Comments on: The Africa policy of an Obama administration http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/6368 Ethiopian News and Opinion Journal Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:45:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Amin Ahmed http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/6368/comment-page-1#comment-49137 Amin Ahmed Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:59:12 +0000 http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/?p=6368#comment-49137 This strategy looks like too broad... from my point of view, it favours only for the regimes now on power. it shows that some requestions of AU are welcommed. and we all Africans know that AU is a club of DICTATORS. This strategy ignores to solve root-causes of AFRICA's problems which is concerned absence of basic human needs and rights. those needs and rights are stolen, corrupted, or raped by the dicators now on POWER. therefore, the OBAMA administration should focus solving those issues between DICTATORS Vs Freedom/rights-seekes in order to secure sustainable agenda for U.S.A's national interests. Other wise, U.S will contribute the on-going internal conflicts, further. .... This strategy looks like too broad… from my point of view, it favours only for the regimes now on power. it shows that some requestions of AU are welcommed. and we all Africans know that AU is a club of DICTATORS. This strategy ignores to solve root-causes of AFRICA's problems which is concerned absence of basic human needs and rights. those needs and rights are stolen, corrupted, or raped by the dicators now on POWER. therefore, the OBAMA administration should focus solving those issues between DICTATORS Vs Freedom/rights-seekes in order to secure sustainable agenda for U.S.A's national interests. Other wise, U.S will contribute the on-going internal conflicts, further. ….

]]> By: Tizibt http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/6368/comment-page-1#comment-49033 Tizibt Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:35:17 +0000 http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/?p=6368#comment-49033 With due respect to the author, whether intentionally or otherwise, the above article portrayed the new Administration as having just landed on earth and was unaware of the United States' policy on Africa for the past 8 years. I also found the article condescending as well as trying to inculcate a subtle inference questioning the new Chief Executive's commitment to the national and strategic interests of the US. In fact the author in his wisdom is advocating a national strategy for U.S. engagement in Africa which he had prepared as the Africa advisor on Senator John McCain's foreign policy and national security team during the campaign. The author seems to ignore the fact that the new Administration may have their own strategists working on their foreign policy for Africa. As a McCaine staffer, the author is in favor of the perpetuation of the Bush foreign policy on Africa however unpopular that may be in the eyes of the African people. He is more concerned with the wish list of the unelected African leaders rather than the wishes of their people. As an expert on Africa he should be aware that most Africans in the continent and in the diaspora are not like some of the greedy African leaders, who are willing to sell their country to the highest bidder. Dr. Pham wants Obama's backing for "such African-led undertakings which truly strengthen legitimate and accountable governance on the continent, such as the African Peer Review Mechanism and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), which promise so much, even if they have yet to be proven." According to Dr. Pham even failed "undertakings" should be supported by the new Administration. One would like to know how much time should such failed "undertakings" be allotted. Indeed, "the African Peer Review Mechanism" is a rogues gallery of African leaders who pat each others backs for staying in power for several decades! The author seems to advocate the rape of Africa in order to protect (in his own words) "American strategic interests in Africa (especially, obviously, those interests which coincide with the needs and wants of our partners on the continent)". The election defeat is a missed opportunity of arm-twisting of poor African nations. I trust and hope that President elect Obama would be cognizant of the sensibilities of the African people. The author seems preoccupied with the need for bipartisanship in foreign policy on Africa. One assumes that this implies the need to acquire bipartisan backing in Congress to pass bills, unless the intention is that bipartisanship should extend to the Executive Branch - something unthinkable in a Republican administration. We hope that the new Administration would conduct a review of all the strategies vis-a-vis Africa. After 8 years of a Republican presidency during which time we have witnessed African tyrants being rewarded, Ethiopians are at last hopeful that the new Administration would put in place a foreign policy which upholds democracy, human rights and the rule of law. With due respect to the author, whether intentionally or otherwise, the above article portrayed the new Administration as having just landed on earth and was unaware of the United States' policy on Africa for the past 8 years. I also found the article condescending as well as trying to inculcate a subtle inference questioning the new Chief Executive's commitment to the national and strategic interests of the US. In fact the author in his wisdom is advocating a national strategy for U.S. engagement in Africa which he had prepared as the Africa advisor on Senator John McCain's foreign policy and national security team during the campaign. The author seems to ignore the fact that the new Administration may have their own strategists working on their foreign policy for Africa.

As a McCaine staffer, the author is in favor of the perpetuation of the Bush foreign policy on Africa however unpopular that may be in the eyes of the African people. He is more concerned with the wish list of the unelected African leaders rather than the wishes of their people. As an expert on Africa he should be aware that most Africans in the continent and in the diaspora are not like some of the greedy African leaders, who are willing to sell their country to the highest bidder.

Dr. Pham wants Obama's backing for "such African-led undertakings which truly strengthen legitimate and accountable governance on the continent, such as the African Peer Review Mechanism and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), which promise so much, even if they have yet to be proven." According to Dr. Pham even failed "undertakings" should be supported by the new Administration. One would like to know how much time should such failed "undertakings" be allotted. Indeed, "the African Peer Review Mechanism" is a rogues gallery of African leaders who pat each others backs for staying in power for several decades!

The author seems to advocate the rape of Africa in order to protect (in his own words) "American strategic interests in Africa (especially, obviously, those interests which coincide with the needs and wants of our partners on the continent)". The election defeat is a missed opportunity of arm-twisting of poor African nations.

I trust and hope that President elect Obama would be cognizant of the sensibilities of the African people. The author seems preoccupied with the need for bipartisanship in foreign policy on Africa. One assumes that this implies the need to acquire bipartisan backing in Congress to pass bills, unless the intention is that bipartisanship should extend to the Executive Branch – something unthinkable in a Republican administration.

We hope that the new Administration would conduct a review of all the strategies vis-a-vis Africa. After 8 years of a Republican presidency during which time we have witnessed African tyrants being rewarded, Ethiopians are at last hopeful that the new Administration would put in place a foreign policy which upholds democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

]]> By: tezibt http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/6368/comment-page-1#comment-48938 tezibt Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:12:11 +0000 http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/?p=6368#comment-48938 I would wait about a year before I make conclusion about Obama's African policy which I presume may be a hybrid policy of republicans and democrats. Don't expect a horse, is the way I want to look at it. Only Africans can bring soution to their continent. There is little Obama can do. His decisions are going to be the results of discussions in policy circles and mainly the state department, which is becoming more powerful than the CIA and neck and neck with the military. As an Ethiopian I don't want to be naive that Obama will suddenly change course. Yes it is comforting to know he is in the white house, but his administration is the result of efforts by the elitist whites who have ruled the country since its inception. This is not a an overthrough of governement=regime but the peaceful changing of the guard, and this is only going to asset to us that we need to work hand in glove to resove our countries missery. I would wait about a year before I make conclusion about Obama's African policy which I presume may be a hybrid policy of republicans and democrats. Don't expect a horse, is the way I want to look at it. Only Africans can bring soution to their continent. There is little Obama can do. His decisions are going to be the results of discussions in policy circles and mainly the state department, which is becoming more powerful than the CIA and neck and neck with the military. As an Ethiopian I don't want to be naive that Obama will suddenly change course. Yes it is comforting to know he is in the white house, but his administration is the result of efforts by the elitist whites who have ruled the country since its inception. This is not a an overthrough of governement=regime but the peaceful changing of the guard, and this is only going to asset to us that we need to work hand in glove to resove our countries missery.

]]> By: Yigermal http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/6368/comment-page-1#comment-48929 Yigermal Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:51:41 +0000 http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/?p=6368#comment-48929 It's the author and his likes that are the terrorist in the eyes of African people. Obama is too smart for those blood-thirsty greedy Bush's cronies to bomb and terrorize his own African grandmothers in the name of searching boogy man....what have you It's the author and his likes that are the terrorist in the eyes of African people. Obama is too smart for those blood-thirsty greedy Bush's cronies to bomb and terrorize his own African grandmothers in the name of searching boogy man….what have you

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