Zimbabwe

[Willmore]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/07/19/zimbabwe.banknotes/index.html


Zimbabwe's economy is in free fall, there are massive human rights violations. I am shocked that the international community's reaction has been so mild. A few economic sanctions? That only worsens the situation for the Zimbabwe people, do you think Mugabe cares?

I am against a police of international intervention, but if there ever was a place that an intervention was the best possible option, it is in Zimbabwe. Shouldn't the CIA be more concerned with overthrowing the Zimbabwe government and staging free elections, than with phantom threats such as Venezuela, Colombia or Iran?

If Bush is the leader of the free world, how come the world has become significantly less free in the last 8 years?

I'm sad, depressed.

I think I'll take the easy way out, good-bye cruel world. :drunk:

[led37zep]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/07/19/zimbabwe.banknotes/index.html




If Bush is the leader of the free world, how come the world has become significantly less free in the last 8 years?



Did you really just blame Bush for Zimbabwe?

[KnoxHarrington]

Did you really just blame Bush for Zimbabwe?

No, Mugabe's been getting progressively crazier and crazier for years, but I do think Bush's foreign policy has made it much harder to deal with situations like what is going on in Zimbabwe. The whole run up to Iraq showed that they really don't have any interest in negotiating, so you can just ignore them if you're sure there's no interest in actually attacking you. It's made us something of a joke. Add to that the willingness to throw allies under the bus if they disagree with us ("Freedom Fries", anyone?), and a general disregard for international cooperation or even law.

It actually has improved a slight bit since Condaleesa Rice took over as Sec. of State, because she's managed to tear W away from the craziest of the neocons (like the truly evil Richard Perle), but I think the general tone of the Bush foreign policy remains: we think talking to people is for pussies.

[led37zep]

Since i haven't really been on top of the whole Zimbabwe situation I'll just say this.

I wish the UN did more.

[jauble]

Like Clinton or daddy Bush did anything about Zimbabwe. Our leaders haven't given a fuck about that country since it was called Rhodesia. Even then we didnt really care. The US doesnt have enough assets in Africa to become involved. When we tried in Somolia we got our nose bloodied in a public venue and ran away to never return with much. We and the rest of the world (for the most part) turn a blind eye to what is happening on that continent.

[booster11373]

Like Clinton or daddy Bush did anything about Zimbabwe. Our leaders haven't given a fuck about that country since it was called Rhodesia. Even then we didnt really care. The US doesnt have enough assets in Africa to become involved. When we tried in Somolia we got our nose bloodied in a public venue and ran away to never return with much. We and the rest of the world (for the most part) turn a blind eye to what is happening on that continent.

The excuse that the last guy did or didnt do something is becoming tiresome

[jauble]

The excuse that the last guy did or didnt do something is becoming tiresome

It is but its not just the last guy. Its every guy. You cant blame the current "president" for what is going on over there as it is something that takes awhile to mend. You can fault him for not getting involved in it diplomatically, but really he is just following the Africa playbook that has always been in place. You do have to admit though that the US and most of the world does not politically care about Africa.

[booster11373]

It is but its not just the last guy. Its every guy. You cant blame the current "president" for what is going on over there as it is something that takes awhile to mend. You can fault him for not getting involved in it diplomatically, but really he is just following the Africa playbook that has always been in place. You do have to admit though that the US and most of the world does not politically care about Africa.

You are correct. Americas involvement in Africa is pitiful and always has been.

[KnoxHarrington]

It is but its not just the last guy. Its every guy. You cant blame the current "president" for what is going on over there as it is something that takes awhile to mend. You can fault him for not getting involved in it diplomatically, but really he is just following the Africa playbook that has always been in place. You do have to admit though that the US and most of the world does not politically care about Africa.

I can think of one country that cares: China. They are putting themselves in position to really dominate business in that area, thus being the ones who get to plunder the natural resources of the continent before everyone else.

[ChrisTheCop]

As soon as we fix a few of our own problems, we'll be right over.

Unless of course, something else pops up.

[jauble]

I can think of one country that cares: China. They are putting themselves in position to really dominate business in that area, thus being the ones who get to plunder the natural resources of the continent before everyone else.

Correct, i thought about that right after I posted the second time. China is trying very hard to invest themselves in Africa right now.

[KnoxHarrington]

Correct, i thought about that right after I posted the second time. China is trying very hard to invest themselves in Africa right now.

Yeah, and they're the ones cockblocking any attempt to hold Sudan responsible for the genocide in Darfur. They don't give a fuck about human rights (as evidenced by the deplorable way they treat their own people); they just want to prop up stable governments on the continent to make it easier to do business. And, of course, they'll hold a great deal of influence over those governments as well.