Washington Post Editorial
Saturday, July 21, 2007
MORE THAN once during the Cold War, the United States aligned itself with dictatorial or corrupt, but anticommunist, foreign governments, compromising democratic principles for perceived advantage against the Soviet Union. These choices were not necessarily wrong, but each one put the U.S. on a slippery slope, at the bottom of which lay a completely amoral foreign policy.
The Bush administration’s global war on terrorism faces similar moral hazards. Even as President Bush correctly declares that ultimate victory against al-Qaeda hinges on the spread of freedom, he sometimes makes common cause with authoritarian regimes that promise to help eliminate terrorists in the here and now. Examples: Egypt, Pakistan and, more recently, Ethiopia, whose authoritarian prime minister, Meles Zenawi, was once a darling of the Clinton administration and has also forged close ties to the Bush administration. With Washington’s blessing, Mr. Meles sent troops to Somalia in December to expel the radical Islamic Courts movement linked to al-Qaeda.
Yesterday 38 opposition politicians and activists walked out of jail in Addis Ababa, where they had been held for almost two years. That is good news, but they never should have been there in the first place. After Mr. Meles’s party tried to deny its opponents the share of Parliament they won in an election in May 2005, protests erupted across the country, only to be crushed by Mr. Meles’s security forces at a cost of 193 civilian lives. (Six police officers also died.) Thousands of people were detained, including the opposition leaders — 35 of whom were sentenced to life in prison on preposterous charges of treason and inciting violence. Their release came after they signed a letter taking “full responsibility for the mistakes committed both individually and collectively” and begging for a pardon, which a regime-controlled board granted. Immediately after his release, opposition leader Hailu Shawel said he had signed the Orwellian statement under duress. But the fact that he and other leaders of civil society were released without restrictions on their political activity is a hopeful sign.
More political prisoners remain. Mr. Meles’s troops also stand accused of human rights abuses in Somalia and in the country’s internal war against rebels in the Ogaden region. The Bush administration has remained mostly quiet about all of this, though the State Department played a back-channel role helping to arrange the prisoners’ release. The most visible U.S. pressure came in the form of a bill, sponsored by Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-N.J.), which would link U.S. aid to Ethiopia’s performance on human rights. It passed the House’s Africa subcommittee, chaired by Mr. Payne, this week. Ethiopia is a strategic ally. But it will probably take more work by its hard-pressed civil society, and more pressure from the United States, before it can be called a democratic one.
10 thoughts on “The moral hazards of dealing with Meles Zenawi”
I would agree with most if not all of the contents of this article. The article is obviously based on concrete facts and figures rather than emotion and the feeling the writer may have to the whole situation.
I admire this kind of firm understanding of our country’s current situation by a foreign writer, i am assuming that this is a foreign writer, and it makes me question my own patriotism.
The writer said the following regarding the release of the jailed: “That is good news, but they never should have been there in the first place.” This very point is what everyone should keep in mind. Meles Zenawi is trying to get credit for releasing the jailed while we all know these people should not have been imprisoned from the beginning. They didn’t commit any crimes; the only crime committed here is their incarceration and is comitted by Meles Zenawi himself.
I also want to go back to what I said about one of the Shimagles (Professor Mesfin) during the meeting at Sheraton Addis: “Those who ask for forgivenes are heroes and those who give it are saints.” With this statement, this particular Shimagle attempted to give the whole credit to Meles by calling him a Saint. This statement has all the hallmarks of originating from the Meles political machine.
While we celebrate their release, let’s be ready to question some statements and personalities that arise and may seem innocent on the surface but are infact sinister within. Power to the People
It is hard to say what,if any motive, led the U.S newspapers to oppenly criticize the Melese’s dictatorial rule at this point.Ethiopians are straggling to bring an all inclusive democratic governence;a peaceful and stable counntry where the rights of its citizens will be respected,law and order will be uphold.For this to happen all Ethiopians need to realize the need to solve the long standing ills and ligitmate griviances of the people via a process of national recouncilation.In this regard,the peacful struggle will accept all form of assictance from peace loving citizens of the world.For this reason all the positive outside help might be received as long as it doesn’t come with any form of attachement.This is the only way to pursue the goal of instituting the people’s rule.On the other hand,consistent with the conviction the people of Ethiopia abought principle of democratic rule in that country,
many have been critical against the policies of the Melese dictatorial regime.Neverthless,at the moment they are uneasy about the developing events in that part of the world.It appears the western private corporations are viying about the new found natural resources in that country,and may do any thing to have a say.There fore the watch word for the opposition is to be caution in our approach to this form of news.We need to closely exmine who the source is,why now,what the hidden motive behind the news,what is in store for the future?One thing we must all Africans agree is the fact that the international aspirants have only one goal:to build their global empire,at the expense of the deplorable coundition of the masses of the third world citizens.We need to keep this in our view;the struggle for democracy is primerily struggle against all form of:operation, be it international aspirants or local dictators.In this battle we need the unity of the population;we need to learn to solve our problems through peacful dialog:we must do this no one else will do it for us;never should we allow our interest future to be reduced to a permanent chaos. The goal of our people need to be to stand up against the commen enemy.
Good.When is our freedom then!!!!!!!!!!!
The only ‘crime’ committed by these people was being elected to office. In summary, democracy was arrested, imprisoned for over 2 years, forced to go to a kangaroo court, found guilty, sentenced to death, then ‘pardoned’ by a benevolent dictator. One of the questions that comes to mind is, where were the so called champions and advocates of democracy in the past two years? The simple truth is that these people peddling democracy are only supportive of their professed goal as long as the results are to their liking. As clearly demonstrated by the collaboration of the major media out lets through silence and or distortion of the facts that even the least educated Ethiopian is aware of, we can safely assume that this is a coordinated assault on democracy. Even after the release of the elected officials we have witnessed headlines of the BBC and AP describing them as activists, defiant etc. Apparently, the votes of the 25 million Ethiopians in May of 2005 is not to liking of the editors at these major media outlets and their bosses. Aside from an occasional article with some semblance of balance the rest are geared towards promoting the desired situation that only matters to those ‘presiding’ over the destiny of the governed peoples and nations.
25 million people can not lie. 25 million people votes can not be stolen and on top of that 200+ innocent people can not be killed for expressing their views. Minors have been shot dead.
Long Live Ethiopia.
Meles regime is a sectarian minority group. Just recently circulated a secret document among his group which calls to be ready to dismantle the state of Ethiopia. After he accomplished the sucking the national resource by looting immense property of the nation is realizing has no time any more to survive where he is. The regime is making the road to go back where comes from. The election is at the gate. He knows that he is not going to win the ballot battle.
He should beg pardon to the opposition leaders not the verse-versa.
Abebe Meshasha
NW times & W-post Yada Yadas, one after the other, spilling their crocodile tears – for Who? Where were they until recently ? Are they trying to take credit for the release of the prisoners ? Or is it for oil-gone-wrong ?
” Me and myself , oil and sweet olie itself “, happens to be their “oily speak”. I hate to see them gagging it out . Again, and again we see them blabbering about it – while furtively and anxiously dangling democracy , its facade ! same ol same, no shame!
But now , the question is : will they Darfurize every inch of Ethiopia , starting in ogadene and in Gambella – or wherever any Natural resources are discovered by non-Arians specially by the “rising superstars “,chinese ? LoooooooL How about if we kick out “them ” out , & “them” out , any foreigners out for that matter and we do it by ourselves like the Iranians , who are now doing it by themselves ? Sadly , these sleazy people may start accusing us for something else – such making atomic bomb blah blah – like we heard them doing it in many other countries.
Mind you all: though I’m a committed Kinijit supporter , I do not support Ethiopia’s strategic interests going on sale . Besides , let it be clear to us and we must know these insatiably greedy folks do not give a hoot about democracy : their hoodwinking dogma and a meaningless concept that they have yet to define – for their own good – not to mention practise it , and leave alone them prescribing it for us LooooooooooooL . Who the f-KKK are these people any ways ? Them , to prescribe anything for us ? An innately greedy , racist , neocolonialist and immoral, “expert of double standars”, cannot and must not be trusted by any one .
History taught us a lesson : The greatest Ethiopian Emperor , HIM , did everything to cooperate with the west . But did they help Ethiopia , suach as, during the time when it was invaded by Italy ? No! Did they invest in oil or in any meanigful development endeavours ? none whatsoever! Did they ever see Ethiopia outside their own interst ? Never ! Did they care to stop their so-called ” new generation leaders”, Melese and Esayas , when they came from the bush and wantonly dismembered and landlocked Ethiopia ? No , in fact , to the contrary , they were the first to come out dangling their recognition to the so-called “free Ertrea” .Evethrough Melese Zenaw is shrewd enough in everything he does for his own survival , albeit it is all at the expense of Ethiopia and Ethiopians ; but what he does not do – reconciling his differences with his internal opponents , he must have known early on and not now when it is too late for him , is what is making Ethiopia to be treated like a Banana republic . He should have known the fact that no matter how high he jumps for them , whether he like it or not , they’ll betray him when it does he suit them . I’m glad it is too late for him, because , I’m 100% sure they are determined to dump him unless he publicly admits he is their house n@gga. BUT ,EVEN AFTER he bows as low as he can manage to bend his short legs ; In the case of oil , which is considered as their vital elixir that keeps them on jumping up & down around the globe , wouldn’t he be better of if he gives them their plot so they can compete against the chinese ?
I know the chinese are willing to share – but who knows ; will the insatiables be willing to partake in the loot if zenaw is willing to give everyone an equal opportunity to ransack our natural resources ? Time will tell!
The unfavourable aftermath of the discovery of oil in Gambella and Ogadene, leading to the sudden spike of conflict on both locales , must be noteworthy and a telling sign of what is simmering inside the kitchens of the insatiable cooks . Thus , I adnvise the current Ethio government, whatever legitimacy it assumes it has , to allow the legal opposition forces to participate in every strategic decisions ; and whenever vital economic( foreign investment) decisions are made, not to allow house n@@gga Melese to speak on behalf of any ministry .
Correction to the the first comment by alemmiss (On Jul 24th, 2007 at 11:33 am). The shimagile is Prof. Isaac, NOT the respected Prof. Mesfin.
It is about time that the Post accepts that the World is really getting “flat”, with new deserving nations starting to dominate the economic and political landscape. Ethiopia has wisely developed a great and mutually beneficial relationship with these emerging “super” powers and is reaping tremendous success in its economic and political stature. This can’t be a secret for a fair and an unbiased observer. Lets be honest, another machination must be at play here. To believe that the US is directing the Ethiopian government, at best, exhibits ignorance of its history, and, at its worst, reflects a well designed attack on an emerging nation that has rightly decided to make the “wrong” international alliances.
You action and those of your cohorts, can only be the modern version of the “cold war”. As they say, “You fool me ones shame on you. You fool me twice shame on me”. We have learned our lessons. Your blessing of our current development is really completely irrelevant. Whether you like it or not, the Ethiopian people are forging ahead with new beneficial alliances. It is about time you play catch-up.
thanks for the correction bethiopia…Power to the People