Talks to start on Zimbabwe crisis

[Mr. Dirlewanger]

Wouldn't it have been easier and better for all involved if White rule did not collapse under international pressure?

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/23/africa/23zimbabwe.php

As negotiations between Zimbabwe's feuding political parties loomed on Tuesday, the European Union increased the pressure on President Robert Mugabe by widening sanctions against senior Zimbabwean officials.

Though it expressed support for "any credible mediation effort" that led to a new government in Zimbabwe, the Council of the European Union said it had "decided to penalize those responsible for the campaign of violence" that characterized the country's recent election season.

The European Union has already imposed an arms embargo, visa restrictions and the freezing of assets in relation to scores of senior officials in Zimbabwe's government. Its action on Tuesday added 37 people and 4 companies to that list, news agencies reported.

The number of Zimbabweans now facing restrictions on their banking and travel is 168, but apart from Mugabe and his immediate family, few of them have been publicly identified.

European foreign ministers said the measures were needed to keep up the pressure on the government to negotiate, especially since Russia and China this month vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution to bring international sanctions against Zimbabwe.

[conley]

Wouldn't it have been easier and better for all involved if White rule did not collapse under international pressure?

The same could be said for the average Iraqi citizen about Hussein's removal, in the short term.

It takes time to rebuild a society.

[Mr. Dirlewanger]

Wouldn't it have been easier and better for all involved if White rule did not collapse under international pressure?

The same could be said for the average Iraqi citizen about Hussein's removal, in the short term.

It takes time to rebuild a society.

Well, I agree. On the other hand, the analogy with Iraq is not apt.  Mugabe personally destroyed his country.

[they call me MR. GRUMPY god damn it!]

so did hussein.

[Mr. Dirlewanger]

so did hussein.

Hussein's state functioned. Mugabe's can't. Iraqis had access to things like food.

[Vermouth]

Corruption anywhere is a disaster. It's apparent that the world community doesn't care about Zimbabwe. Europe's response is weak and much too late. The transition of power in Zimbabwe from colonists to natives might have been better accomplished with a more gradual approach, but that really wasn't the mindset in the 1960s I don't think. It's still a young country and bound to make mistakes, but what Mugabe has done to destroy the place disgusts me.

[Mr. Dirlewanger]

This far more tha mere corruption. Mugabe is  gangster and not a little nuts.

I agree that independence should have been gradual and not just in Rhodesia but all over the continent. Unfortunately, people grew weary of colonial issues and the Marshall Plan really undercut whatever economic importance the colonies may have had.

[they call me MR. GRUMPY god damn it!]

so did hussein.

Hussein's state functioned. Mugabe's can't. Iraqis had access to things like food.

in functioned as a regional cancer.

[DF]

I hope the United States doesn’t get involved in this. The European Union can do whatever it wants, but the United States need to worry about the interests of the United States first and foremost.

[gorknoids]

America continues to be the apex of society.  While I tend to agree that we should limit our financial largesse abroad, there are some places where it's more of an investment than a hand-out.  If we can wind up running third-world countries simply by funding some projects, why not?

[Peter1469]

America continues to be the apex of society.  While I tend to agree that we should limit our financial largesse abroad, there are some places where it's more of an investment than a hand-out.  If we can wind up running third-world countries simply by funding some projects, why not?

Foreign aid to most African nations is plundered by the kelptocrats in charge- the foreign aid is almost a complete waste of time.  World trade policies don’t help since export tariff are in place on 3rd world agricultural producers in order to save 1st world farmers.  The world population is estimated to grow to ~9B in the next few decades.  These policies need to change to ramp up food production.  Coincidentally a switch from oil to alcohol liquid fuels will only benefit these 3rd world nations and could do much more good than any possible amount foreign aid.