USA Africa Dialogue Series - GOMA and GAZA Pambazuka -Issue no. 607

PAMBAZUKA NEWS 607: THE TRAGEDY OF GOMA, GAZA AND CRONY CAPITALISM

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Pambazuka News (English edition): ISSN 1753-6839

CONTENTS: 1. Features, 2. Comment & analysis, 3. Advocacy & campaigns,
4. Books & arts, 5. Letters & Opinions, 6. African Writers' Corner


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1 Features

THE TRAGEDY OF GOMA
Shame on UN and Rwanda's Western allies
Theogene Rudasingwa

It is a big shame that UN peacekeepers could not protect the Congolese
in Goma from the onslaught of Rwandan-backed rebels M23. Washington
and London, Kagame's allies, have made him more intransigent.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85523
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THE NEW OBAMA DOCTRINE: FROM GAZA TO GOMA
Vijay Prashad

Obama's second term opens with the worst kind of display of US power -
backing two clients, Rwanda and Israel, who are hell-bent on creating
mayhem against their neighbours. UN will do nothing against these two.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85521
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GAZA: ISRAEL'S BIG TROPHY FOR THE HOLOCAUST
Abdulrazaq Magaji

The ongoing Israeli onslaught on Palestinians should be a major source
of frustration for peace-loving individuals and groups who envisage a
peaceful resolution to the Middle East crisis.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85522
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HURRICANES AND INDIVIDUALISM: LESSONS FROM HISTORIC SANDY
Horace G. Campbell

Hurricane Sandy, coming fast and furious after the numerous storms of
this century, is one more wake-up call for humans to retreat from the
wrong headedness of private accumulation of wealth.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85528
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LIBERAL CAPITALISM, CRONY CAPITALISM AND LUMPEN DEVELOPMENT
Samir Amin

Liberalism creates nothing, in the peripheries of the Global South
that agree to submit to it, other than a crony capitalism based on a
Comprador State in opposition to the National State committed to
sustainable economic and social development.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85513
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IGAD STRATEGY FOR JUBBALAND BREAKS UP SOMALIA
Mohamud M Uluso

Designated a 'failed state' Somalia's problems lie partly in the
geopolitical strategy of Somalia's neighbours for managing the
liberated areas from Al Shabab, which compartmentalizes the Somali
territory, politics and devalues citizenship.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85520
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ANC LACKS INTERNAL DEMOCRACY
William Gumede

Democratic participation by the rank and file of the ANC in the
December national leadership conference is a charade. A genuinely open
system in which members are able to choose quality candidates must be
introduced.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85518
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RANDELA: COINING THE ICON
The new bank notes bring the legacy of Nelson Mandela full circle
Jared Sacks

Many people who are critical about the legacy of Nelson Mandela have
been outraged by the South African Reserve Bank's decision to place
his iconic image on the South African paper currency. Some say Madiba
is being appropriated by capitalists and government officials.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85525
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A STREAM CANNOT RISE ABOVE ITS SOURCE
Financing of Africa's regional integration
Janah Ncube and Achieng Maureen Akena

Who funds the African Union? Africans can not champion their own
solutions when they can't pay for them. Financing Africa's unification
by outside sources endangers genuine development and self-respect.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85519
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NAMIBIA: BRIDGING THE GAP IN HEALTHCARE PROVISION
Moses Magadza

The new health extension worker programme has been successfully
implemented in several countries and its supporters are optimistic
that it will help Namibia fill gaps in its over-stretched health
system.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85526
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2 Comment & analysis

AFRICA? OBAMA WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH TOO MANY OTHER THINGS
Sam Schramski

Though Africa did not feature much in Obama's campaigns, it does not
mean his administration has no interest in the continent of his
father's birth. But that interest has little to do with the wellbeing
of Africans themselves.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/85524
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RESISTANCE TO MARTELLY REGIME CONTINUES TO GROW IN HAITI
Ben Terrall

Haitian President Michel Martelly has managed to inspire popular
opposition to his regime almost since his election in May 2011.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/85515
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POWER OF WORDS
Developing a culture of reading will unlock Liberia's consciousness
Robtel Neajai Pailey

Reading unlocks the imagination, but it also unlocks the soul of a
person. It has the potential to unlock the soul of a nation like
Liberia struggling so desperately to find and define itself.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/85516
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ISLAMIST RADICALS ABUSING SOMALILAND'S DEMOCRACY
Abdirahman M. Dirye

Having failed to forcibly impose a radical theocracy in Somaliland,
militants have now turned to funding political parties to pursue their
agenda.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/85514
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3 Advocacy & campaigns

GHANAIAN SOCIALISTS CONDEMN ISRAEL
Socialist Forum of Ghana

Statement on Israeli aggression on Gaza read at a press conference in
Accra on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/85508
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OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY NEEDS URGENT REFORM
Demmocratic Socialist Movement

Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife is run in an undemocratic manner,
with students and other members of the institution excluded from
critical decision-making. The 50-year-old university should embark on
reform by first restoring the banned students union.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/85512
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4 Books & arts

'RESTLESS CITY' WINS AT COLOURS OF THE NILE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Kevin Kriedemann

While the films dealt with diverse subject matter, the jury was struck
by a common thread - that of the displacement involved in migrant and
immigrant lifestyles.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/books/85517
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5 Letters & Opinions

GEN. HAM CONTINUES TO SERVE AS COMMANDER OF U.S. AFRICA COMMAND
Benjamin Benson

Your article 'Libya all in? Failed Nato mission exposes US generals'
of 15 Nov. by Horace G. Campbell
(www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85450<http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85450>) contains a significant
factual error. Gen. Ham has not been removed, and continues to serve
as Commander of U.S. Africa Command. I urge you to correct this error
following basic standards of journalism.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta's announced intention to nominate
Army Gen. David M. Rodriguez to succeed Army Gen. Carter F. Ham as the
commander of U.S. Africa Command followed long planned leadership
succession deliberations. The leadership transition at this important
command has nothing to do with the attack on American personnel in
Benghazi.

General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted
"The speculation that General Carter Ham is departing Africa Command
(AFRICOM) due to events in Benghazi, Libya on 11 September 2012 is
absolutely false. General Ham's departure is part of routine
succession planning that has been ongoing since July. He continues to
serve in AFRICOM with my complete confidence." See
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=118400


Benjamin Benson, Media Engagement, Chief
U.S. Africa Command, Public Affairs (J035)
Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart-Moehringen, Germany
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GEN. HAM: A RESPONSE TO AFRICOM
Horace G. Campbell

The response of the Public Affairs Officer of AFRICOM shows that
AFRICOM takes its media management seriously. The fact is that the
retirement of General Carter Ham was announced on October 18 in the
context of a review by the Pentagon of the events of September 11/12,
2012 in Benghazi, Libya.

The fact that the Department of Defense issued a press release on
October 31 on the status of Carter Ham does not change the fact that
the General will be replaced if and when David Rodriquez is confirmed.
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=118400

The progressive scholarly community and the peace movement takes no
comfort that Carter Ham is to be replaced by Army Gen. David M.
Rodriguez. The historic close relationship between David M. Rodriquez
and retired General Petraeus (as revealed in the biography of
Petraeus, 'All in: the Education of David Petraeus') should elicit
close scrutiny if the U.S. Congress does its work. Ultimately, whether
General Carter Ham is retiring because of 'long planned leadership
succession deliberations' or he was strongly advised to retire does
not change the realities of the insecurity in Libya after the NATO
intervention.

This author will accept the word of Benjamin Benson of the media
management division of AFRICOM that Carter Ham was not, 'removed.'
Whether removed or retiring because of 'succession deliberations' we
await the full audit from General Ham of what happened in Libya and
how AFRICOM contributed to the present lawlessness in Libya by this
intervention.

Horace G Campbell
Professor of African American Studies and Political Science at
Syracuse University
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6 African Writers' Corner

FIFTY YEARS OF WHINING!
Uwineza Mimi Harriet

Where are we now?
Guinea pigs of slavery
Murderers of our own blood
while we sing of freedom!

Now complacent and helpless
Pretense of humanity

Suffocating Pluralism

Covering to suppress


How we whine!

Of foreigners' deeds
Decorations of covered crimes?

What are we doing different?

How they turn into their graves!
The great heroes of motherland
Who fought through mountains and valleys!
Thinking it will come to pass!

* The poet Uwineza Mimi Harriet, is a M.A Candidate in Peace and
Conflict Studies at Makerere University, a blogger, an author and
activist. She has co-founded a think-tank called Peace Associates
Network Africa and works with a human rights organization in the Horn
of Africa.
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Professor Gloria Emeagwali
Prof. of History & African Studies
History Department
Central Connecticut State University
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CT 06050
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