HRC and Boko Haram

CONSERVATIVE ATTACK THE RNC ATTACKED SECRETARY CLINTON FOR DECLINING TO DESIGNATE BOKO HARAM AS A FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION DURING HER TENURE RNC: “As Head Of State, Clinton Could Have Boxed In Terrorist Group Boko Haram Before They Unleashed Their ‘Chilling Brutality’ On The Region.” [RNC, 4/9/15] RNC: “According To A Report In The Daily Beast, Clinton's State Department ‘Fought Hard’ Against Putting Boko Haram On The Foreign Terrorist Organization List, Which Officials Now Say ‘May Have Hampered’ The Ability To Confront The Group.” [RNC, 4/9/15] RNC On Terrorist Designation Of Boko Haram: “As One Former U.S. Senior Official Said, ‘The One Thing [Clinton] Could Have Done, The One Tool She Had At Her Disposal, She Didn't Use. And Nobody Can Say She Wasn't Urged To Do It. It's Gross Hypocrisy.’” [RNC, 4/9/15] CLINTON DEFENSE MORE THAN TWENTY AFRICAN STUDIES SCHOLARS WROTE TO SECRETARY CLINTON IN MAY 2012 AND URGED THE STATE DEPARTMENT NOT TO DESIGNATE BOKO HARAM AS A FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION… African Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “As Scholars With A Special Interest In Nigeria And Broad Expertise On African Politics, We Are Writing To Urge That You Not Designate Boko Haram A Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).” [Letter To Secretary Clinton, Carl Levan, 5/21/12] …CLAIMING THAT SUCH A DESIGNATION WOULD EMBOLDEN BOKO HARAM AND LIMIT THE TOOLS THE STATE DEPARTMENT COULD USE AGAINST THEM African Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “An FTO Designation Would Internationalize Boko Haram, Legitimize Abuses By Nigeria’s Security Services, Limit The State Department’s Latitude In Shaping A Long Term Strategy.” “We are acutely aware of the horrific violence perpetrated by Boko Haram, including attacks on both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, whether government officials or civilian targets. We share your concerns about the impact of extremist violence on Nigeria’s democratic progress and security in general. However an FTO designation would internationalize Boko Haram, legitimize abuses by Nigeria’s security services, limit the State Department’s latitude in shaping a long term strategy, and undermine the U.S. Government’s ability to receive effective independent analysis from the region.” [Letter To Secretary Clinton, Carl Levan, 5/21/12] African Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “An FTO Designation Would…Undermine The U.S. Government’s Ability To Receive Effective Independent Analysis From The Region.” [Letter To Secretary Clinton, Carl Levan, 5/21/12] African Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “An FTO Designation Would Potentially Shift [Boko Haram’s] Posture Towards The US And…Undermine The Nigerian Government’s Ability To Address The Problem Through Law Enforcement And Thereby Improve Rule Of Law.” “An FTO designation would internationalize Boko Haram’s standing and enhance its status among radical organizations elsewhere. Boko Haram’s recent tactics, including the use of suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices, raise questions about their foreign links. The network’s focus has been overwhelmingly domestic, despite an August 2011 attack on the United Nations office in Abuja. Rhetorically, some of Boko Haram’s critique of northern underdevelopment and elite corruption is within the realm of mainstream political discourse. But there are clear indications that their tactics and targets have turned most Nigerians against them, including local populations in the north. An FTO designation would potentially shift the organization’s posture towards the US and validate the more radical factions’