The U.S. Should Support the Tigray Defense Forces

Great observation and valuable suggestions, Ethiopians should support the proposal which the only viable option for lasting peace and humanity.
A shortsighted leader like Abiy has done enough damage to Ethiopia beyond anyone’s imagination.

A sickening, patronising and racist reasoning. But, it is American foreign policy in a nutshell.

Useless propaganda . Tplf sense start live by war before abay came power also tplf war with ?? and ??

Michael Ruben is biased or intentionally fabricated history. The current war is against rebel forces called Tigray people liberation front who ruled Ethiopia with atrocities. The Tigray people also are oppressed by the TPLF. PM ABIY gave them several conciliatory options but they declined it instead started the war 3 times. The only option is to remove TPLF from the area. The Ethiopian people love the Tigray people. We don’t let USA to involve in a sovereign country. They did several mistakes in the past, enough is enough. Resolve African issues by Africans

Total garbage! Just like all your books, which I consider a complete waste of my time. Stop being a puppet and act as a true scholar…

Did TPLF pay you to write these LIES?

The only solution is for a negotiated peace settlement WITHOUT ANY PRECONDITIONS from each side.
Tigray can’t survive without the resources of Oromia and Amhara lands.
Therefore, it should NEGOTIATE for peace!

Thank you !
You are telling the truth and being voice for the voiceless 6+ million ppl.
Thank you very much!

You sound as if you are reading from tplf’s talking points! Arming tplf will be like going against the wishes of 94% of the Ethiopian people! stick to your domestic politics!

Clear example of how journalism has devolved into useless tribal cannibalism. The Tigrayan people are as much Ethiopian as the rest of the population, this propaganda is designed to make it seem like this war is anything but a political struggle for power, every Ethiopian knows this except our brothers and sisters in Tigray who are paying the price for the ego driven plan by TPLF. This is not a genocide against any ethnicity, since there are native Tigrayans living peacefully in other parts of the country, if the goal was genocide.. how are they still alive and well?

Please I beg you, don’t fuel more destruction to our already weak country, this is not a game thousands are losing their lives for NOTHING.. NOTHING!

Anyone who is reading this, please beg for peace, we are tired of sacrificing our kids everytime these people want power over the country.

We fought Eritrea back in the 90s for a useless peice of land we still don’t use, but we lost 70k+ people just on our side, is it not enough, how many more should we lose? What is the point. Don’t tell me Abiy attacked Tigrayans so we’re fighting for our lives, we both know that is the furthest thing from the truth. As incompetent as Abiy is, he is not filled with the rhetoric that resembles one of the Nazis.

We all Ethiopians do care for ourselves and our people. Tigrians are innocent to this nation. TPLF bandits started and continued the war. Let them finish per their plan as all Ethiopians gave up on the peace request. Your poor analysis can’t make any difference. Per USA’s wish, believe me, you don’t have a square inch of land in East Africa to play with.

Hi Mr. Michael Rubin,
Thank you for speaking up for Eritreans and Tegaru, and Ethiopians. We are sick and tired of these so-called fake leaders. We Eritreans are powerless against these thugs of Shaebia, aka Fake president Isias and his mafia. I am glad there are people like you helping educate the American and world leaders to help us from these serial killers. Every human being deserves to live in peace, and regardless of our origins, we should all, as human beings, stand for each other. It is a mere chance we are East Africans, and you are American; we are brothers in the spirit. God Bless America for giving all races and tribes to live in a free country. As An Eritrean American, I am proud of people like you that reach out to help all people of the world. Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere, this madness got to STOP!

so, it has come to that when TPLF started war against Ethiopia people, genocide many Afar and Amhara people. when finally, they lost the war with elements you provided in the name of Aid, still it is Ethiopia people who begged them for peace become the one to blame. wither you call Abiye or Ethiopian people, Ethiopian people elected Abiy. This is not 1995. We Ethiopian knows better now than before. If you thoroughly want Ethiopian sovereignty just tell TPLF to be peaceful Democratic party not war lord. Not sure when the value of all Ethiopian become equal in the eyes of America.

What a trash you are talking? How you consider a direct relationship with regional states without notice of federal government is not against sovereign country? I do not think you guys can save tplf.

Stupidity at its best! How many $$ TPLF paid for you for such a biased narration?

How much have TPLF paid you to turn your eyes from the real truth and be biased 100%. You should know the money is stolen mainly from the poor people of Tigray. I don’t tell you there is always two sides of the story and you should’ve learned that by now. #Trash indeed

How much? How much? Tell me how much they paid you? How much they paid you to put lies into your little mind.

This article is riddled with so much bias and disinformation that I don’t know where to start.
Here are some of the facts the author deliberately omits
1. TPLF was in power for 27 years creating a terror state. It’s party leaders have swindled billions of dollars. Millions were tortured, force fully exiled or brutally killed.

2. The war was started by TPLF unprovoked and barbaric attack on the northern command. It also fired rockets towards Eritrea pulling them to the war.

3. The author tries to conceal the unprecedented number massacres and looting the TPLF or TDF army committed on innocent people in neighboring Amhara and Afar region.

4. TPLF by no reasonable argument was “elected”. While it has a strong base in Tigray built on ethnic supremacy it was never elected in any fair election. On the other hand PM Abiy and his party were legitimately elected in the only fair and free election the country has ever had.

5. With out any tangible proof the author makes a bold claim that PM Abiy and by extension the government and people of Ethiopia want to exterminate Tigraians. That is such a brazen lie taken out of TPLF propaganda playbook. Tigreans are Ethiopians period. In fact PM Abiy has on multiple occasions expressed his commitment to the well-being of Ethiopians love bing in Tigray.

6. Shocking how the author suggests US intervention has resolved any conflict or relief in any of the Regions mentioned. Truth is all of the places are failed states after US I’ll advised intervention and are worse off today than ever before. We Ethiopians have learnt this lesson and will fight before we become another Syria or Libya.

lastly Dr Rubin how could the disintegration of Ethiopia by propping up Ethnic based parties (who offer no real solutions even for the clans they claim to represent) serve US interest? If president Biden were to heed to ur advise then the entire Horn of Africa will untangled in an endless conflict.

If the US is genuinely interested in helping people living in Tigray then stop supporting TPLF and it’s army of murders, thieves and rapists.

Ethiopia’s never hate ones but so many enemy’s of Ethiopia hate my country through the last decades till now. Michael you don’t have your business this is my internal affairs. You can write or talk but you can never intervene.
Always first Ethiopia ??????

Garbage! Why would the US intervene to support a faction which is hated by nearly all Ethiopians?! TPLF should be erased from the face of the earth, and the Tigrians should be given the chance to do whatever they like. TPLF has to go! Forget airdrop, any tacit support for TPLF would united entire Ethiopian against the US or whatever power messing with our sovereignty.

Stop false information ! you are colonialist . please off hand !

Nothing but paid propaganda.
Arming the fallen tigrey regime who ruled the country for the last 30 years and committed horrible atrocities against every ethnic group, and they are now asking the world to arm them so they can fight a government of the people.
Never support and arm separatists, because a desperate man is a dangerous man.

Thank you Dr. Rubin for truth and voice for the voiceless. The white house should take action before the fully shelled Genocide on Tigray.

Wow what a fantastic analysis i think Dr. Ruben you understood the true color(mindset) of Abiy that he thinks he is fooling the world by his predictable tricks, but the only means to bring him to peace talk and stop the suffer of Tigrayan ppl is to support TPLF as it is stated in the analysis.

Man it is good to stick to the truth and stands for it. Lies never win truth as if they seem first. We Ethiopians know the ground facts from primary data. Advice far from contextual realities will never help Ethiopia and also make USA winner.

Biased and blind…you have undermined the majority Ethiopians view and current perception… We have suffered from TPLF rule for the last 30 years and the majority of Ethiopian do not need the return of TPLF…we know US is not fool and support TPLF ignoring all Ethiopians….if it does… It will result in other loss….any ways am sorry to see you siding with TPLF, what Ethiopians elected HPR has recognized as terrorist.

You seem to either miss the facts on the ground or blatantly ignore them. There is so much receipt for disaster to not just a state within Ethiopia but the whole nation and potentially the Horn of Africa and by extension the Red Sea corridor in what you are proposing. Such bravado chatter from afar is what got the TPLF so pampered and our people in a never ending nightmare. Please be more responsible, this is not a game, it’s peoples lives.

Are you sure you are a doctor? I don’t think so. May be now a days people can buy their degree from non-indexed private university. The way you try to give POTUS administration some advice is really laughable. Thanks for making me smile, because I didn’t smile the whole morning.

The writer is the epitome of an intellectually dishonest professional. First, the #DeadEndTPLF doesn’t represent the people of #Tigray and it’s an organization designated as a terror group by both #Ethiopia and the #US … So, you are calling for supporting political, military, and financial help to such a group so that they continue to sacrifice Ethiopians living the Tigray Region and sustain a brutal conflict that only benefits #DeadEndTPLF. The good thing is the government of #PMAbiy and #Ethiopians will finish #TPLF and free our citizens in #Tigray as part of our New Year celebration tomorrow. Enjoy and see you on the battlefield for freedom.

Behind many current unresolved and intractable conflicts – whether it is in Ukraine, Palestine, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, or Libya the USA is involved directly or indirectly. As a historically independent and anti-colonial state and people, Ethiopians and their leaders will not allow this to happen. The US’s meddling neither will happen nor achieve anything if it happens. Yet such propaganda can only contribute to elongating instability and making ordinary people in Tigray more vulnerable.

You will never succeed. We won’t allow this colonialism and the world will not allow. Stop this stupidity. Ethiopia is more than Tigray regional state.

Well articulated Sir. Thank you.
Abiy will never be ready for peace. He is using starvation as weapon.
The US government should take an immediate action.

I wonder how much the stupid Robin is paid to write about matters he doesn’t understand.
He can fuck his for hire pen before someone catches him with his red pen. I wish he understands the blood shade behind the TPLF terrerist group he’s supporting.

you came to the stage with Narrow minded view ! And if you are getting paid on this, come on man, come up with some at least something conventional ?

How much did they pay you for honorarium?
Or you are just attention seeker!
I could not believe until I realized on wikipedia that you are attention seeking controversial person similar to Zelensky , Blinken….

Does America Support International criminals???? TPLF is an international terrorist group like the well-known rebels ISIS, ALKAYDA, and AL SHABAB. Now it is a risk for over 200 million people in Ethiopia, the people of Eritrea, and south Sudan. If the Ethiopian government requests any aid from America, the US government should support the Ethiopian government to finish this war. Over five billion people living in the world will be disappointed by this unwanted and discriminatory post. Please work to strengthen the relationship between USA and Ethiopia. Don’t ruin it.
Please Don’t ruin the world with your evil thinking and shameful lobbyist work.
We are all homo sapiens living in this universe.

Do you invite the rest 106 million people to war against TPLF or I do not understand your wish on East Africa. You know Ethiopian people do not even want to hear the name TPLF.

Poor analysis, may be paid by TPLF with looted money!

Mr Michael,
We Ethiopians are all Abiy – probably most Tigrians too. Do you know that #TPLF is labeled as terrorist group by US? Still it is in its terrorist database. TPLF is also labeled as terrorist by Ethiopians. So what your are saying is US to support terrorist, is that right? You will swallow your words soon. You will support TPLF if it survives this round of attack, irrespective of any support you plan. History tells this is Ethiopia and it’s people are brave to deal with enemies.

We, Ethiopians, are good enough for our people in Tigray – we will set them free from TPLF hostage and rebuild it again. Just hand off Ethiopia – warmongers.

A paid writer with junk of biased story. You have no clue about the war, probably this piece of sht is written by Getachew Reda.

Wow, thanks for wasting my 5 min reading trash

How much does Rubin get paid by the TPLF for this ?

TPLF latest action..to steal large amounts of fuel set aside for aid trucks so they can use it for war puposes.

TPLF Aim….to regain power in Ethiopisa they held for 27 years but lost in 2018.

TPLF main achievement. After they ran Tigrai for nearly 40 years, half the population of Tigrai dependent on food aid.

Power seeking traitors who have done almost nothing for the ordinary rural people of Tigrai, as they have been too busy stealing money, such as that intended for GERD generators and doubling of sugar production, to bolster the bank accounts of their leaders.

I wouldn’t expect such a hatred from a Gang leader let alone from a person who claim to have a PhD. Who in his right mind advice the US government to arm a rebel group to fuel up more bloodshed in a sovereign country? You are definitely a psychopath who love to see Ethiopians killing each other. I am ashamed to the editorial who publish this for public consumption. You are all nuts. I even feel bad to respond to this …

The US has understandably acted in self interest right from the inception of this conflict back when Trump was in charge. It’s behaviour since the beginning shows it has a favourite in this war. As awful and politically unsalvageable as he is , the US ignored and tolerated the untold miseries he has been inflicting on Ethiopia in general and Tigray in particular as your thorough discussion above demonstrates. What amazes many Ethiopians including myself is how you Americans still find a barbaric petty little budding despot like Abiy tolerable enough to still give him a chance to rehabilitate him. Abiy had no legitimacy to start with. He fraudulently installed himself as Ethiopia’s next prime minister. He still hasn’t got a mandate from all federal states of Ethiopia. Elections weren’t held in all parts of the country. He certainly has no legal mandate from Tigray. Nonetheless , the US has time and again failed to use to its maximum what leverage it has over Abiy. In fact a year ago, Ambassadpr Feltman negotiated the return from the gates of Addis of Tigray’s resistance army – the TDF.
Still , the suggestion in this article are a minimum necessary steps to bring Ethiopia back from the brink of collapse. Tigray does not need American boots on the ground. It has proven that time and time again. But it needs weapons ; it needs no fly zones to protect civilian mass causalities which Abiy and his Eritrean accomplice are intentionally causing; it needs humanitarian supplies to save its vulnerable populstion.
The US must ditch Abiy NOW.

Yo! Hahahahahahaha! When u think u are stronger, u proudly say, “There is no war; it has ended with the victory being to TPLF!” When our impactful, strong and Hero defense forces defend our country and enter into Tigray, u say, “Please help us????!” What is this??? Now it is done; the end to TPLF, not to Tigray people, has come!!! TPLF is the monster and a danger not only for Ethiopia but also for the whole of Africa! But we are watching which person, which Leaders (Biden or Putin or Erdigan), and which celebrities are really caring for Africa and which ones want Africa to be fragmented. This adversity will pass, teaching Ethiopian people who is our enemy and who is our lover. One day, they will pay, and our lover will be rewarded either from Ethiopian people or from GOD!

Mr. Rubin, Didn’t you consider the fact that TPLF fired rockets on Eritrea at the beginning of the conflict and this aggression on Eritrea was a deliberate act to draw Eritrea in and widen the conflict. TPLF pulled Eritrea into the conflict. Sadam Hussien fired rockets at Israel at the beginning of the operation to liberate Kuwait. Do you see the parallels? TPLF and Eritrea have been mortal enemies for over 30 years, the war between the two didn’t begin today as you portrayed it. Next time you give ideas to the US to intervene, please consult regional scholars who understand the nuances of the region. I doubt it if senior editors review what should be published or not published there.

This article is beyond what an intellectual article should be, I get the fact that it is an interest based narrative but by far the furthest thing from the truth! unfortunately while opinions like such are pushed to create a version to justify the selfish and inhumane group known as TPLF, where this group is a collective of former power hungry thugs that would not have it anyway other than staying in power at all cost, even at the cost of their own people/tribe’s suffering. Mind you the TPLF did not do anything to progress these same people they are misleading and forcing them to their death. This is beyond disappointing and history will judge you all for this misleading information.

I think you definitely got some money from #TPLFTerroristGroup and you are the puppet of TPLF, Lobby is the modern version of corruption.
you know we #Ethiopian always keeps our sovereignty together. That’s it

People in a Africa ought to get their act together,and get away from this backwards tribal nationalism,and come together as a whole,they have a opportunity to unite with the most powerful force outside Africa,the African American community in America,who liberated themselves from the bond of oppression to become a driving force in America

you seem to have a complete understanding of the situation in Ethiopia. Abiy, the nobel peace prize winner, has 7 million people under siege. He has turned off electricity, telephone communication, internet, banks, schools and colleges. people in Tigray are unable to get their own money from banks, because Abiy refuses to open any banks in Tigray. The EU and The US seems to be reluctant to do anything useful. food prices have gone up more than 3 times of their usual prices, children and the elderly can’t find food and the pensioners have not been able to get their money from the government. Hospitals and factories have been destroyed by the Eritrean and Ethiopian army directed to do so by the prime minister of Ethiopia, Abiy ahmed. Abiy should be forced out of power if He has no plans to open this siege that is destined to starve the entire Tigray population. Sanctions are needed now more than ever. It is the only way to deal with a dictator bent on starving his own population while He professes to believe and pray to ‘Jesus’. Abiy has put 7 million Tigrayans in a cage while other people in Ethiopia have their normal life. Shame on the United state for seeing this problem and doing nothing to help.

As an Ethiopian living inside the country and having the information what’s really happening in the country, I came to realize that the current living generations, nationwide, in Ethiopia are becoming more aware about how media and propaganda is run by the few. I could say this past two years have been a media literacy class for the whole country.

This living generations have been traumatized with all the killings by terrorist groups, the dis/misinformations by their “used to be adored” western countries. They almost have seen it all.

I believe hard times create strong people and Ethiopians are really becoming stronger and united. Once this storm passes, the whole country will shine for everyone to see.

Very professional assessment.

I am quite sure this gentleman has been paid a huge $$ from what TPLF stole from Ethiopian taxpayers. The feasible solution is solution pushing TPLF to stop the fighting, leaving the regions they occupied and disarming their illegal fights because Tigray is part of Ethiopia and Ethiopian Defence Forces have all the right to protect the sovereignty of Ethiopia including Tigry, and share the country’s resources like any other people. The other proposed solutions that consider Tigray as an independent state exacerbate the problem and pose a problem with Ethiopia’s territorial integrity. So TPLF, stop fighting, disarm and the Ethiopian people will coordinate to help the Tigray people with the utmost effort possible. We, Ethiopia do not have a problem with the people of Tigray at all. Our problem is with less than 100 TPLF criminals.

I learnt from your writing how much the European and Americans try to interfere in the internal issues of sovereign countries and stand against the terrorist’s group once you believe benefited from such kind of conflict. You are not rational in every corner of the world conflicts sponsored by your government and using as a weapons’ the card of democracy and humanity.

It appears ignorance or arrogance is the source of this article. Betrayal, deception, and lying are the hallmarks of TPLF. For over 20 yrs, TPLF has lied about Eritrea, and the world has allowed this travesty to happen for a sinister purpose. It’s time to call a spade a spade and reject the TPLF Terrorist Group. Western ‘blind eyes’ and double standards have enabled TPLF’s belligerence for almost three decades. The people of the Horn of Africa demand peace, and the West must stop its interference and enable TPLF the terrorist. Attempts by Westerns & other cohorts to beautify & resuscitate terrorist TPLF are futile. Peace will not achieve in the Horn of Africa thru an attempt to create a perpetual war in the Horn of Africa in general and in Eritrea and Ethiopia in particular. Disarming and peacifying TPLF is the ONLY WAY to achieve peace!!!