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The colonial "white man's burden" argument doesn't have much appeal, anymore.

Look for China to examine opportunities. Africa, particularly southern Africa, still has vast mineral wealth that can be taken by somebody willing to go in and take it, and ruthless enough to kill anyone isn't an asset to their plans.

But don't expect them to care about black Africans -- the Chinese have more than enough manpower. The may decide that the Africans are an unwelcome annoyance.

It looks like Gadaafi already has his foot in the door--[Excerpt] Harare: Zimbabwe- Libya's President Muammar Gadaafi has bought up 20 houses in Zimbabwe which seem likely to be used as safe-houses for death squads supplied by the Libyan dictator as part of his plan to assist the man he sees as his embattled comrade in arms, President Robert Mugabe. In addition Gadaafi has bought Gracelands, the gigantic Harare mansion belonging to Grace Mugabe, the President's young wife. The house is now to become the Libyan Embassy, making it by far the biggest embassy building in Zimbabwe, dwarfing the British and American missions.

In effect Gadaafi seems to be making a bid to save Mugabe which, if successful, would create a virtual Libyan client state at the far end of Africa. Already there is evidence of direct Libyan involvement in the violence which racked Zimbabwean farms in the last ten days.

Relations between Mugabe and Gadaafi have been warm for some time but it is only in the last year, as Zimbabwe's shortage of foreign exchange has caused repeated fuel cut-offs that Mugabe has several times flown to Tripoli to plead with Gadaafi for deliveries on credit. Gadaafi, who has despaired of his efforts to play a leadership role in the Arab world, has begun to use his financial muscle to make interventions right across black Africa where he has made Zimbabwe a special case, advancing Mugabe a loan of $100 million. [End Excerpt]

Do you still think we should just stand back and watch Africa go to criminal strong men?