Posted on 09/13/2002 2:51:12 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South African statesman Nelson Mandela urged the United States on Thursday to act only through the United Nations in its campaign against Iraq after a report in which he branded the U.S. a threat to world peace.
"Everybody who wants peace and stability in the world will respect the world body," he told reporters in Cape Town. "All its members (should) respect the United Nations charter. They don't do anything which might be disturb peace and stability."
President Bush issued a ringing challenge to the world body over Iraq on Thursday, saying if it did not force President Saddam Hussein to disarm and stop backing terrorism then "action will be unavoidable."
In an interview with Newsweek magazine on Monday, Mandela criticized the United States for acting unilaterally and undermining the United Nations as a forum for settling international disputes. He said hardline U.S. policies aimed to please American oil and arms companies.
"If you look at those matters, you will come to the conclusion that the attitude of the United States of America is a threat to world peace," the 84-year-old African statesman said in the interview, which appears on Newsweek's Web Site.
Asked on Thursday if he believed a U.S. attack on Iraq could undermine world peace, the Nobel peace prize laureate said: "Oh most certainly, there is no doubt."
The United Nations imposed sanctions on Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait and imposed U.N. weapons inspectors on the country after the Gulf War. The inspectors left in 1998 ahead of a U.S.-British bombing campaign carried out in the name of forcing greater inspections compliance from Iraq.
PLEASING OIL MAGNATES
Bush and his top aides have accused Iraq of seeking weapons of mass destruction, saying it poses a danger to the Middle East region and the West. Iraq denies the charges.
"It is clearly a decision that is motivated by George W. Bush's desire to please the arms and oil industries in the United States of America," Mandela said in the Newsweek article.
Nearly every country in the world, with the exception of Britain and Israel, has expressed grave misgivings about a pre-emptive attack on Iraq and want prior approval by the 15-nations U.N. Security of any military action.
"On what basis must he (Bush) ignore the considered opinion of world leaders who are members of the United Nations and respect their charter," Mandela said in Cape Town after a 25th anniversary memorial event for slain black activist Steve Biko.
The statesman also warned that if the United States ignored the Security Council it would "introduce chaos in international relations and that must be condemned in the strongest terms."
Mandela championed the fight against white minority rule and emerged from 27 years in apartheid jails to become South Africa's first black president from 1994 to 1999.
During his presidency, Mandela's close ties to Cuba's Fidel Castro and Libya's Muammar Gaddafi irked Washington.
Mandela earlier told Newsweek that while it was not his personal view, others believed there was an element of racism behind Washington's unilateral policies.
"Many people say quietly, but they don't have the courage to stand up and say publicly, that when there were white (U.N.) secretaries-general you didn't find this question of the United States and Britain going out of the United Nations," he said.
"But now that you've had black secretaries-general like...Kofi Annan, they do not respect the United Nations. They have contempt for it," Mandela added.
SPEECH OF THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS, NELSON MANDELA, AT THE RALLY TO RELAUNCH THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY ***Johannesburg, 29 July 1990 - Comrade Chairman, Comrades and friends. …………….We are here today to participate with you in the public launch of the Communist Party, 40 years after it was banned. We do this because during the nearly 70 years of its existence, the Communist Party has distinguished itself as an ally in the common struggle to end the racial oppression and exploitation of the black masses of our country. It has fought side by side with the ANC for the common objective of the National Liberation of people, without seeking to impose its views on our movement.
It has been and is a dependable friend who respected our independence and our policy. Its members have been devoted Congressites who, as members of the ANC, have propagated and defended the policies of our movement, including the Freedom Charter, without hesitation. They have therefore given strength to our own movement, whatever their separate perspectives might be as an independent political formation.
Its leaders have been close friends and colleagues of the leaders of our movement. The general secretary of the Communist Party, comrade Joe Slovo, is an old friend. There is an old established friendship between his family and mine. We went to university together. We were co-accused in the Treason Trial of 1956 to 1961.
Over the years, we have shared the same views on fundamental issues to do with ending the criminal system of apartheid and the democratic transformation of our country. Today we share the same views about the vital importance and urgency of arriving at a political settlement through negotiations, in conditions of peace for all our people.
This personal and political relationship has been able to endure over the decades precisely because Joe Slovo and his colleagues in the Communist Party have understood and respected the fact that the ANC is an independent body. They have never sought to transform the ANC into a tool and a puppet of the Communist Party. ***
Castro Opens National Moncada Barracks Ceremony Cuba 30 Jul 91 FULL TEXT OF ARTICLE: 1. [Editorial Report] Havana Radio and Television Networks in Spanish at 2255 GMT on 26 July begin live coverage of the central national ceremony commemorating the 38th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Barracks.
2. The ceremony opens with Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela standing together on the platform. The Cuban national anthem is played. Manolo Ortega, master of ceremonies, greets the people of Mantanzas and of Cuba. He notes the presence of honored guest, Nelson Mandela. The crowd applauds. He notes the presence of other honored international guests and diplomats accredited to Havana. He notes the arrival of a brigade of polytechnic students by bicycle who have ridden to Mantanzas from Santiago de Cuba. A representative of the youth brigade presents a banner to Fidel Castro. Fidel then presents several provincial enterprises with awards for over-fulfillment of the annual production quota.
3. Ortega introduces Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, vice president of the State Council and member of the Communist Party of Cuba Politboro, to present a State Council resolution. He reads the resolution which cites Nelson Mandela as the foremost freedom fighter against the racist regime of apartheid, and expresses Cuban rejoicing over the visit of Nelson Mandela. He notes Mandela's 27 years in prison, and explains that Mandela, from being the accused, has become the accuser in his fight for justice. He points out that Mandela chose to remain in prison rather than accept compromise with injustice. Today Mandela leads the African National Congress [ANC] with wisdom and patience. Therefore, in this decisive hour in Cuba, Cuba takes as a model the heroic attitude of Nelson Mandela as a representative of the highest attributes and characteristics. He points out that Jose Marti suffered imprisonment at 16 years of age. Therefore, the State Council of Cuba awards the Jose Marti Order to Comrade Nelson Mandela and requests that the insignia be awarded by State Council
President Fidel Castro at the central ceremony commemorating the Moncada Barracks attack.
4. Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela step to the front of the stage and Fidel pins the insignia of the Jose Marti Order on Nelson Mandela.
5. Ortega announces that the first speaker will be Comrade Nelson Mandela. Mandela begins speaking in English. His speech is translated into Spanish. Eventually, Mandela quits speaking and the translator reads the bulk of his speech in Spanish without Mandela saying it in English. Mandela greets Comrade Fidel Castro, the Cuban people, and especially Cuban internationalists ``who have done so much to free our continent.'' He notes the importance of July 26 and the role of Cuban internationalism, especially in Africa.
6. ``The people of Cuba hold a very special place in the hearts of the African people.'' He notes the ``imperialist campaign to destroy the gains of the Cuban Revolution.'' He expresses admiration for Cuban advances in science, education, literacy, medicine, and culture. He cites the ``systematic eradication of racism'' in Cuba, and predicts that ``the resilient people of Cuba will overcome their difficulties as they have helped other countries overcome theirs.''
7. He expresses great admiration for Jose Marti and Ernesto Che Guevara. ``The life of Che is a great inspiration for every person who loves liberty.'' He says that Africans are used to being victims of foreign countries, but there has never been another case of a foreign country coming to defend Africans. He points out that the Cuban-assisted defeat of the ``racist army'' in Cuito, Cuanavale, made freedom possible in Angola, in Namibia, and destroyed the myth of white racist invincibility. He says that the ANC has acquired the characteristics of a mass organization. Mandela discusses his hopes for a peaceful transfer of power in South Africa. He points out ``the ANC is not a communist party,'' but goes on to note the respect and cooperation between the ANC and the South African Communist Party. He expresses deep appreciation for the Jose Marti Award. ``Long live the Cuban Revolution. Long live Comrade Fidel Castro.''
8. Monolo Ortega introduces the main speaker Commander in Chief Fidel Castro. The crowd chants and applauds. -END-
September 3, 2002 - Mandela, Iran, World Council of Churches Oppose Iraq Attack Threats*** "We are really appalled by any country, whether a superpower or a small country, that goes outside the U.N. and attacks independent countries," Mandela said before going into a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac. "No country should be allowed to take the law into their own hands."
……….And a group of 37 Protestant and other church leaders from North America and Britain sent letters to their respective governments Friday expressing concern about "the likely human costs of war with Iraq, particularly for civilians," the World Council of Churches said Monday. They warned an attack would strengthen those promoting extremism and terrorism. ***
World Council of Churches and communism
December 15, 2001 Sinn Fein leader risks furor with Cuba visit***"Fidel Castro is a walking human rights violator," said J. Brian McCarthy, chairman of Irish American Republicans, a lobbying group. "We have supported Gerry Adams in the past and we will continue to support his efforts for peace and justice in the north of Ireland, but we will not allow him to go to Cuba and embrace a tyrant without comment."
The trip is planned to commemorate Cuban solidarity during the celebrated 1981 IRA hunger strike at the Maze prison. Ten strikers died in what became a major embarrassment for the British government over demands that IRA prisoners be given political status. As well as meeting Castro, the Sinn Fein delegation will unveil a monument in memory of the hunger strikers.
Analysts say the visit is part of an attempt to improve Adams' international standing while peace talks drag on with the British government. The IRA has lately come under increased international pressure for dragging its feet over decommissioning its weapons, a key element of the peace process.
In October Adams made a similar visit to South Africa, where he met with former President Nelson Mandela. During that visit he also unveiled a sculpture on Robben Island to commemorate those who have died on hunger strikes in Northern Ireland and South Africa. Analysts, however, say the merits of visiting Cuba are harder to see.
The trip will only serve to refocus debate over Sinn Fein's alleged involvement with left-wing Colombian guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, often known by its Spanish abbreviation, FARC. One of the three IRA suspects jailed in Colombia was Sinn Fein's unofficial representative in Havana, Niall Connolly.***
Gaddafi's systematic African takeover
Aligned with Castro and Gaddafi - Mugabe Vows to Defend Zimbabwe from Western 'Bullies' *** HARARE, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - President Robert Mugabe vowed on Tuesday to defend his government against Western "bullies" and said Zimbabwe's economic recovery hinged on land redistribution. In a 40-minute speech to open the new parliamentary session, Mugabe made no direct mention of tighter EU sanctions, his media crackdown or any plans for his ZANU-PF party to resume talks with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Strongly defending his government's right to take possession of white farmers' land, he ignored a boycott of his speech by MDC legislators, who make up just over a third of the assembly.***
Mr. Castro showed himself to be emotionally unstable and reckless during the crisis, even calling on Khrushchev to launch a nuclear first strike on the United States rather than back down. Mr. Castro also opposed any arms inspections and wanted Moscow to keep a secret arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons in Cuba for use against an invasion. (At the height of the crisis, the Kremlin drafted an authorization for the Soviet commander in Cuba to use tactical nukes against U.S. forces).
In the wake of the crisis, Mr. Castro felt secure enough to launch a campaign of subversion throughout Latin America. He played a major role in the wars in Central America and sent Cuban troops to fight in support of Marxist regimes in Africa. Cuba remains a center for international terrorism and last December hosted a meeting of Latin American and Middle Eastern groups including the Columbian FARC and representatives from Iraq. Mr. Castro provided critical support (including personnel) to help Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez survive a coup attempt. And he is courting the Chinese. The cost of abandoning regime change in Cuba has been very high.
Saddam is in charge of his own WMD arsenal and Iraq's nuclear weapons program. He does not need subsidies from a patron, as he has plentiful oil reserves to finance his regime. He may already believe the chemical and bioweapons he possessed in 1991 deterred a U.S. march on Baghdad. Should he acquire nuclear weapons, his confidence as a survivor and leader of radical movements in the Middle East will skyrocket. A sizable proportion of the Iraqi people, as well as other Arabs, will hail Saddam as a leader who has what it takes to make the "imperialists" and their "puppets" back down.
Regime change in Iraq is a strategic necessity. It cannot be postponed, because time is not on America's side. Saddam must be removed before he has even a single nuclear bomb, and before he has the means to deliver his other WMDs on a large scale to distant targets. An invasion to liberate Iraq will be costly in money and effort, and possibly in lives. But the long-term costs of allowing Saddam to strengthen his position will be much higher on all counts. ***
Da Silva has established extensive ties to international terrorism. He has been very critical of the US "War on Terror" and has professed admiration for such widely respected international statesmen as Saddam Hussein and Mohomar Quadafi. His election as President would greatly increase the prospect of a successful takeover of Columbia by the Communist FARC guerillas, which he fully supports. Mendes states that a Marxist regime in Brazil would also be well-positioned to help cause Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru to fall to would-be Marxist dictators and exploit the deepening economic crisis in Argentina, which I recently visited in June, and Paraguay. All told, a da Silva victory could well result in "as many as 300 million people" falling "under the control of anti-American dictatorships."
In 1990, da Silva co-founded the Forum of Sao Paulo with Cuban President Fidel Castro and former Nicaraguan Marxist President Daniel Ortega. The Forum is a kind of annual "Communist Party Congress" for Communists, anti-American terrorists and Marxist revolutionaries to meet together and strategize on how to best effect their plans for Communizing much if not most of Latin America. Venezuelan President and self-proclaimed Communist, Hugo Chavez has become a major power player in this organization since coming to power in 1998. Chavez is probably supporting the da Silva campaign to the tune of millions of dollars while Castro may also be committing hundreds of his intelligence operatives to help da Silva win the election.
Truly disgusting that this man is so feted all around the world.
Regards, Ivan
If others could understand your truth, you would not think of yourself as a "vanguard." You would no longer inhabit the morally charmed world of an elite, whose members alone can see the light and whose mission is to lead the unenlightened towards it. If everybody could see the promised horizon and knew the path to reach it, the future would already have happened and there would be no need for the vanguard of the saints.
That is both the ethical core and psychological heart of what it means to be a part of the left. That is where the gratification comes from. To see yourself as a social redeemer. To feel anointed. In other words: To be progressive is itself the most satisfying narcissism.
That is why it is of little concern to them that their socialist schemes have run aground, burying millions of human beings in their wake. That is why they don't care that their panaceas have caused more human suffering than all the injustices they have ever challenged. That is why they never learn from their "mistakes." That is why the continuance of Them is more important than any truth.
If you were active in the so-called "peace" movement or in the radical wing of the civil rights causes, why would you tell the truth? Why would you tell people that no, you weren't really a "peace activist," except in the sense that you were against America's war. Why would you draw attention to the fact that while you called yourselves "peace activists," you didn't oppose the Communists' war, and were gratified when America's enemies won?
What you were really against was not war at all, but American "imperialism" and American capitalism. What you truly hated was America's democracy, which you knew to be a "sham" because it was controlled by money in the end. That's why you wanted to "Bring the Troops Home," as your slogan said. Because if America's troops came home, America would lose and the Communists would win. And the progressive future would be one step closer.
But you never had the honesty-then or now-to admit that. You told the lie then to maintain your influence and increase your power to do good (as only the Chosen can). And you keep on telling the lie for the same reason.
Why would you admit that, despite your tactical support for civil rights, you weren't really committed to civil rights as Americans understand rights? What you really wanted was to overthrow the very Constitution that guaranteed those rights, based as it is on private property and the individual-both of which you despise.
It is because America is a democracy and the people endorse it, that the left's anti-American, but "progressive" agendas can only be achieved by deceiving the people. This is the cross the left has to bear: The better world is only achievable by lying to the very people they propose to redeem.***------ Author: David Horowitz
This is such an incredibly stupid statement on so many levels that we are all dumber for having read it. All I can say is AAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!
I will eventually reconstruct my mass email groups, and am saving items like this post for that time.
Too bad our country never wanted to acknowledge the truth about "The Necklace King", his sadistic wife, and the bouncing red Bishop. What was once a great country has been destroyed by US "sanctions", stupidity, and PC support of communist dictatorship.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.