Why ?
Because Zimbabwe is outside the line I'd draw if I had my druthers. Africa's problems are to be solved by Africans (Black and White) - IMHO.
Obviously, I do not have the "druthers". Your arguments re: US guilt for real or alleged misdeeds or commitments may or may not influence those who do and who are much more global in their Worldviews - whether guilt-ridden liberals or conservatives. I'm neither.
Regards
Mike
Quite frankly very few people seriously expect the US to do anything about Zimbabwe. Carter/Vance/Young handed the country to Mugabe in 1980 and its been a wonderful democratic paradise every since.Originally Posted by jmm99
But before we get too hung up on Zimbabwe spare a thought for Nicaragua. First Carter hands it to the Sandinistas then Reagan interfered via the Contras and now Nicaragua has returned to being yet another South American basket case. Nicaraguans can be forgiven for asking for the real America to please stand up.
Nah, you're wrong...
The Nicaraguans aren't nearly as confused about it as you seem to be.
What you cite is the sometimes startling difference in foreign policies between US Administrations. The Nicaraguans, like most Central Americans, being neighbors and paying attention to that for over a century -- and with memory of US interventions and strange behavior of contrasting administrations in the 20s and 30s -- understand that. They may not like it but they know what it is.
The rest of the world seemingly does not, as you show...
Well put Ken.The Nicaraguans aren't nearly as confused about it as you seem to be.
What you cite is the sometimes startling difference in foreign policies between US Administrations. The Nicaraguans, like most Central Americans, being neighbors and paying attention to that for over a century -- and with memory of US interventions and strange behavior of contrasting administrations in the 20s and 30s -- understand that. They may not like it but they know what it is.
The rest of the world seemingly does not, as you show...
This is exactly why (probably) half the US aid to Afghanistan is used to buy mansions in Dubai for the current government and its cronies as an insurance against the schizophrenic US foreign policy.
Afghan vice-president 'landed in Dubai with $52m in cash'
You reap what you sow.
Sometimes. Then, other times, you sow things for others to reap...
Or reap things others have sown..."Probably?" Good caveat, lot of wiggle room there...
For our Foreign Policy to be schizophrenic, we'd have to have one. We do not. Never have. Save one item -- to react to any threats and remove them. We do that -- one way or another...
I'm dealing with the "revenge of the nitpickers" at the moment so one can't be too careful.Or reap things others have sown..."Probably?" Good caveat, lot of wiggle room there...
Zimbabwe police 'thwart property invasion'
Now who did these 'veterans' upset, somehow I doubt that the facilities were owned by 'whites'?
Link, from AFP:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110124...csviolencefarmZimbabwean police drove out scores of so-called war veterans and supporters of President Robert Mugabe after they declared themselves new owners of several tourist resorts, a minister and media reports said Monday...The seizures on Saturday near Lake Chivero...
davidbfpo
This is probably not appropriate for me to say, but the years I have in that region have left me with a totally different view than most.
It's never been relevant to me "who" put the Mugabes and Mobutus into typical African-style power because I doubt all those American politicians intended for that Sierra to take place, and, we (those that came and taught them) certainly didn't teach them to rape, pillage and plunder along the way.
The only thing I have noticed is when the Africans finally take charge and get rid of their dictators do they inevitable prosper. I doubt and certainly don't expect any Western nation to jump in and remove Bob. Even if we did, he would be followed by another and yet another Bob.
Countries like Zimbabwe and Zaire were capable of feeding and taking care of their people for the next 100 years without importing much more than a cell phone
I've seen some truly sad cases of political Sierra but I've only seen two clear cases where the people finally said they had "had enough".
Jeez, get off your Alpha and do something... You are already dying doing nothing while the rice bags arrive
If you want to blend in, take the bus
Bob, the LRA, Mai-Mai and group after "the gates of hell are open" group. TIA man, TIA; and I wish there was something we could do but I don't think there is.
Which two Stan?
"We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again." Gen. Nathanael Greene
Hey Carl,
Just my .02 cents, but South Africa and Rwanda.
I don't take into account trade and all that other Sierra that the UN finds significant, because we both know there's tons of stuff to export and steal.
I would have given the DRC a strong 5th, but seems to me they blew it and hired another dictator and left the FAZ once again in charge.
Gabon and Cote d'ivoire were among my favorites, but I think the French are holding those two locations together.
And your selections ?
Regards, Stan
If you want to blend in, take the bus
I don't know Stan, I am interested in the area but I only really know a little about the DRC. So take the following with that grain of salt.
If RSA can ever get the crime under control I would go with that. Maybe the crime is overstated in my mind though. It will be interesting to see what happens when Mandela dies.
People I talked to always expressed amazement at Rwanda, especially as it sits right next to DRC. The question is I guess, what will Kagame do as he gets older and how will that affect things.
As far as the DRC goes, which one? Kinshasa area and Lubumbashi are a world apart from the rest and when I was there they seemed extremely energetic at least. At least in most of the DRC the situation is better than Zim so that is an accomplishment of some kind.
I don't know...which is why I asked.
"We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again." Gen. Nathanael Greene
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