Africom's Opponents Are Practicing The Politics Of Intimidation
By Fillmore S. Hney
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
August 11, 2007
Mr. Zaza informs us that the former mayor of New York, Mr Giuliani questions the presence of Africom on the soil of Liberia, because Liberians are: " uneducated, they have porous borders, citizens are uninformed and the country's infrastructure is zero".
Rebuttal: It makes completely no sense to quote Giuliani because he was a "nightmare" for the black population and the poor of New York City during his mayoralty. It was on his watch that many poor peopl (including, a Guinean immigrant, Amadou) was shot by the police over 25 times. Giuliani considered that an act of fighting crime. As it turned out, Amadou, was mistakenly and fatally shot to death. Furthermore, Giuliani's treatment of the firefighters during 9/11 was a disaster. The firefighters of New York City continue to blame him because he failed to provide a protective gear that would have saved lives on that fateful day! Lastly, Mr. Giuliani is constantly accused as a flip flopper because of his stands on arbortion, pro-life and gun control. Does the Mr. Zaza want us to believe that Rudy Giuliani has interest in the people of Liberia than the blacks of New York City? Does it make any sense for Mr. Zaza to mention a presidential candidate in order to get his point across? This is a ploy that amounts to the politics of misinformation and intimidation. Mr. Giuliani must and should take care of his brambles and we Liberians will worry about ours!
In the second paragraph, Mr. Zaza mentions yet another American, namely, Herman Cohen, the former state department official for African affairs during the Reagan era. Mr. Zaza states that Mr. Cohen reminded Liberians that "US officials value the interest of business over human rights".
I made an attempt to "surf the net" so as to obtain information as to when Mr. Cohen could have used that phrase, but to no avail. Some people will disagree with me on this one but, I will say this about Reagan. Mr. Reagan believed and supported the rights of people! If the statement had been made as the Mr. Zaza presents it to us, I sincerely believe that Mr. Cohen would have been severely dealt with. Furthermore, Herman would have been seen as an enemy by his countrymen and women and the government he worked for.
In the same document, Mr. Zaza informs us that Liberia borrowed a loan, (five million dollars) from the US government that could not be paid on time. time in 1912. Because of fact that this money could not be paid, the Firestone Company was ushered in to re-pay the loan so that rubber could be planted on Liberia's soil. There is some semblance of truth here, but it is reality time and so let's cut straight to the chase.Ladies and gentlemen, one of the things that destroys a friendship is the issue of money. If you b-o-r-r-o-w money with the intent of defraying it, it is good business to keep up the bargain. The politics of the
Liberian government during those dark years (1912-1930s) were untenable. The government of Liberia practiced "slave trade" (Encyclopedia of Nations, Africa, Liberia). The money that was borrowed, was not used for the country. Instead, it was used by the minority government, because the interest of the country meant less than the government's self-interest. The government of Liberia defaulted on payments and sent its own citizens to the Spanish island of Fernando Poo (now Bioko) in what is known today as Equatorial Guinea. When a commission of inquiry was set up by the League of Nations to look into this blatant disregard of mistreatment (black on black crime) Charles D.B. King and his vice president were implicated. This poor state of affairs eventually led to their demise. The Firestone Company and the US must not and should not bear the penalty. It's your government that was disgraceful at best! About a hundred years earlier, they (the clique of people) who ruled and pillaged Liberia, were craving for independence in the new world. Once they returned to Africa, they got into practices that were incredibly grotesque. Let it be loud and clear:" Africom has nothing to do with those murky days of ours". You are hell bent on the politics of misinformation and intimidation!
In paragraph four, the Mr. Zaza informs us (or misinforms/intimidates) us that a front line state such as Pakistan, has so far spent $900 million dollars on social programs "out 10 billion dollars appropriated". He lets us know that a NY times reporter, C. Dugger, informed us on 7/31/07 that some US Congressional leaders oppose aid organizations to buy food from Africa because "US domestic forms such as agribusiness and shipping corporations would lose billions of dollars".
Rebuttal: Mr. Zaza, you're mixing apples and oranges here. From Pakistan to a NY Times reporter to US laws to agribusiness and shipping. What's going on? Pakistan's money has nothing to do with Africom. The leader of Pakistan is threading very carefully, and he has reasons to.The general's concentration focus is to ultimately win the battle. As matters relate to agribusiness and shipping, the appropriated $10 billion dollars is still rolling into the coffers of the government. No damage has been done yet.
The mind of a terrorist is unpredictable! A terrorist may harm anyone without regard to pain and suffering. When the US embassies were bombed in Kenya and Tanzania a few years ago, a majority (if not all) of those who died were Africans. It did not matter to the terrorists that these Africans had to feed their respective families . Frankly, the people we refer to as "terrorists" have a depraved mind. Our duty is to not be afraid of them but to deal with them constructively.
In paragraph five, you're talking about treason charges because you claim that my fellow compatriot, Wesley Harmon misspoke. In paragraph six, you accuse Harmon of misinterpreting the Liberian constitution and the list of scurrilous charges goes on. In paragraph seven, you mention the big terms: responsibility, accountability, transparency, and so on.
Rebuttal: What a guy? Does Mr. Harmon have a right to share a view? A view is a perspective as well as an opinion. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Please keep treason away from this discourse. By the way, if Harmon misspoke ( and there's no legitimate basis that he did so) show your readers how and where. The last time I heard a Liberian leader talk about those big "code words" I mentioned above, I was dancing. As I can remember, Mr Bryant made use of those "code words". But guess what happened. Mr Gyude Bryant is in trouble big time! He will probably be sent to the slammer because of his misdeeds. What does that amount to? The politics of misinformation and intimidation. Harmon has a right to express his views as well as you. By the way, it is a damnable lie that he misquoted the Liberian constitution! (I do not know W. Harmon, I have not seen him, neither have I spoken to him. As long as he rides on the bandwagon with me as it relates to Africom's usefulness to the great country of Liberia, he gets my support. This applies to everyone!) However, if a person opposes me, the intellectual debate must go on. It's good to respect and disagree than to disrespect and confront.
In the last paragraph, you inform us that "other Liberians, including J.Yanqui Zaza see it as a patriotic duty to share their understanding with the public and policy makers such as our Iron Lady".
Rebuttal: The absurdity of these charges impel me to reach this conclusion! No one is saying that Mr. Zaza should not express himself. Although I do not know what "share their understanding" means, I believe Mr. Zaza and his comrades should inform us about the danger (s) of Africom as opposed to intimidating and misinforming the Liberian people.
Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf is a smart woman. She will not be deterred by threats of intimidation and misinformation. Eventually, Africom will find its permanent place in Liberia and the politics of doom and gloom will not prevail.
So far, I am proud of Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf, the Legislators, the judiciary and of course the people of Liberia. The debate continues!
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