The Maravi Post

To avoid monotony, The Wise One has something different this week. He takes you around the world of politics and lies with, of course, a touch of humour 

Moscow bans Polish Meat:

Russia engaged in a game of political football with the Polish government in 2006. The crisis centred around the ban on imported meat from Poland.

Moscow claimed the meat was not properly certified. Russia warned members of the European Union that Poland wasn’t abiding by certified practices.

The truth of it was that: it was all politics and lies.

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The US Presidential Campaign of 1990:

That political campaign was full of charges and counter charges related to lies and dishonesty. Clinton charged Bush with lying and said that he looked like Pinocchio. Statements were made that Bush was trying to clinch the election with intentional lies.

Bush's press secretary replied that Clinton was playing politics and made remarks about Clinton's disregard for honesty. Al Gore compared the Bush campaign to a "big lie" technique.

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George Bush, like father, like son

A skill for telling lies is shared equally by the senior and junior Bush.

The junior told the famous lie in 2003 when he said that, "We have discovered weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."

The US Army made advances in the Middle East and found nothing.

In 1988, the senior Bush made the now infamous statement, "Read my lips. No new taxes."   

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Joseph Stalin:

In 1941, Germany broke the non-aggression pact that it had signed with Russia. Russia then entered the war on the side of the Allies. In a meeting with other Allied members, Stalin promised not to interfere in the affairs of other nations.

He was lying.

He installed communist governments in most of the countries in Eastern Europe. These countries fell behind what became known as the "Iron Curtain".

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Bill Clinton:

Bill Clinton, the American 42nd President, told a lie under oath regarding his alleged connection with Monica Lewinsky. He was the second president in US history to be impeached by the House of Representatives.
Accused of a sexual indiscretion, Clinton had replied, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."   

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Richard Nixon:

Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, lied about his efforts to cover up his misdeeds regarding the Watergate scandal. The truth was disclosed and he ultimately had to resign to avoid impeachment. 
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Jimmy Carter:

Another US president, Jimmy Carter, was holding a press conference in 1980, in which he stated he would not use military action to free the hostages being held in the US Embassy in Tehran, Iran.

The truth was that a military option was being planned at that very time.

Jimmy Carter can claim solace from the words of Sir Winston Churchill, who noted that in wartime the truth must be preserved with a bodyguard of lies.
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Neville Chamberlain 1938:

British Prime Chamberlain met with German Chancellor Hitler to find a diplomatic way to avoid war. Adolf Hitler assured Chamberlain that war could be avoided if Czechoslovakia would agree to redraw its border.

Chamberlain agreed and announced to the British Parliament that Hitler, "Means what he says."

Hitler took the opposite action. It is one of humanity's most shocking lies.
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Dr. Ken Lipenga: MRA Revenue not bloated!

Challenged by Hon George Nnesa that the Mid-Term Zero Deficit Budget Review had been sexed up to paint the failed experiment a success, Ken Lipenga passionately stood by what he had submitted.

He was lying.

Has Ken been absolved by the words of Sir Winston Churchill: that in wartime the truth must be preserved with a bodyguard of lies? The point is, life during the zero deficit budget regime, was as good (or as bad) as living in war time! Malawi was practically a war zone.

Rest in peace July 20 Martyrs, we salute you. For the tribute, click here