Posted on 06/30/2005 10:45:10 AM PDT by HAL9000
Washington - US President George W Bush on Thursday accused Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe of "destroying" his country and urged countries in the region, especially South Africa, to pressure him to change."Next door to you is a person that is destroying a country because of bad policy, and it's not right.
"And the nations in the neighbourhood must be strong," Bush told reporters ahead of next week's G8 summit in Scotland.
Asked whether he was disappointed that President Thabo Mbeki has avoided publicly criticising Mugabe, Bush said: "I'm disappointed in Mugabe."
"The world needs to speak very clearly about the decisions he has made and the consequences" for those decisions, said the US president, who left little doubt he believed South Africa bears a special burden to speak out.
"My message has been very consistent: You're a great democracy, you're showing the world what is possible after the terrible period of apartheid, in terms of how to reconcile differences, and you're a very strong nation on the continent of Africa," he said.
But he again rejected using US assistance as a leverage on Zimbabwe, saying: "Are we willing to tie some of our aid to the position the position that nations take on Zimbabwe?
"No, because I don't want people to suffer, more people to suffer, as a result of Zimbabwe," the president said.
Darfur
Bush at the same time defended his policy of not sending US troops to Darfur.
He denied that he was softening on "genocide" there, because of counter-terrorism co-operation with Khartoum.
"That's a preposterous claim. It's not even close to the truth," Bush said.
"Ours is the nation that called this a genocide and we take this situation in Darfur very seriously."
As for sending US troops, "an effective strategy is to work with the AU and use AU forces to help keep the warring parties apart while we continue to press the Sudanese government, as well as rebel groups, for a comprehensive settlement".
It is an emerging pattern of behaviour. Socialists are just better at slowly stealing your wealth through higher taxes and lower property rights, healthcare rationed to the elite etc. The Socialists kill you softly, but you are still dead.
But my larger point is similiar to the one made above. Africa needs trade, law and order, not 'aid'. If Europe were serious about poverty, then they would help us out with Iraq with the security/propaganda situation. Any additional projects such as Africa would require a worldwide consensus to straighten out Mugabe. Even then would it really be in our vital interests?
Meanwhile, more and moe free speech is regulated. The bible is in Canada. Campaign finance reform and the attack on the blogs.
No one thought gay marriage could possibly happen, but it is here.
Do we really know how far we can fall?
"Those people need to clean up their own mess instead of expecting us to put out every little fire all over the world."
You mean those people who are being starved, murdered, and raped and/or driven from their homes by well-armed troops supported by the government? They don't have a chance of cleaning anything up.
That said, I'm not sure we really can or should do anything. I was just struck by the idiocy of Bush's quote, which made it sound like we had ridden in to the rescue because we had declared it a genocide. Why not just tell the truth -- we have no plans to intervene in any significant way.
Agreed. We need to finish Iraq,Iran, Afghan,Syria and NK.
And we to protect rights in our country. We have plenty to do . If the Euros want to go in and clean up the mess or waste thier money on that then more power to them.
I think people have forgotten how dangerous the Clintons were and why this board exists. It does not help that poppy Bush is rehabing the Clinton's image.
http://alamo-girl.com/0364.htm
More isolated incidents. Impeachment was newer about Lewinsky's, it was about the abuse of power.
http://alamo-girl.com/0462.htm
Thank god for Alamo Girl.
Hey Bush...send your own family's money down the African rathole. Keep you damn paws off my family's hard-earned cash.
That sux, I can't access the site as it is labeled "Hate and Discrimination".....
1) There are - and have been - many, many good people in Zimbabwe, a huge number of them obviously the target of Mugabe and his crazed thugs.
To not express solidarity with those seeking an end to rampant tyranny and murder would, through silence, be effectively in league with the oppressors.
2) Zimbabwe and the whole of the African continent are an integral part of the war on terror. There are movements throughout that continent to establish and enlarge the very categories of Islam that are conducting terror.
The war on terror, and especially that pertaining to radical Islam, is worldwide and must be conducted accordingly.
Thank you so much for linking the DSL and especially thank you for the blessing!
trade not aid
Thank you George W. Bush.
I wonder if this has more to do with Bush Sr. trying to stay in the news. George W. seems to be his own man and Daddy might not like being out of the limelight. By paling around with Bill, he gets recognition and perhaps sends a message to his son of some disapproval - is there a family rift? It is unseemly to me.
I truly think it's more a case of "Keep Your Enemies Closer".
If George SR can keep Bubba distracted....or gain Bubba's sympathy....?
Well, who knows, huh?
Bill Clinton only loves Bill Clinton.
I don't see how he would ever be useful.
Oh I agree he only loves himself.
Maybe the idea is to get him to shut up.
He's NOT bright, and perhaps sufficient infusions of Yoohoo and Moonpies will distract him.
The MSM will get right on this story. Just as soon it shows 1,000 pictures of 1944 Nazi Concentration camps and simultaneously claim that this very thing is going on at Guantanamo Bay. They have important stories to cover, don't you know.
yea, guess I forgot :(
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