Congressman Alan Grayson caught in Niger coup

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) – Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Florida, narrowly escaped harm earlier this week after being caught up in a military coup in the African country of Niger.

Grayson's press secretary, Todd Jurkowski, confirmed to CNN that Grayson was close to the action. "He heard the gunshots. They were literally in the building next door."

SNIP

Grayson has since traveled to the neighboring country of Burkina Faso, and is scheduled to return to the United States Friday evening.


Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/19/grayson-caught-in-niger-coup/?fbid=0CG8YjNcju2

up to their usual dirty scaming of Americans trying to get Rep Grayson involved..glad Alan Grayson got out of the danger that he was in in Africa!

I don't blame the OP..gotta follow rules.:)

as for real journalism? Gone, but not forgotten.

I hate losing the good ones.

"The outspoken congressman was in Niger as part of a congressional delegation focued on science, technology and humanitarian relief, according to Jurkowski. "

for any congressperson to be in Niger...it's a word that starts with "U" and ends with "ranium".

It's not like he is representing his constituents from Niger.

Good of you to assume Grayson is lying about his purpose, though.

I love Alan but...

these guys need to STAY HERE. Stop spending my dollars on these junkets.

Besides, it lends itself to all sorts of speculation as to what they're up to.

Now, a trip to Italy, France, the UK, etc might be a junket, but not to countries in crisis where the Congress has oversight responsibilities. (though he does not seem to be on the committees that one would epect for oversight here - http://grayson.house.gov/Biography/Committees.htm )

learn more about dismantling nuclear installations and the problems of loose nukes and terrorism?

in his name, if only he would provide them his banking information.

He was trying to find out what happened to all of his money.

The African Union joined France, the former colonial power, yesterday in condemning a coup in Niger, after soldiers stormed a Cabinet meeting and detained President Tandja. However, the United States appeared to give the move, in the world’s third-largest producer of uranium, its approval.

The Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy seized power under Salou Djibo, an officer trained in Ivory Coast, Morocco and China who has served in UN peacekeeping missions, after Mr Tandja tried to change the constitution to extend his rule. The US suggested that Mr Tandja had only himself to blame after failing to compromise over the constitution.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article7034403.ece


Coup leader sounds like the typical death squad mercenary.

has served two five year terms, the maximum under the previous constitution. Since the constitution he was elected under didn't allow the provision on presidential term limits to be changed, Tandja decided to write a new constitution. Parliament balked, so he dissolved it and assumed emergency powers which would allow him to rule by decree. The constitutional court issued an advisory opinion that Tandja's plans for a new constitution couldn't go forward without the input of parliament, and they made the ruling binding. Tandja demanded they reconsider and when the court ruled against him for the third time, he dissolved the constitutional court and appointed a new one.

He then went forward with his referendum in the face of national demonstrations. Not surprisingly, the referendum passed.

So parliament stood in his way, so he dissolved it. The constitutional court stood in his way, so he dissolved it too. You can say what you want about military coup d'etat but Tandja was asking for it.

Q3JR4
Interested in how Democratic regimes can be subverted and has way too much time on his hands.

That sounds way too close for comfort.

I wonder if he got out with any yellowcake?

and it was delicious

<grin>

so moist

Obviously behind on my geography.

Name change was 25 years ago, at a guess.

Hope he stays safe.

But I guess editors know how to drive interest in stories.

And, given Don Siegelman's situation, I don't think the admin is going to be much help.