Welcome to the bush, Bush. I see Bush is in town for a few days. Doing a quick five nation trip to push for some African credentials. He has to work on that legacy a bit more as it sure doesn’t look good so far. He isn’t liked much over in the US. His 30% approval rating in the US is as low as you can go for a President. And he isn’t that much loved outside of the US either. But some people say that Africa is really a bright spot in his foreign policy. Really? Zakaria, I think you have been in Washington for too long. Stop drinking the Kool-Aid. If he is really Africa’s friend then we should be very scared of our enemies. If what he does is meant to help us then we should be seriously worried about those who want to harm us. If his “conservative compassion” is good for us then we should be really affraid of those who don’t care.
You see, Bush gave us what he calls “conservative compassion”. Helping the little guy. Helping him with love and compassion. Not with pity. I like that. Not the conservative part, but the compassion part. I don’t like pity either. Too much of looking down at people and too little about understanding people. But compassion is only a word in this case. Bush helping the little guy? Come on. Tax breaks for the rich, subsidies for the large commercial farms and oil companies, and calling the Enron guys his buddies before they got caught. Little guys? Yeah, right! It’s a word for him. A word he can use so people think about him as a caring “kinda” guy. But it’s “swift boat” politics. He grabs a word here and there, but no actions behind those words. It’s a word for him - not even a concept of change.
But wow, it’s his second time here guys. Stop harassing us with your constant visits President Bush. He comes around often doesn’t he? Second time since when? Hum, second time in eight odd years. Second time in his life even before he became President. So he isn’t exactly a frequent visitor. No frequent flier miles for him. But he wouldn’t want that in any case. He isn’t planning on coming back again any time soon, or at all, so those miles won’t be used in any case.
No cowboy trip this either. Not going to the “wild west” parts of Africa. No Darfur or Kenya or Zimbabwe for him. No, he is playing it safe. He is only going to visit friends you see. Friends with a relative stable house. Or at least those countries that can control their people. No protest planned here. Think he would go to South Africa or Nigeria or Senegal? These are stable countries and the powerhouses of Africa. Think he would go there? No chance in hell baby. See, these countries might allow a protest or two that will show their true feeling. Nope. No chance of Bush going there. Only those places that will hand out a few arts and crafts and flowers at landing will get a peek.
But it’s about his actions right? It’s about what he has done for Africa that is really important isn’t it? Not whether we like him or not. I don’t care if people like him or not. And I don’t actually care if he is a nice person or not. I pretty much don’t care what he thinks or what he is. All we should care about is whether he has done anything for Africa. And that’s the problem. He hasn’t done much. Not much at all.
Let’s start with trade. We know that this will be a key way for Africa to get out of poverty. Trade themselves out of it. It will drive investment and create more wealth. Aid is important, but only a short-term piece of plaster to cover the wounds. Aid will help us survive the day, but it won’t get people out of poverty. No, it keeps people in poverty as the aim is to help people survive another day. It’s giving people fish instead of letting people fish themselves. It’s about trade, not aid. And here he has failed miserably. The WTO Doha round started on his watch. And we still don’t have it in place - and we are not even close. Two terms later and Doha is still just empty talk and no actions. Why? Because he fights the Europeans instead of trying to implement Doha. He’ll find new ways to not do nothing - agriculture, intellectual property right, etc. You name it and he’s got it as an excuse.
Even his regional and country specific trade deals are all about getting more from these countries than what he is willing to give. Want a trade deal? Sure, you can have one. But only if you agree to TRIPS Plus - stronger intellectual property rights than what we agreed to at the WTO. And AGOA wasn’t even started by him. But he’ll try to take the credit.
And aid? Well, not such a pretty picture either. Where do you think the majority of US goes to? Who do you think gets the majority of aid from the US? Three countries gets more than everyone else combined - Israel, Egypt and Iraq. The rest must fight for the crumbs. And the little bit that filters through to us at the bottom all come with strings attached. They even call it tied aid. You want some US aid? Sure, no problem. But you have to use US companies to do the work. They can’t deliver? Your problem not mine. They are not here to help build the African economies and capacity. No, they are here to help US companies get their hands on the aid. I call it diverted subsidies. They just divert the subsidies via an African government. It’s called money laundering in some countries.
And his most controversial strategy under his aid package comes under health. Yes, he is pouring money into this, but this is throwing more money at failures - like so many other things he has done. Health aid is is the biggest joke. Want to deal with HIV/Aids? No problem. We have more than enough money for you. What, you want to give it to people with HIV/Aids? You want to give medicines to people who are actually sick? Don’t be ridiculous. We want you to tell people that the best way to fight these diseases is by not having sex. Yep, you are right President Bush. This is the best way. But the problem is that this doesn’t actually help those who already have HIV/Aids. And have you ever looked around at teenagers today? Think they won’t have sex because you say they shouldn’t? Since when do they listen to anyone? Yes, we would like them to not have sex, but we also need to ensure that they are prepared for when they do - because our wise words won’t work on its own. Asking them to not have sex is like asking politicians to stop making bad decisions. It makes perfect sense, but you better be prepared for the bad decisions because that is just in their nature.
And his worse idea ever for Africa? Ever heard of Africom? This is his plan to put a military command centre in Africa. This will help fight the baddies of the world I guess. And specifically the baddies in Africa. Mr Bush, this is a really bad idea. You are struggling to win the war in other regions, so how do you expect to win one here? The US got their backsides kicked the last time they were here. Go watch the movie Blackhawk Down and you’ll see why. This is NO conventional warfare and you are not ready for the bad places here. Places like Darfur makes Baghdad look like a Sunday picnic. And where do you want to have this Africom? South Africa and Nigeria has said no way. But Liberia said no problem. Will you take that chance? Bet you won’t want to fight your war on terror from there though. They might be stable now but terror is still a very recent memory in Liberia.
President Bus, you also seem a bit selective in picking your enemies. How would you make that work in Africa? You say that you will help those who are oppressed and killed by their governments. But you sit back and say that Darfur isn’t your problem. Human right? Okay for China and Saudi Arabia, so I guess Zimbabwe is okay as well. Military dictators okay as long as they say they like you - like Pakistan? You will love Equatorial Guinea then. Oil and a military dictator that says he loves you. And human rights abuses thrown in just to show how much he cares for your friendship.
Oh yes, the war on terror. That helped Africa lots. You just diverted the attention away from what is needed in Africa to your own oil agenda. And you took the money that direction as well. Not only your own, but everyone else and their money as well. See England and France and all those rich countries now have to put money into fixing your war torn areas and they take it from the money that would have gone into Africa. Diverting aid - you have your ways and means of always getting that right. What kind of message do you send people when you tell them that money will go to those who you define as terrorist. And that once you have bombed them to pieces you will spend money on rebuilding. What? Should African countries first be a threat before you will pay attention? Sorry, not in our nature.
President Bush you have to decide - you are either for us or against us. But you can’t be neutral. And you can’t say you are for us and then act as if you are against us. We aren’t Pakistan you know. We say what we mean, not what you want to hear. We believe a mature relationship should be based on an open and honest approach. No one should get Bushwhacked you see.
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8 responses so far ↓
Terry // February 16, 2008 at 3:50 pm
You may want to have a look at this article as well. It expresses the opinion of a Tanzanian who thinks the Bush visit is not the best thing to happen.
http://www.netnewspublisher.com/tanzanians-are-dishonouring-themselves/
Miriam // February 16, 2008 at 6:54 pm
great column…and one correction..Israel singly gets MORE US aid than all of sub-Saharan Africa combined…not to mention that they have one of the highest per capita incomes in the entire region…but you left OUT Jordan which gets lots of payoff, um , I mean aid…I dont really think that its fair to say that Iraq is getting aid!! after all we’ve slaughtered perhaps a million or more, displaced as much 4+ million and given all contract work to NON Iraqis, on NO BID contracts to filthy rich US corporation s which are buddies of the Bush Cheney gang…dont ask ask any Iraq to see if they call what the US”gives” them is aid….besides we hardly read a word about the massive bombing raids that the US is laying on Iraq these days…approximately 100,000 tons of bombs quite frequently…I read that the air base (Balad) is second in air traffic ONLY to Heathrow in London…550 missions/sorties daily…IS THAT POSSIBLE and not one MSM is reporting that in the US….how surprising? not. forgive my snarky cynicism but Africa is the only place that Bush hasn’t gone and messed up REALLY bad, YET. he has no where else to go…he’s pulling a Clinton (for his legacy)…to show how “compassionate” he is…its hard to believe there’s anyone anywhere that allows him to step on their soil….especially HERE in the US…He should be marched away in an orange jumpsuit like they wear in Texas….
Did you know that his daughter Jenna Goody 2 shoes completed a land deal for the Bush family last summer in South America…in Paraguay actually…nearly 100,000 acres…atop one THE primo major water resources in the Western hemisphere…located close to a major military base as well….can be verified…
thanks for your blog site …interested in keeping up with what is going on in CAR, Congo and Djibouti if you have any recommended sites…
I’d appreciate it….
wan ge sagey
Erich // February 17, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Is this person serious? Bush is going to the safe parts of Africa? Have you BEEN to Liberia?
As an American, and as a person who has been to Africa several times in my 33 years-including Liberia 3 times in 2000, for you to believe that rebels don’t exist 30 miles outside of Monrovia is absurd. And for your ignorance, the airport Roberts Field, is 35 miles outside of Monrovia.
If you want to bitch about America’s foreign policy towards America, then perhaps you should start with Clinton. Clinton, if you’d recall, wouldn’t send troops into Rwanda, during the worst genocide since WWII. Albright, the Secretary of State, mentions this as her biggest regret. That, and I’m sure she regrets making the statement that Iraq DID have WMD stockpiles just 20 days prior to the end of the Clinton Administration and the beginning of the great Bush.
Kofi Annan received a phone call from Albright saying this on 8 Jan., 2001-(source: wikipedia: Madeleine Albright).
Furthermore, how many African lives were lost during the two embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya? What?? 400?
Say what you want about Bush’s foreign policy towards other countries, and in your case-continents-but Africa has seen billions in aid from Bush, more exports in oil to America-the largest consumer of crude oil, and for some reason…. THERE HAS BEEN NO TERRORISM IN AFRICA RESULTING FROM AL QEIDA…
Perhaps Bush is a little bit more responsible for Africa’s well-being than you would care to give credit to?
Bush has been to Africa two times in his 8 years, yet. As much as I hate to say it, America’s Presidents don’t spend much time there anyhow. Clinton went to Africa no more than I can remember, and if he did-it wasn’t much.
What you and everyone else needs to understand about Africa is: Africa is a continent of developing countries with a lot of corruption. This is not common in the rest of the world and the ideals of African culture do not echo any other culture in the world.
From my stand point, however, I think it’s great. I love Africa. If Bush were smarter, he’d go to Zimbabwe and buy up as much ZIM currency as possible-wait for Mugabe to get his ass out of there, and wait for the trade budget to balance like it had for years before.
I was in Liberia as a guest of Edwin Snowe, then the President of the Liberia Football Association. Snowe was the son-in-law of Pres. Charles Taylor. One day we were asked to have lunch with President Taylor which we did, and to this day I have video of it. My company makes footballs and did so for several FA’s.
In 2000 and 2001, Liberia made an outstanding run towards the finals of the World Cup, 2002 Japan/Korea. I was there on 9 July, 2000 when Liberia beat Nigeria. I had made some great friends, including Youth and Sports Minister Francois Mossaqui-who was later gunned down by Taylor.
My question, after having been in Africa and doing business in Africa myself, is why are you bashing Bush, who is obviously coming there with America’s wallet wide open, when there are plenty of other people who aren’t doing a damn thing for Africa that you could be writing about?
You are a “slogan” author. You’re attacking Bush because you foolishly believe that the entire world hates America and Bush when, take it from me, this is not true. I travel internationally 2 weeks out of every month and while I have heard of some displeasure of America and its policy, I have seen the complete opposite for the majority of my travels.
In Africa, you will see the streets lined up with people who have no shoes, dirty clothes, hungry stomachs, corrupted minds, who will praise George Bush. That’s the truth.
Say what you want, but you are definitely in the minority. Africa is too big to get generalised together anyway. West Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa are great places. East Africa is too. Having been to more than 40 countries in Africa, I can say that people need to watch out because Africa is coming on strong.
My guess is that America and China will compete for Africa’s exports. My second guess is: You will be writing that America is “raping Africa of its resources”, and not a word about China.. Just like everyone else. America is not a bad place at all.
Your site is great, BTW… But the title is not. Either way, let’s all help to make Africa a better place. I am doing my part: Exporting African goods to the rest of the world…. And yes, what a great business to be in…
Erich // February 17, 2008 at 7:54 pm
The US got their backsides kicked the last time they were there? Watch Blackhawk down?
You’re a sad, ignorant person. First of all… Mogadishu was a “peacekeeping” process. Secondly, like most peacekeepers, they were instructed not to fire because Clinton had no idea of keeping a military safe.
If you call having a couple of soldiers bodies’ dragged through the streets of Somolia “getting their backsides kicked”, you are truly and ignorant person.
I bet you won’t post this. Seriously, there is no African nation that has any idea of modern-day warfare. You have no technology, no training, and no experience.
If you seriously think that Darfur makes Baghdad look like a “picnic”, then you, again, are full of hot air.
Have you ever been to Monrovia? How about Kigali? I have and let me tell you, it’s nothing special. Darfur isn’t either.
Get real… If the US wanted to take over Somolia in 93, THEY WOULD HAVE… If the US wanted to stop the situation in Darfur, THEY WOULD.
If you want to know anything about the US flexing their muscle at all in Africa, ask Khadafi about his house in Libya when Reagan took it out. Ask the Aspirin factory in Sudan about Clinton’s stupidity-yet the bomb that dropped was no joke.
You have got to be kidding to think that the US is having any trouble at all in the wars they are engaged in. They took Baghdad over in what??? THREE WEEKS? That’s a country who had SERIOUS munitions-not machetes like African militaries have.
Africa is full of AK-47s, machetes from China, and sticks made from militia men who have no idea why they’re even fighting.
Note: The AK-47’s are more than 30 years in most cases.
If you think all of the militaries in Africa combined can defend itself from the US, you are sadly mistaken.
Sorry to burst your bubble man. It looks like you have a great site going, but it’s full of ignorance in some spots.
I do hope, however, that you are successful in creating a better “Africa” and continent of unity.
I can see why you included South Africa in the military mites in Africa, but Nigeria isn’t anywhere close to even South Africa, and Senegal isn’t even one of the top in Africa. You’ve forgotten Egypt and Kenya and Mali.
As far as countries who have strong militaries, you have to look at the technology they have. And as much as Africans hate to hear this, Chinese technology is just old American technology from 20 years ago. I know that West Africa is full of Lebanese influence with Taiwan not too far behind, and Southern Africa is full of influence from UK, Dutch, and some other countries, but Africa is really home to the weakest militaries in the world.
AFRICOM would stop a lot of the Libyan influenced rebels from attacking their governments like in Monrovia and Abidjan. If you think the US won’t put AFRICOM in Liberia, think again.
My prediction: Liberia will prevail. They have rid themselves of a ruthless tyrant, Taylor and have installed a brilliant government who is doing what the rest of Africa should do.
I have lived in Liberia and trust me, they love Americans and they love Bush. I’ve been to the embassies of the United States in Mamba Point (the largest embassy in the world), Abidjan (Plateau), Ghana, Nigeria, S Africa, Zimbabwe (Causeway), Senegal, Sierra Leone, Benin, Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Swaziland (Consulate), and a few other places and I recall several times the locals waiting in line or in the chairs in the streets for visas to go to America looking at my passport and wanting to touch it.
The fact of the matter is, while I believe it is good for you to question authority, I also believe it would be in your best interest to embrace the United States.
If you really wanted to make a difference with your site, perhaps you should make a submittal to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and make a bigger site to reach more people? I have done this successfully myself and let me tell you: they have a HUGE interest in Africa.
You obviously have a passion with a good message-whether people like me agree with it or not. I do appreciate your freedom to speak and I am with you in doing everything to make Africa into a great continent of great countries.
How will that happen? HEALTHY ECONOMIES!
good luck!
angryafrican // February 18, 2008 at 11:43 am
Please note that the comment sections DO NOT reflect my opinion. Jeeze, I have to comment on my own pieces due to the reaction. But please remember that I do not claim to be right. I just have a half informed opinion that I hope will result in a mature debate. That’s the idea of the blog in the first place.
But just a few corrections.
1. Miriam. I did not make this piece about Israel specifically. I wanted people to focus on Africa. I also don’t want to get involved in an Iraq debate even though I think that Iraq is an important issue. Both of these issues bring a high level of emotions into the debate and it opens a debate that no one is willing to really engage in. People just can’t agree to even be civil when it comes to either Israel or Iraq. I am not blaming anyone, just saying the it is a futile debate for me to get involved in.
2. Erich. I published this comment of yours instead of the other two you posted. But on the war front. You are talking conventional war here. I am not. My point was that Bush declared the war in Iraq done-and-dusted. But you know it is not. Bombs still going off every day. It is a different type of war from either the World Wars. The same reason why the US struggled in Vietnam. Pinpoint accuracy didn’t work and you might take out a few building, but the struggle to fight every place and everyone makes it impossible to win. Yes, Baghdad was taken in 3 weeks and how is it going over there right now? But no one can touch the US when it comes to the army - you are right. The US will kick butt when it comes to conventional warfare. But this isn’t one and that it the problem with terrorism like Al Queda and their mates. They don’t fight a conventional war and that’s why it is so difficult to take them out. I don’t have the answer - I am not from a military background. But I know that current tactics won’t get rid of Al Queda either.
And I didn’t say that South Africa is a military leader. I said that Bush wasn’t going to visit the big countries in Africa - meaning those who hold influence at the AU, NEPAD, WTO, G8 etc - South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal (and yes Egypt). If he wants to influence Africa he has to go to those who hold influence. Just look at who runs the African positions at the WTO, G8, NEPAD and AU - those three. I know - I worked with and at all those institutions.
Also please remember what I wrote in the email to you. Africans in general do NOT hate America. We admire the freedom that Americans hold on to. The fact that people can say what they want in the US. And we like Americans. We find them more like Africans than any other group out there. Yes, the UK included. But don’t think that people like Bush. That is a different story. Go look at the Pew Polls and others. They all come up with the same result - America and Americans are loved by Africans, but Bush not. Yes, there are a few countries where he is more popular than in others. But even here it is limited to the 50% range at best. Africans know that people are different from Presidents. You should know this - you have travelled in Africa. Taylor doesn’t tell you anything about the average Liberian and Mugabe doesn’t tell you much about the average Zimbabwean. We don’t like those two leaders, but it doesn’t mean we don’t like the country or the people. Different issue.
Lastly, we do agree on something - let’s make Africa better. And remember. This blog is meant to stimulate debate. I just hope that people won’t read into this that I am either bashing America and Americans or love everything about Africa. Neither are right. I love America and Americans. I am pretty much a loving kinda guy - don’t like fighting too much. And Africa has its bad parts and it’s good parts. We are just human like everyone else.
Ekokoi // February 18, 2008 at 6:56 pm
For the record: President Bush did go to Senegal. Not just this time around.
Indga // April 13, 2008 at 2:17 pm
WHy don’t you stop whining about an American president? Why should America have to give Africa aid when Africa is rich in mineral and other resources? Think about it. Why does Africa still need aid in the 21st century? Instead of focusing on what outsiders can do for you, what can you do for your countries? Many of you, when you get in power, only want to rape the land and rob the people, then you want to stretch your hand out to America for help. Why not use the bioengineered corn to avoid famine? Why not elect trustworthy people? Why don’t you stop killing each other over ethnic and tribal issues? I don’t much care what you all think about my president. I know he has done a lot of good on the continent. If you think he should’ve done more, then grant him citizenship and invite him to become your president.
jakealope // April 26, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Angry,
I appreciate your comment. I found the link from the pajamamedia, you know, those second rate right wing pundits who are sending the mainstream media(the ones that don’t wear their ignorant slant and subjective POV) down the river. It was the BizzyBlog moron’s post about how Bush is a Saint since he curing AIDS in Africa. You were about the only commenter there who had a lick of integrity and intelligence. But Bush does deserve some credit for his AIDS initiative, but to those mindless Bushbots, he should be canonized.
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