Posted on 12/08/2003 8:48:51 AM PST by dead
By one of those quack happenstances I missed commenting on George Bush's demonstration-avoiding and Public-shy state visit to the United Kingdom last week. But not even the post-September 11 tawdry and cowed US media could avoid reporting the popular opposition to the Visit of Dubya to a country regarded as America's closest international ally. With friends like these who needs enemies? If Bush could get such a reception in Britain in spite of Blair's grotesque identification with anything American where else would Bush be welcomed?
Given the considerable dangers invited by any of the few countries that Bush visits it may not just be politically undesirable to welcome Bush on your territory but should be a matter of extreme National Security concern to prevent him from doing so. The Air force One of the American Presidency should carry, in Bold Letters: ' DANGEROUS PERSON ON BOARD'. Any leader who knowingly invites this mobile danger to his or her country should be declared people's enemy number one and disinvested of the office before it is too late! The US did not even trust the British security establishment therefore had to bring in hundreds of its own security forces. But one cannot help asking why Bush bothers to venture outside of the US at all since he does not feel comfortable with Foreigners even when they are allies. Can't he get it that many Foreigners do not want him in their countries? Consequently would it not be better for everybody for Bush to be firmly tethered to his American pie? The British demonstrators were categorical in making a distinction between being ' anti-American ' and 'Anti -Bush'. And it is obvious that most of them, like a majority of people else where just dislike this particular American president. This is not because of his limited knowledge (the man once told Americans thatmost of their imports come from abroad') of the rest of the world. What many find most annoying is his stubborn refusal to learn and petulant arrogance towards any person, country or countries who disagree with him. Even if it were the whole world, Bush can only smugly shake his shoulders and declare, tough luck: 'you are either with us or you are against us'. Even long term US puppets and other allies who have, over the years, become accustomed to successive US administration being overebearing and bullying tactics, find baby Bush's cow boy tactics most uncouth, not cool at all!
As a critic of the over zealous official receptions (including first Ladies sweeping streets) and enormous inconvenience imposed on our peoples whenever Western Leaders decide to have photo opportunities in Africa I was happy to note in London last week that our leaders are not alone in bowing to US whims and caprices. The British Prime Minister who obviously believe that the only response he can make to a demand by Bush to jump is :' how I' having faced down his subjects over going to war did not think Bush's visit was going to be an own goal. But Tony Blair must have wished he was an African leader thereby able to stop public demonstrations and enforce happiness throughout the visit.
However because of the strength of the democratic institutions (continuously challenged and infringed but enduring) Blair had to watch in empty Bravado, as his previously orchestrated triumphalist show with Bush was dogged by the anti War protesters. Not even the tragic bombing of British targets in Turkey could restore him to the moral high ground. Even the Security forces obviously under pressure from the US and Blair's government tried but failed to prevent the marchers from carrying their demonstrations through White Hall (seat of government) and central London.
Can the same happen in any of our countries without bloodshed? Maybe South Africa and one or two countries then we have to start counting bodies.
Our leaders will react first that the demonstration is a threat to National Security, an affront to the president and the ruling party and will regard the protesters as agent provocateurs, traitors, who deserve to be shot!
You can also be sure that pro-government propagandists will argue that it is not African to be discourteous to a visitor , an important one for that matter!
But demonstrations against a pubic official on public issues should not and cannot be rude, even if they may be embarrassing. African culture does not allow us to welcome killers either. And Bush is as murderous as they have come in recent times. More importantly he possess the power to kill, maim, rob and destroy with impunity without any restrictions of law or morality.
Governments may feel unable to resist American government pressures but ordinary people both in America and outside are gaining in confidence to make their opposition known to this most arrogant of recent Presidents and his tiny club of cohorts internationally.
In this tiny club the chief cheerleader is one Mr. TORY Blair, a man elected to be British Prime Minister but hankering after the Secretaryship of the US State Department . He is going to be part of the Commonwealth Jamboree scheduled for Abuja first week of December. I hope the Nigerian authorities will not stand in the way of grass roots, CSO, NGO and other activists who are planning to organize peaceful demonstrations against Blair and others (for whatever reasons) at the summit. Blair could not shield Bush from protests in London why should Obasanjo shield him or any other Executive outlaws from public protests as long as they are peaceful? The reaction of the Nigerian government to these activities will show whether democracy is still aspirational or beginning to sow its Mustard seeds in the country.
Somehow I do not think you have heard my last word on this matter. I promise you full details directly from Abuja where I am also heading next week with my T-Shirt boldly displaying: GIVE PEACE A CHANCE, CHASE BLAIR OUT.
Tajudeen28@yahoo.com, Tajudeen@Justiceafrica.org
In this tiny club the chief cheerleader is one Mr. TORY Blair, a man elected to be British Prime Minister but hankering after the Secretaryship of the US State Department .
I sure do love me my Nigerian editorials!
INCOMING!
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