Silverback Cargo Freighters

[AAL]

Being an African I do not disagree with anybody’s opinion that Africa and the rest of the world should stop flying arms.

We all know the consequence of Mr Kalashnikov’s contribution to the welfare of Africa. Hopefully soon we can collect them all, melt them down, and with the same steel erect a statue overlooking Victoria Falls in memory of the suffering and destruction they have caused.

We must however at the same time shut down the Belgian FN factory in Tanzania so that we do not in so doing create a demand and market for their products in stead.

As we have now progressed this far, I think it still just necessary to acknowledge and realise that:

• Silverback was not started and funded by “certain Western Intelligence Agencies” as Stratocaster so flippantly wishes to make out. They are a small struggling company merely trying to make a living.
• They are perfectly entitled to provide logistical services to their Government as happens in any other country in the world, including yours.
• Their aircraft is not in the sorry state that some biased detractors have tried to make out, and that it was merely used as a tool by a former colonial master to get at the Rwandan Government.
• They have as a result been unfairly treated by the Belgian Authorities for reasons of political expedience.
• The SN Brussels A330 (sorry Stratocaster!) was in an equally alarming condition considering that it is supposed to be a first class passenger aircraft.
• Even-handedness should apply when dealing with such matters.
• The real culprits that have illegally infested Africa with arms should be dealt with and banned internationally by ICAO not just by the EU. Those that have again opportunistically not been mentioned or included on the so-called blacklist and who continue to fly unhindered into Europe every day, should receive the same treatment.

Perhaps we should start a new thread to name and shame the smugglers and sanction busters that for some or other reason have not been exposed yet.