A very interesting documentary by Rageh Omaar at Al-Jazeera about America’s ‘new frontline’ in the war on terror, which was opened in Africa when the Bush administration decided to topple the Islamic Courts Union in Somalia.
Omaar, Somali-born and a former BBC reporter, travelled the width of Africa from the Horn of Africa, crossing the pan-Sahel region, through to oil-rich West Africa. The documentary pins the blame directly on the Bush administration for the current troubles in Somalia, and for letting poor countries of the Sahel region use the war on terror as a cover to violently suppress localised problems (e.g. the Tuareg in Niger).
Omaar asks whether Barack Obama can or will change course by ending his documentary in Cameroon, contrasting the earlier positive moves (e.g. Obama’s support for a Somali politician ousted by the Bush-backed Ethiopian invasion of Somalia), with the negative activities such as the training received by a special forces group belonging to the Cameroonian president-dictator.
Unsurprisingly, there are lots of comments by those interviewed, including some local activists, that the US is only interested in resources of these states — the Sahel region has significant deposits of uranium, and West Africa has lots of oil and gas.
Abraham 11:20 am on October 27, 2009 Permalink |
I’m not defending the Bush administration or the War on Terror. As someone who had to work in Africa as part of these missions, I am well aware of their failures and shortcomings. But from an insider’s perspective, I have to say that these actions are more the result of ignorance and ineptitude that evil. Government officials were all desperate to get their hands on “War on Terror” money, that gov’t funding line was never-ending and required no justification. So bureaucrats built their careers on finding new ways to “fight the war on terror”. Ignorance of Islam and true causes behind terrorism ensured the Bush administration was none the wiser. My experiences dealing with this ignorance was why I helped found the non-profit – Seventh Pillar.
thabet 1:41 am on October 28, 2009 Permalink |
Thanks for your comment, Abraham.
shams 11:36 am on October 28, 2009 Permalink |
In a way Thabet….it all devolves from the WECs. Big White Bwana colonialism and interventionist meddling….it comes down to “us WECs are going to rape and take your stuff, but its for your own good so you have the benefit of Our Extremely Superior Western Civilization……and…..we are doing this because we LOVE you and want to SAVE you for Christian Jesus.”
aziz 7:10 am on November 27, 2009 Permalink |
this is the reason @mohamed was nominated for a BCA.