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Woyanne TV interviews Condoleezza Rice – embarassing

Posted on , Updated on by Elias Kifle

Editor’s Note:
Condoleezza Rice sounds completely ignorant of the issues at hand in this interview with Ethiopian Woyanne TV. It seems that she did not even read H.R. 2003, which was passed unanimously by the U.S. House of Representatives. She would do Ethiopians and all the people of Africa a big favor by staying out of African politics and focus on her area of expertise — the “Soviet Union.” As a former admirer of Dr Rice, I am shocked by her shallowness and cold-bloodedness (lack of compassion) toward the victims of Woyanne. Read the embarrassing interview below:

_______________________________________
Interview With Tefera Gedamu of Ethiopia Woyanne TV
Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
December 5, 2007

QUESTION: Thank you, Madame Secretary, for offering to sit for this interview. It’s a pleasure.

SECRETARY RICE: Yes, pleasure to be with you.

QUESTION: You had a fairly busy day.

SECRETARY RICE: Yeah.

QUESTION: You came this morning and you’re leaving tonight.

SECRETARY RICE: Yes.

QUESTION: And — but you’re basically running into very big issues in the Horn of Africa and in Somalia. Does it concern you? Do you know —

SECRETARY RICE: Well, yes, of course. Somalia is very concerning. Of course, Ethiopia has troops deployed in Somalia to try and help bring stability, but the real answers to Somalia will lie in a peaceful resolution, the broadening of the government base. I plan later to meet with the Prime Minister to talk about the need to broaden the basis for leadership in Somalia. And of course, Ethiopian forces need to be relieved by peacekeeping forces. And so I have just had a chance to meet with Chairman Konare and with others to talk about — and I’ll have a ministerial in a little bit — to help talk about the need to get peacekeeping forces into Somalia.

QUESTION: But we had the issue of peacekeeping force — it was a very serious issue a year ago and a year since, nothing is happening.

SECRETARY RICE: Yes.

QUESTION: Yes, indeed, Ban Ki-moon said this very clearly to deploy international peacekeeping force. What is happening? I mean, the Ethiopians are there and the Prime Minister said he already told him many times —

SECRETARY RICE: Yes.

QUESTION: — we’d rather be replaced by any multinational force.

SECRETARY RICE: Yes.

QUESTION: It wasn’t happening.

SECRETARY RICE: Well, and I fully understand that Ethiopia needs and wants to redeploy and it should be able to redeploy. We appreciate very much the Ugandan forces who are there. We appreciate that Burundi has said that it will deploy and we have tried to help — the United States is trying to help with the Burundi deployment. But I am working hard, we’re all working hard to find other forces to supplement the Ugandan and Burundi forces.

QUESTION: Who are going to be those forces?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I’m talking to a number of countries. I think there are a number of possibilities, but it’s going to help if there’s also a sense of growing stability for the Somali Transitional Government, because after all, no one really wants to be in a circumstance in which the violence is increasing. And so there’s a lot of work to do, but we are — that’s one reason that I’m here, is to raise awareness of it and to see if we can come to some solutions.

QUESTION: Are there any green lights out there?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I do think we have to solve this problem. I felt in talking with Ban Ki-moon earlier and now in talking with Chairman Konare, that people know that there’s a problem to be solved; we just have to — we have to find a way to actually — to actually implement the solution.

QUESTION: But the new prime minister is for it, just that he wants to —

SECRETARY RICE: Yes, he does, and by all accounts, he is a good man. By all accounts, he is a respected man. This is going to be an issue, though, of not just one person. It’s going to be an issue of finding a base for the government in Somalia that can bring the widest group of people into governance, people who are not in any way tainted by terrorism.

QUESTION: That, you’re sure, is not going to include the Islamic Courts, even the liberal element of the —

SECRETARY RICE: Well, it can include, I think, people who can be a part of Somalia’s future who have not been compromised by terror and that means anyone who hasn’t and isn’t still committed to terror. And so I will talk with the Prime Minister about how he plans to do that.

QUESTION: Well, so does it mean that — is there any possibility that the — some of the elements who have participated in a conference in Asmara, Eritrea, was it two — two months ago?

SECRETARY RICE: Yes, yes.

QUESTION: Is there any —

SECRETARY RICE: Yes, I would hope that we could bring those elements back. That conference was, frankly, not very successful and we have to analyze why it was not successful. We have to bring more elements to the table. But I think it starts with a commitment by the Somali leadership to be inclusive and that’s what I want to gauge and to assure with the Prime Minister today.

QUESTION: But it had several elements in (inaudible) Asmara, Eritrea (inaudible) and they have — they seem to have a very strong voice.

SECRETARY RICE: Yes.

QUESTION: Is that a concern to the peace processes (inaudible)?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, this is not going to be easy. Somalia has not had stability for almost two decades. And it’s not going to be easy to find the right political formula. It’s not going to be easy to deploy peacekeepers. It’s not going to be easy for Ethiopian forces to redeploy and not leave a vacuum, but that’s the task before us, is to achieve those elements. And so I hope by having the ministerial here today with the concerned parties, I hope by going back and working hard on our troop contributors and as the United States has done in helping Burundi, also helping to — at the end, that we can make some progress.

QUESTION: Interesting. Where do you stand on the issue of Eritrea? Secretary Frazer several months ago said that you are planning — that the U.S. Government is planning to put Eritrea on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. What are you —

SECRETARY RICE: Well, we are looking at exactly that because we are very concerned about the efforts of Eritrea and what it is doing. And in fact, we have taken some steps because the support for irregular forces, for terrorist forces is simply unacceptable. We hope, at the same time, that there can be efforts for Eritrea and Ethiopia to keep open dialogue or, I should say, to open dialogue about their problems. But the support of Eritrea for forces that are destabilizing is problematic and we’ve made that very clear.

QUESTION: And so do you have a timetable to —

SECRETARY RICE: We are working. We don’t put these things on timetables, but I think it’s just extremely important.

QUESTION: But was that before your government (inaudible) office?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, before my — we only have the time until we are out of office. And so we will take as many steps as we can while we’re in office.

QUESTION: It’s very interesting. Let me bring you down here to Ethiopia. Apparently, there is the H.R. 2003 in the pipeline and it’s going to — soon it’s going to be on the table in the Senate?

SECRETARY RICE: Yes.

QUESTION: How would that —

SECRETARY RICE: Well, the Administration is against this proposal, this resolution,

and we’ve made that very clear. We don’t think this is the way to solve the problem.

Look, it would help and I will say to the Ethiopian leaders with whom I meet, it will help if there is attention to humanitarian circumstances and conditions in the Ogaden and in other regions on the borders. It — there really does need to be support for people who are caught in the most difficult circumstances, displaced people, refugees. And humanitarian quarters really do need to be maintained.

I understand the security concerns, but we can’t allow this to get in the way of helping innocent people who have just been caught in the basis of the conflict. And that will help the Administration to make very clear that the — we are resolving these problems with Ethiopia voluntarily and that there is no need for something like this particular House resolution.

QUESTION: So if this bill passes, some critics of the bill say that – the United States is going to repeat the same mistake, indeed, way back in 1979, (inaudible).

SECRETARY RICE: Well, it is why we — one of the reasons that we are close to it. We don’t think that separation from the Ethiopian Government, we don’t think that isolation from the Ethiopian Government is going to help at this point. We do think that good, honest, candid discussion and action about what can be done about some of the problems that have arisen do — admittedly, due to conflicts, but there are innocent people who are involved here and the humanitarian situation needs to be dealt with.

QUESTION: Let me take you to the Ogaden. Have you had reports coming from out there?

SECRETARY RICE: Yes, we have had — we have had reports and we’ve been very clear that we believe that the opening of humanitarian corridors is absolutely essential and the maintenance of those humanitarian corridors is absolutely essential. I understand, again, the security threat and concern. I understand the concern. But we’ve worked very, very diligently to try and help relief agencies, nongovernmental agencies to be able to deal with the humanitarian situation there and we need the cooperation of the Ethiopian Government.

QUESTION: One last question. Do you think that the ONLF is a terrorist organization?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, certainly a — what we’d call a negative force and these organizations need to be dealt with. I had a very good discussion this morning about this kind of problem in the — and the problem of irregular forces that are causing instability. But in all these cases, the real answer is that we’ve got to, in all of these areas where we have a post-conflict situation, we’ve got to establish credible, political, and peace processes so that those who wish to be a part of the future can be a part of the future and those who do not can be dealt with.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, thank you very much for your time today. It was a pleasure.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much. Thank you.

Source: State Department

33 thoughts on “Woyanne TV interviews Condoleezza Rice – embarassing”

  2. It is a disaster, she has no clue or she is not willing to discuss what is happening really in the Horn of Africa, the blame lies squarely on the US Embassy in Addis as well as on Jandaye Fraser who is doing the worst job ever with respect to the crimes and genocide being committed in Ethiopia and Somalia.

    What a shame!!

  4. Guys,

    Have you expected Condi to read about Ethiopia ? Most probably she is briefed for 30 minutes by Jendayi. That’s it.

    One item that I have noticed is that she categorized the ONLF as “terrorist”. The state department gave VISAs to the ONLF leaders few month ago. Does that mean they let in terrorists ?

    Terrorists are TPLF leaders who are burning villages to the ground, who are puting in concentration camps hundred of thousands civilians , who are massacring people indiscriminately.

  8. Did she do a good or bad Job? Well, it depends on what we expect from her. It was my read that she was trying to avoid answering sicerely about 95% of the reporters questions.

  9. There might be less than a handful of the opposition’s print and broadcast journalists with credentials and skill in the diaspora atleast known to the average reader and listener. The role of Journalist Kiflle Mulat as president of Ethiopian Journalsts in Exile (I stay corrected if any thing has changed), is not that obvious. Two or more of the known name “journalists” have been so absorbed in internal politics of just one party and in endless propaganda, they have lost their crediblity. You probably know who I mean. It has been said by so many so far.

    As a net work, the ones in exile among the best could have formed a very strong union. join some press corps and have access to high profile influential people including Secretary Rice, right here in the USA. Your recent announcement to launch Ethiopian Review Net Work Radio sounds promising as it includes talents from Nigat, international (VOA and the German radio), and three others (may be less known) already lined up for permenant programing. The problem is, what to expect under association with Ethiopian Review.

    Woyane interviewer or not, as long as he is convincing, people will be more and more drawn to that media. So the bottom line is for the opposition media in the diaspora, to regain its credability. Tefera Gedamu did not come through as a regime directed journalist. It was simplified may be for a reason.

    Secretary Rice is pro this regime and atleast she was right out honest that she does not support HR2003, however, she seems mindful of the humanitarian crisis under the same subject of the bill.

  10. We need to realize that as long as the US gets what they want, they will not give a damn about “Africans”, especially the current administration. It’s sad to see such ignorant people like these are in control of so many innocent lives. Yasaznal!

  12. Tefera Gedamu is an urdent supporter of woyane, as you know he is also a woyane by his blood, every night when he drinks draft beer around the place he lives(actually he is awarded an apartment near Ras shell, for his contribution for woyane)he always insulted, the respected,intellectual elected leader of ethiopia the kinijits,in a very rudementary way, no wander if he is against the will of ethiopans (HR 2003) and he is also responsible for the june massacar because he provided information about individuals, actually the day will come that we askes him for the death of those innocent people.

  13. TPLF does not have an idea that Madam Secretary is just like any ordinary citizen.

    She can talk what she has been fed by Comrade Jenda Frazer, who is Al Moudis and Zenawi mouth piece.

    The people of USA will prevail.

    Dictators will be toppled. Ethiopians do not beg anyone to do them favours.
    HR 2003 primarly helps the US. Any benefit to Ethiopians is secondary. Of course the loser will be the TPLF tyrants. Therfore, the ball in Jenda Frazers and Rices office.

    We will prevail.
    HR 2003 will become a law. Make sure you contact your Senators today.

  14. I don’t think she hasn’t read the bill. Rather it is clear that as long as the Bush administration is benefited from its relationship with the Weyane, at least in the short run, in the so called “war on terror”, they don’t care about the humanitarian situation be it in Ethiopia or the other part of the world. Same is happening in Pakistan. Look friends how America is becoming the evil of the world. How United States is a legal terrorist to this fucken world as well. Even it seems that they are encouraging the butcher. Any ways it will be a matter of time for the truth to come to the front.

    God bless Ethiopia and the rest of the world!

  15. Hello guys there is no such a thing called diplomatic humanitarianism. It is all diplomatic self-serving and well studied pretense. so do not take American politicians’ words naively. They only care about and serve the rich and powerful elites behind the whole drama of government and senate. In Ethiopia we do not have leaders, rather tyrants who do not have any bounds from morally prostitute in all occasions just to remain in power. Remember being in power means taking the top quality cream of everything the nation produces, it means comfort and feeling of invincibility. As short sighted and weak humans are, who gives that up easily? Not the sorts of bands woyanea is made of! So we do not have to trivialize the demand ahead of us to remove the woyanea thugs – we have to rely on ourselves and we have to be stronger and more disciplined than woyanea! And condi is only one actor in the political show that has already taken it stand long time ago in favor of the errand boys band(the Meles Inc.)! It is not new and we have to work against this naked self-serving indifference.
    abekahu lezarea!

  16. You call this an interview? trash.

    Elias Kifle, you used to like this person? What is there to like about her, past or present? Is it because she is black or republican? You habashas amaze me!!!

    No republican would help Ethiopia. If there is anything to come from America, support may come from Democrats only, believe it or not. And there is one most important thing that we habashas forget, freedom comes from within. we have to do away with a black slave mentality! Liberation of Ethiopia depends on Ethipians only.

  17. It seems that the priority for officials of the Bush Administration is self promotion; and as a strategy they think they will succeed if they are able to work in harmony with authorities in the countries of their assignment. That is the problem with the Ass. Sec for East Africa and others in the Embassy and USAID. Most of them do not represent the values of the American people. Their personal interest makes them easy to be ‘Woyanized’, and get the rest of the US administration infected. They are finishing their terms achieving less than expectation. Most of their time is wasted trying to reverse the results of their miscalculation

    The Diaspora has so far done well in exposing to the US public the impact of the misguided policy of the Administration on our people. What ever the administration prefers to do disregarding the voice of the Ethiopian people, we (Ethiopians at home and outside) should keep on working hard with genuine selfless Americans in making the truth known to the American people.

  18. Hailu,I agree with you about the fact that the real terrorist in Ethiopia and the Horn Africa is the TPLF.Candy Rice should go to Dhagahbur,Fiq,Kabridahar,Wardher,Dhanan,Godey,Garbo Dhuhun and the area in between and see the TPLF in action.There,The TPLF do not pretend to hide it`s true nature of terrorism with breathtaking cruelty and savagery.The ONLF are freedom fighters who are protecting their community from TPLF killers

  19. I am surprised by the questions too. Is she interviewed by a jornalist who can’t even complete his/her sentences?
    There is no substance and focus in the questions. The answers are even worse.

    READ THE FOLLOWING. CONY HAS NO CLUE ABOUT THIS CONFERENCE N ASMARA!

    QUESTION: Well, so does it mean that — is there any possibility that the — some of the elements who have participated in a conference in Asmara, Eritrea, was it two — two months ago?

    SECRETARY RICE: Yes, yes.

    QUESTION: Is there any –

    SECRETARY RICE: Yes, I would hope that we could bring those elements back. That conference was, frankly, not very successful and we have to analyze why it was not successful. We have to bring more elements to the table. But I think it starts with a commitment by the Somali leadership to be inclusive and that’s what I want to gauge and to assure with the Prime Minister today.

    QUESTION: But it had several elements in (inaudible) Asmara, Eritrea (inaudible) and they have — they seem to have a very strong voice.

    SECRETARY RICE: Yes

  22. All the questions were designed to extract crucial information from her about HR-2003 and for the woyanne to map out the next strategy on how to go about.

    Since Meles Zinawi and his crime family are extremely worried about being taken responsible for the crime they committed on all Ethiopians and be accountable for all injuctice they committed aginst Ethiopians, getting a supportive information would make them breath worryless.

    We Ethiopians must make sure that the HR-2003 must be implimented on time so that Ethiopians shall move on to the next task.

  24. Hi there;

    It is time to strengthen ourselves to convinvce key Republicans about the essence of HR 2003. Otherwise woyane would continue its theatrical art.

    cheers

  25. Elias,

    I for once completely I agree with you. Every time she was asked about the bill, she talked about the human right situation in Ogaden. I don’t think she read the bill, because if she had read the bill she wouldn’t have given it such a narrow focus, unless of course she was trying, by diverting attention from it, to diminish the main focus of the bill, which is the woyanne government’s human rights, democracy and freedom record throughout Ethiopia, predating the situation in Ogaden, and much wider in scope. Even in other aspects of the interview, I founder her less informed and as choppy as the woyanne interviewer himself.

  26. lowclasspolitics,

    I don’t believe there should be much expectation there.
    -As you might know, her former position and expertise was as National Security Adviser to the G.W. Bush administration.

    She had gone through rigourous questioning by US congress on her role as National Security Adviser, September 11, 2001 disaster and if she paid attention to the August letter from an FBI agent about possible threats from Al Quaida. Terriorist threat and its task on security from US most likely will continue by future administrations and other countries who cooperate in the effort. What makes this administration different is, it happened the very first year they took office, and they have been deligent about it and making it a priority.

    Secretary Rice in her current position, her role atleast seems diplomatic efforts, although her goal for democratization of the globe is over shadowed by conflict of interest of keeping an eye on terriorists, preventive majors and have good relations like the current Ethiopian regime. To hold off military assistanne to such an ally and in such times as is suggested in HR2003 obviously is declined. Her relation is with Ethiopia’s regime and its compatability for trust. Ethiopia’s internal affair is addressed through congress and the proposed bill.

    If it ends up on Preident G.W. Bush’s desk before he leaves office, and Ethiopia’s human right condition has not improved, he might send it back to be modufied (amended) and/or the 2/3 theory might apply. Chances are it might end up on a a future presiden’t desk. Ethiopians who support HR2003 might as well also keep up with the election year debates, and determine who they support.

  27. Rice has all the information ready when she planned this trip. She knows as much as anyone about the situation in Ethiopia. But the heart of the US policy anywhere in the world is to protect the American interest. How many times have we heard the phrase “the national interest” when the US is planning its move around the world? Right now, the Meles regime is pretending to provide that interest to the US by waging an ethnic cleansing war in the Ogaden and a mercenary war in Somalia. And why would the US try to change this arrangement? The national interest of the US lies in preserving and strengthening this arrangement regardless of who is hurt in the process. And that, my friends, is the history of the US foreign policy. It does not matter which party is in office, democrats or republicans, this is the nature of the game.

    Some of you who are under the impression that things might change for the better in Ethiopia if the democrats are in power, all I can say is that it is a wishful dream. Gephardt (a democrat and ex-minority leader of the house) and Dick Army, a very conservative republican were the ones who were spearheading the defeat of HR2003 in the house. Rep. Chris Smith ( a republican) and Rep. Donald Paine ( a democrat) were another duo who supported and who were very instrumental in the passage of he bill in the house. There goes the democrats are better than the republicans theory when it comes to foreign policy. The foreign policy of America does not favor any country or people except that of the US. Until this becomes very clear for all of us, everything we write about any of the US politicians is just meaningless.

    I have been lately wondering what would have been the relationship of Kinijit with the US had they been in a position of power? Would they have pursued the same type of policy in Somalia and the Ogaden with the help of the US? It is much easier to oppose and reject policies when you are in opposition of the ruling party, but what would be the position of Kinijit if they assumed power right now? Would they withdraw Ethiopian troops from Somalia and listen to what the ONLF is suggesting? Would they sit down with all other opposition forces and lead by consensus? Just wondering.

  28. She confused HR bill 2003, which focusses on Human Rights situation in Ethiopia with the “Ogaden” crisis. For sure she didn’t read it. May be she was delibrately mislead by the US embassy in Addis Ababa. But it is indeed a big embarassment for her not to know what the US conngress has passed in a unanimous vote. Even the interviewer may have been laughing loud inside.

  30. What do you expect from the curent American administration who is closely tied with TPLF?.This curent adminstrtion will remain against Hr 2003.We need to keep on working, should not bend our neck.No matter what it take, it will be real.
    thanks

  31. As much as Secretary Rice is intellegent on many issues, she failed to address HR2003 issue. She appeared clueless and her response “We don’t think this is the way to solve the problem.” – What problem is she talking about. HR 2003 is about being accountable.

    Here is Secretary Rice’s response on the HR2003.
    ——————–
    “SECRETARY RICE: Well, the Administration is against this proposal, this resolution,

    and we’ve made that very clear. We don’t think this is the way to solve the problem.

    Look, it would help and I will say to the Ethiopian leaders with whom I meet, it will help if there is attention to humanitarian circumstances and conditions in the Ogaden and in other regions on the borders. It — there really does need to be support for people who are caught in the most difficult circumstances, displaced people, refugees. And humanitarian quarters really do need to be maintained.

    I understand the security concerns, but we can’t allow this to get in the way of helping innocent people who have just been caught in the basis of the conflict. And that will help the Administration to make very clear that the — we are resolving these problems with Ethiopia voluntarily and that there is no need for something like this particular House resolution. ”
    ————————————————-

    Where is the relationship of her response with the bill? She is talking about the issue of humanitarian assistance on the Ogaden region and that’s a great concern but not HR2003.

    We must do whatever it takes for the bill to pass in the senate. Call your senators, fax them to support it and email. Cooperate with others supporting the bill.

  32. Mebet Yetebek,

    I think she has left some open room by stating her position in such comments as, “…there really does need to be support for people who are caught in the most difficult circumstances….”.

    As you know the bill’s important existance emerged after the 2005 crisis in Ethiopia, and its theme is human rights. How to utilize that by HR2003 supporters has had some relative success so far. ( The release of prisoners of coscience and its passage 100% by congress). As the rest of the bills will face more challenges and a debate in the senate, the person who provided the Secretary’s e-mail might be an optimist.

  33. i read the interview of madam rice, and i am very surprised with her response about the HR2003.ofcouse, i doubt the knowledege of madam secretary about the details of HR 2003 when i heared that the bill is not important for the improvement of the harsh situations in ethiopia. in deed, the respected secretary seems to appease the dictatorial regime of melese solong as it keeps the interest of the big doner of this hateful government. but hear miss condolessa seems forget one big fact. as all of us know, governments may come and governments may go and only the state and the people may remain eternal. so, it is better to think in the new arena of politics. in the current situation, advocating makavellian politics is not only outfashined but also it is not profitablefor anybody. because, everybody is aware what is going at global level let alone his/her country. in my opinion the insability of this world is partly a result of this makavellian politics. it is also clear that the hostile countries of us america is increasing because of her old fashined politics. therefore, i advise the arcitects of the us government to think about it seriously and work for the future strong relationship of ethiopia.otherwise, tomorrow ethiopia will be another somalia because we know what happens in somalia is a result of lack of good governance and democracy. it is obvious, tomorrow the dictatorial regime of melese will fall like its predesessor mengistu’s regime .certainly it willfall!!!!!!because no govrnment is ethernal.therefore, it is better for us to think criticaly its policy about ethiopia and support the HR2003 bill, which will be aproud both for ethiopia and us america.

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