When WMD(Weapons of Mass Destruction) failed to materialise in Iraq after the invasion United States and United Kingdom, the reason why Iraq had been invaded was quickly changed. The main reason they say was to rid Iraq of a dictator and allow democracy to prevail. We all know the reason why Iraq was attacked: OIL, despite protestations from the British Prime Minister. Zimbabwe has a dictator but has no oil.
Mugabe has continued to make a mockery of half-hearted measures by both the US and UK to curb his movements and choose friends. When the situation in Zimbabwe started its downward spiral around 2000-2001 that coincided with the terrorists attack on twin towers so the world's attention was diverted. When Mugabe stole the recently held presidential elections that also coincided with West's invasion of Iraq and again the attention of the world was diverted.
Despite the implementation of smart sanctions that was meant to curtail movement of Mugabe and his cronies, he continues to travel the world. Attending first the UN summit in New York, the Pope's funeral and lately the UN Food Summit in Rome yet in Zimbabwe 5 million people face starvation. Its a slap in the face really for Tony Blair and George Bush because Mugabe has used every platform he has to attack these two men. I have heard reports this morning that US is piling pressure on Koffi Annan to stop inviting Mugabe to any UN function or meeting. Mugabe has managed to circumvent the travel ban.
Both the Bush administration and UK government insist their doing all they can to end Mugabe's rule of terror. The question is how? For its been noted that the travel bans are a joke as Mugabe continues to go around the world unchallenged. I think both governments have to come up with something tangible and practical that will hurt Mugabe for them to bring needed changes in Zimbabwe. Their argument that African leaders should openly criticize Mugabe should be mooted because frankly it will never happen.
Why one should ask is Tony Blair and George Bush advocate that criticism from fellow African leaders will do? They did not ask Arab leaders to criticize Saddam before they invaded Iraq. What makes them think that its a workable idea for an African leader. Its a fact that African leaders are reluctant to say anything bad about Mugabe because they are all guilty of the same offences that Mugabe is guilty of genocide, economic mismanagement, corruption, theft.... list is endless.
Tony Blair and George Bush should either come up with a workable idea yes like to invade Zimbabwe, because Smart sanctions, criticizing Mugabe by African leaders is double standards and will never work. They either do something to help the people of Zimbabwe or they shut the fuck up!
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