kwenye mahandaki na kisha kujichanganya na raia mtaani.

Nyingi ya kambi za kupambana za Kivietnam hazikuwa zile zilizoonekana, nyingi zilikuwa chini ya mahandaki, madege ya kimarekani yaliposhambulia kambi kwa makombora yao, nyingi ya kambi hizo zilikuwa ni feki, zilizojengwa maalumu kwa ajili ya kum-distract adui, huku silaha nzito kutoka Urusi na China zikifichwa chini ya mahandaki makubwa.

Wamarekani na Vikosi vyao walitumia teknolojia kupambana, huku wakitumia madege ya B-52, mizinga mikubwa, helkopta, kemikali za kupukutisha majani kwenye miti maarufu kama defoliants, lakini zote hazifua dafu.

Baada ya makamanda wa vikosi vya Marekani kuona mbinu na silaha zao hazifanikiwi wakaamua kuwahamisha raia wote ambao wengi walikuwa wakulima wadogo wadogo kutoka maeneo ambayo maajenti wa VCSS walikuwa wanayamiliki kwenda sehemu salama ambazo zilikuwa chini ya ulinzi wao, hali hii ilizaa tatizo jingine pia kwani maajenti wengi wa VCSS walijifanya raia wakajipenyeza na kuingia maeneo yaliyokuwa hayana mapigano yaliyokuwa chini ya umiliki wa Vikosi vya Wamarekani na kuanza operations upya kwenye maeneo ambayo yalikuwa
chini ya umiliki wa adui zao.

Hili lilipelekea mashambulizi ya kuviziana kuongezeka kwenye maeneo mbayo Wamarekani walikuwa wanayashikilia, patrol zao zilivamiwa na askari kupokonywa silaha hali iliyopelekea morale ya askari kushuka sana, ikabidi Askari wa Kimarekani waandae ndege standby kwa ajili ya kutoa msaada muda wowote patrol zao zitakapostambuliwa,
lakini bado haikusaidia kitu kwani wengi wa askari wa patrol hawakutaka kabisa kuingia maeneo ya ndani ndani walipita njia kuu na maeneo ya wazi kuogopa mashambulizi ya kushtukiza ambayo Shirika la Kijasusi la VCSS lilikuwa limesambaza maajenti zaidi ya 100,000.

Kutokana na ripoti za Kijasusi kuvuja nchini Marekani kuwa probability ya kuuwawa kwa askari wao walio vitani nchini Vietnam kuwa ni zaidi ya 20% na kuwa askari waliokuwa mapiganoni wengi walikuwa wanaogopa gorilla war iliyokuwa ikiendeshwa na Wavietnam, ripoti za siri za kijasusi zinasema C.I.A kwa kutumia mbinu za kijasusi waliandaa exit strategy ambayo ilikuwa ni
kuhamasisha maandamano na propaganda ya kile kilichoitwa vuguvugu la wananchi wa Marekani kupinga nchi yao kujiingiza katika vita ya Vietnam.

Hatimaye Marekani kwa kisingizio cha maandamano ya wananchi kupinga nchi yao kujiingiza Vietnam mwaka 1973 waliondoa vikosi vyao na kuikabidhi Vietnam Kusini jukumu la kuendelea na mapambano dhidi ya Kaskazini.

Vietnam ya Kaskazini iliendesha mapigano kwa miaka miwili mfululizo na hatimaye mwaka 1975 ikaukamata mji mashuhuri sana wa Saigon uliokuwa unamilikiwa na Vietnam Kusini na mwaka mmoja baadaye Kusini na Kaskazini zikaungana na kutengeneza nchi moja ya Jamhuri ya watu wa Vietnam.

Inakadiriwa kuwa vita hiyo iligharimu maisha ya WaVietnam kati ya 966,000 mpaka Milioni 3.8 Wakambodia kati ya 240,000–300,000, Walaotia kati ya 20,000–62,000 na Wamarekani zaidi ya 58,220 huku Wamarekani zaidi ya 1,626 wakipotea na hawakujulikana walipo mpaka leo

Mwisho

MJUE JASUSI(intelejinsia) PAUL KAGAME SIMBA WA VITA.
(Aliyeiweka Uganda Kiganjani Mwake).

Unaposikia jina Paul Kagame kama mwana diplomasia mbobezi lazima ushtuke, Huyu jamaa ni mtu hatari sana katika uwanja wa vita. Ni moja ya majasusi wachache wanao ingia mapambanoni wenyewe bila kuangalia vyeo vyao.
Ikumbukwe kwamba Paul Kagame alikuwa na ushawishi mkubwa kwenye jeshi la Uganda kutokana na umahiri wake wa intelejinsia. Kwann ipo hivi? Kagame ndie aliyeshiriki kumuondoa Idd Amin na ndie aliyeshiriki Kumuweka madarakani Museveni na pia ndie aliyeshiriki kuliasisi na kuliunda jeshi la Uganda Kwa hiyo yeye ndo alkuwa anawashauri nani anafaa kuwa Rais au hafai. Haya sasa twende.

Baada ya vita ya Kagera, Tanzania wakamsimika Yusuf Lule kuwa Rais wa nchi ya Uganda. Kina Museveni wakaanzisha chombo chao cha kijeshi National Consultative Commission(NCC) hiki chombo ndo walikifanya kuwa na maamuzi ya mwisho ya nchi. Miezi miwili tu baada ya Tanzania kumsimika Yusufu Lule kuwa Rais kukatokea mvutano kati yake na NCC. NCC ya kina Museveni waliona Rais anavuka mipaka yake huku Rais Lule hatak nch iongozwe kijeshi.

Hatimaye june 10 1979 Kwa ushawishi wa Museveni kiongozi wa NCC wakamuondoa Lule na kumuweka Godfrey Binaisa kuwa Rais wa nchi. Kimsingi Binaisa alikuwa km kikaragosi tu lakini maamuzi yote ya nchi yanatoka kwa NCC. Lakini Binaisa utamu wa Urais ulimkolea akavimba kichwa akamfukuza manadhimu mkuu wa jeshi Ojok baada ya kuhisi atapinduliwa. Kitendo hiki kiliwaumiza sana NCC na wakamuondoa Godfrey Binaisa na kuunda tume maalum iliyoitwa Presidential commission iliyofanya kazi kuongoza nchi baadala ya Rais.

Baada ya migogoro mingi hapo ndipo umahiri wa Kagame ukaonekana kwa mara nyingine tena baada ya ule wa Kagame aliyeshiriki kumuondoa Dikteta Idd Amin Dada. Maana Kagame aliona Vita ya Panzi furaha kwa kunguru. Pia kumbuka yote yanatokea bado Kagame alkuwa na ushauri mkubwa wa kijeshi Uganda kutokana na umahiri wake wa kiintelejinsia.

Milton Obote baada ya kushinda Urais 1980 kina Museveni hawakufurahia ushindi wake, ndipo Yoweri Museveni na Paul kagame Wakajitenga NCC na UNLA japokuwa walikuwa na ushawishi mkubwa juu ya vyombo hivyo. Ndipo Yoweri Museveni, Paul Kagame, Fred Rwigyema na waganda wengine 37 walianzisha chombo chao cha kijeshi kilichoitwa National Resistance Army(NRA) ili wampindue Rais.

Kikundi hiki kilikimbilia msituni na kuanzisha mapigano makali kwa miaka sita dhidi ya majeshi ya serikali, pamoja na udogo wake(japo baadae waliongezeka arobaini wa awali) lakini kiliyachosha majeshi ya serikali kwa miaka sita. Miaka hii sita ya mapambano dhidi ya majeshi ya serikali yalidhihirisha unguli wa Paul Kagame nguli wa 'Physical Werfare' pia baadae ulidhihirika kweny mauaji ya kimbari, baada, nikipata uhai nitaelezea.

Kwa miaka yote ya vita Paul Kagame alikuwa kiungo muhimu sana na aliheshimika sana na wapiganaji wenzake kuliko hata Museveni mwenyewe. Nyadhifa zao NRA zilikaribia kwenye usawa mmoja.

Majeshi ya serikali yalikuwa na hali tete kupelekea askari wa miguu kuomba serikali isitishe mapigano maana walikuwa wanakufa wengi Lakini serikili ikanya ngumu kukakataa kusikiliza askari wake. Wanasema la kuvunda halina ubani. Desemba 1980 Mkuu wa majeshi ya Uganda jenerali Oyite Ojok alikufa kwa ajali ya ndege ambayo kuna kila dalili ya mkono wa Kagame.

Baada ya Jenerali kufariki aliyetegemewa sana na Rais Obote badala ya kumteua waliotegemewa Tito Okello au Bazilio Olara okello ambaye alishiriki kumuondoa Idd Amin hatimaye akamteua askari wa chini kabisa anayetoka nae kabila moja. Hali hii iliwauzi Jeshi la serikali na waganda Na ndipo miaka 2 baadae jeshi likampindua Milton Obote na jeshi kushika nchi na kuanzisha mapambano dhidi ya vikundi vya msituni kila kimoja kikitaka kuongoza nchi. Ndipo yalifanyija maongezi nchini Kenya baina ya vikundi vyote vya msituni na serikali chini ya Rais Daniel Arap Moi ili kuleta Suluhu na kuweka muelekeo mpya wa nchi ya Uganda.

29 januari 1986 Yoweri Kaguta Museveni akaapishws kuwa Rais mpya wa Uganda. Paul Kagame akateuliwa na Rais kuwa Chief Millitary Intelligence(Mkuu wa usalama wa Jeshi Uganda) na swahiba wake Fred Rwigyema kuwa waziri wa ulinzi. Kutokana na ushawishi wa kagame uganda ilipelekea baraza la mawaziri kujaa watusi kabila la kagame. Kwa maana nyingine twasema Kagame aliiweka Uganda kiganjani mwake japo hakuwa Rais. Mtandao mkubwa alioujenga ndani ya serikal ya Uganda, baraza la mawaziri na jeshi alikuwa na nguvu kumzidi Rais Yoweri Museveni. Uzuri ni kwamba Museveni aliujua umahiri wa kagame kijasusi na hakutaka mvutano nae maana alijua lengo lake lipi. Kagame hakuwa na nia ya Urais wa Uganda wala kuendelea kuliendesha jeshi la uganda. Bali alitaka kuwakomboa ndugu zake watusi waliokuwa wanateseka Rwanda.

Na sasa alikuwa amekamilika kila kitu. Alikuwa na uzoefu wa kutosha, alikuwa na weledi wa kutosha. Tunathubutu kusema kwamba kwa kipindi hiki hakuna ambaye aliyekuwa anaweza kufikia daraja la juu la umahiri wa Kagame katika masuala ya Ujasusi Afrika Mashariki na Kati. Pia alikuwa na ushawishi katika nchi za kimkakati zinazopakana na Rwanda kama Kongo aliwapeleka wapiganaji wa NRA kupata mafunzo ya Special Force kipindi cha mapigano cha miaka 6 msituni dhidi ya majeshi ya serikali Obote.

Pia alikuwa na ushawishi Tanzania(mtoto wetu tuliyemfunza wenyewe Ujasusi na alitusaidia sana kwenye vita ya Kagera).

Mbele yake alikuwa na jambo moja tu kabla ya kuondoka kwenye uso wa Dunia ni kuiweka Rwanda mikononi mwake.

NOTE: Mungu akinipa uhai nitawaletea Harakati za Kagame kuyamaliza mauaji ya Wahutu na watusi, kimbali hadi Kuwa Rais wa Rwanda.

Ahsante kwa Utiifu Wako.

Wale Whatsapp Yao imebanniwa tumia hii review:
Hello WhatsApp team, I hope you are doing well. This evening, my account was banned without any notification regarding the reason. If I have made any mistakes in following the guidelines, I sincerely apologize. This account is important to me and was being used by my child. I kindly ask for your forgiveness and assure you that it won’t happen again. I would greatly appreciate your assistance. Thank you!

Thank me later

Jamaa kaongea fact sana, ni vizuri sana kuweka distance kwa wake wa marafiki zetu..!!
Video ipo chini hapo.

Keep your distance from people who will never admit they are wrong and who always try to make you feel like it's your fault.
#memoryofjosephcharles

DID YOU KNOW?

There are live enzymes in honey.

When in contact with a metal spoon, these enzymes die.

The best way to eat honey is with wooden or plastic spoon.

Honey contains a substance that helps your brain work better.

Honey is one of the rare foods on earth that alone can sustain human life.

One teaspoon of honey is enough to sustain human life for 24 hours.

Propolis that bees produce, is one of the most powerful natural antibiotics

Honey has no expiration date.

The bodies of the great emperors of the world were buried in golden coffins and then covered with honey to prevent putrefaction.

The term "honeymoon" comes from the fact that newlyweds consumed honey for fertility after the wedding.

A bee lives less than 40 days, visits at least 1000 flowers and produces less than a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.

One of the first coins had a bee symbol on it.

Deep gratitude to the humble BEE!

#quotes#
#stance husler

EINSTEIN TURNED DOWN ISRAEL PRESIDENCY
》As a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and the creator of the world's most famous equation, Albert Einstein had an impressive resume. But there was one notable title he turned down: President of Israel.

Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann, said that Einstein was "the greatest Jew alive." So, upon Weizmann's death on November 9, 1952, only one successor seemed a natural fit.

As such, the Embassy of Israel sent a letter to Einstein on November 17, officially offering him the presidency.

The letter said he would have to move to Israel, but he wouldn't have to worry about the job being a distraction from his other interests. It was just the presidency, after all.

"The Prime Minister assures me that in such circumstances, complete facility and freedom to pursue your great scientific work would be afforded by a government and people who are fully conscious of the supreme significance of your labors," Abba Ebban, an Israeli diplomat, wrote.

And despite Einstein's age of 73 at the time, he would have been a popular choice. For one thing, as a German-born professor who found refuge in America during Hitler's rise to power, he had been a long-time advocate for the establishment of a persecution-free sanctuary for the Jews.

"Zionism springs from an even deeper motive than Jewish suffering," he is quoted as saying in a 1929 issue of the Manchester Guardian. "It is rooted in a Jewish spiritual tradition whose maintenance and development are for Jews the basis of their continued existence as a community."

Furthermore, Einstein's leadership in establishing the Hebrew University of Jerusalem suggested that he might be a willing candidate. Proponents thought his mathematics expertise would have been useful to the burgeoning state.

"He might even be able to work out the mathematics of our economy and make sense of it," one statistician said to TIME magazine.

However, Einstein turned the offer down, insisting that the man whose last name is synonymous with "genius" was not qualified. He also cited old age, inexperience, and insufficient people skills as reasons he wouldn't be a good choice. (Imagine someone turning down a presidency based on a lack of experience, old age, and an inability to deal properly with people.)

"All my life, I have dealt with objective matters. Hence I lack the natural aptitude and the experience to deal properly with people and to exercise official functions," he wrote.

Though resolute in his decision, Einstein hoped it wouldn't reflect badly on his relationship with the Jewish community, a connection he called his "strongest human bond."

DID YOU KNOW..??
IF NOT THEN NOW YOU KNOW..!!
PART 6

RAIN OF FISH
》Every year for the past 100 years or so, the little city of Yoro, Honduras, has experienced some very strange weather.

Typically occurring in May or June, "lluvia de peces" or "rain of fish" is an annual weather event in which hundreds of fish rain from the sky onto the city's streets in the wake of severe thunderstorms.

"Fish rain" or "animal rain," as the phenomenon is commonly known, has been reported around the world for centuries. But scientific explanations for why the phenomenon occurs are few and far between.

One hypothesis suggests that a fish rain such as lluvia de peces originates with waterspouts, which are tornadoes that move over water, sucking up small creatures living below the surface, usually fish and frogs, and depositing them elsewhere.

However, waterspouts are not known to carry their aquatic cargo at great distances; this doesn't help explain Yoro's fishy weather, because the fish that end up stranded there are not indigenous to local rivers or streams.

If the waterspout theory were correct, then Yoro's fish would have to come from the next-closest body of water, the Atlantic Ocean, that's about 125 miles (200 kilometers) away.

Local legend has it that the lluvia de peces event is actually a blessing bestowed upon the people of Yoro by Father Jose Manuel Subirana, a Spanish missionary who visited the area in the 1860s and prayed for the region's poor and hungry, asking God to provide them with food.

Perhaps the most likely theory to explain the lluvia de peces phenomenon is the one proposed by a team of National Geographic scientists, who witnessed this bizarre event while on assignment in Yoro in the 1970s.

After noting that the washed-up fish were completely blind, the scientists concluded that the Yoro fish don't actually fall from the sky. Instead, the heavy rains preceding their appearance probably force these subterranean fish above ground.

While this theory of the lluvia de peces makes the most sense, it's also the least romantic and is therefore largely ignored.

DID YOU KNOW..??
IF NOT THEN NOW YOU KNOW..!!
PART 4

EINSTEIN TURNED DOWN ISRAEL PRESIDENCY
》As a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and the creator of the world's most famous equation, Albert Einstein had an impressive resume. But there was one notable title he turned down: President of Israel.

Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann, said that Einstein was "the greatest Jew alive." So, upon Weizmann's death on November 9, 1952, only one successor seemed a natural fit.

As such, the Embassy of Israel sent a letter to Einstein on November 17, officially offering him the presidency.

The letter said he would have to move to Israel, but he wouldn't have to worry about the job being a distraction from his other interests. It was just the presidency, after all.

"The Prime Minister assures me that in such circumstances, complete facility and freedom to pursue your great scientific work would be afforded by a government and people who are fully conscious of the supreme significance of your labors," Abba Ebban, an Israeli diplomat, wrote.

And despite Einstein's age of 73 at the time, he would have been a popular choice. For one thing, as a German-born professor who found refuge in America during Hitler's rise to power, he had been a long-time advocate for the establishment of a persecution-free sanctuary for the Jews.

"Zionism springs from an even deeper motive than Jewish suffering," he is quoted as saying in a 1929 issue of the Manchester Guardian. "It is rooted in a Jewish spiritual tradition whose maintenance and development are for Jews the basis of their continued existence as a community."

Furthermore, Einstein's leadership in establishing the Hebrew University of Jerusalem suggested that he might be a willing candidate. Proponents thought his mathematics expertise would have been useful to the burgeoning state.

"He might even be able to work out the mathematics of our economy and make sense of it," one statistician said to TIME magazine.

However, Einstein turned the offer down, insisting that the man whose last name is synonymous with "genius" was not qualified. He also cited old age, inexperience, and insufficient people skills as reasons he wouldn't be a good choice. (Imagine someone turning down a presidency based on a lack of experience, old age, and an inability to deal properly with people.)

"All my life, I have dealt with objective matters. Hence I lack the natural aptitude and the experience to deal properly with people and to exercise official functions," he wrote.

Though resolute in his decision, Einstein hoped it wouldn't reflect badly on his relationship with the Jewish community, a connection he called his "strongest human bond."

"When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chödrön is a profound exploration of how to find peace and wisdom in the midst of life's difficulties.

Here are 10 key lessons from the book:

1. Acceptance of Impermanence: Chödrön teaches that all things are impermanent and subject to change. Learning to accept this fundamental truth can help us navigate life's ups and downs with greater ease.

2. Facing Fear and Uncertainty: Instead of avoiding or denying difficult emotions like fear and uncertainty, Chödrön encourages us to face them head-on. By embracing our discomfort, we can cultivate courage and resilience.

3. The Path of Fearlessness: Fearlessness doesn't mean the absence of fear; rather, it's the courage to act in spite of fear. Chödrön teaches that true fearlessness comes from facing our fears with an open heart and mind.

4. Groundlessness as a Path to Freedom: In times of crisis or upheaval, we may feel like the ground beneath us is crumbling. Chödrön suggests that embracing this groundlessness can lead to a sense of freedom and openness.

5. Compassion for Ourselves and Others: Developing compassion for ourselves and others is essential for navigating difficult times. Chödrön teaches that self-compassion is the foundation for genuine compassion towards others.

6. The Practice of Meditation: Meditation is a powerful tool for cultivating mindfulness and awareness. Chödrön emphasizes the importance of incorporating meditation into our daily lives as a means of finding inner peace and clarity.

7. Letting Go of Attachments: Attachment to outcomes, people, or circumstances can lead to suffering. Chödrön teaches that true freedom comes from letting go of our attachments and embracing the present moment as it is.

8. The Wisdom of No Escape: There is no escaping the inevitable challenges and difficulties of life. Chödrön encourages us to stop searching for an easy way out and instead embrace life's messiness with an open heart and mind.

9. Finding Refuge in the Present Moment: The present moment is the only moment we truly have. Chödrön teaches that finding refuge in the present moment can bring us peace and clarity, even in the midst of chaos.

10. The Path of Bodhisattva: Chödrön introduces the concept of the bodhisattva, someone who dedicates their life to alleviating the suffering of others. By walking the path of the bodhisattva, we can find meaning and purpose in our own suffering and use it as a catalyst for awakening compassion.

These lessons from "When Things Fall Apart" offer profound insights into how to find peace, wisdom, and compassion in the midst of life's challenges.