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| Africa: Subsaharan |
| Next War: Zimbabwe? |
| 2004-08-25 |
| The United States has called for the building of a "coalition of the willing" to push for regime change to end the crisis in Zimbabwe. The new American ambassador to South Africa, Jendayi Frazer, said quiet diplomacy pursued by South Africa and other African countries in its dealings with the Zimbabwe president needed a review because there was no evidence it was working. She said her country would be willing to be part of a coalition if invited. The US could not act on its own, "put the boot on the ground" and give President Robert Mugabe 48 hours to go as requested by beleaguered Zimbaweans but the US would be willing to work in a coalition with other countries to return Zimbabwe to democracy. Ms Frazer, in a meeting with journalists in Johannesburg yesterday, said: "There is clearly a crisis in Zimbabwe and everyone needs to state that fact. The economy is in a free fall. There is a continuing repressive environment. There needs to be a return to democracy..." |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #6 RJ, As I recall, S.Africa's President Mbeki openly and highly approves of the way his "brother" Bob is running things in Zimbabwe, so I can't imagine that political cover from the Americans would be welcomed. Of course, if somebody explained things to him properly.... |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2004-08-26 3:24:39 AM |
| #5 Zim may not be recoverable even if a bunch of "willing" internationalists were found. Once the looting locusts strip all the copper wire out of the infrastructure the country is back to square one. How are you going to interest a businessman in building a factory in a country that doesn't even have electrical power anymore. Someone might point out that Zimbabwe has not been looted to the extent that I am portraying. I think we can all agree, though, that whatever is currently still working in Zimbabwe will be significantly damaged or removed that after the process of de-Magabezation. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-08-26 12:25:58 AM |
| #4 Checking my globe it appears that Zimbabwe shares a 1000 mile border with both France and Poland. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-08-26 12:21:49 AM |
| #3 It's horrible what's happening in Zim, but the US has no real strategic interests and is unlikely to put boots on the ground. UK has some responsibility but not enough boots, especially not with so many in Iraq. US & UK may finance something but SA is a huge regional power and this is their chance to stand up and be counted (one way or the other). I would guess that this US "coalition of the willing" is a front simply to pressure Zimbabwae or to give political cover for SA to come to the rescue. |
| Posted by: RJ Schwarz 2004-08-25 10:41:22 PM |
| #2 Kim's right. Let Africa sink. |
| Posted by: mac 2004-08-25 8:42:36 PM |
| #1 Ghost of Ian Smith smiles... |
| Posted by: borgboy 2004-08-25 7:15:01 PM |