October 14th, President Barack Obama announced he was sending United States Special Forces troops to Uganda to join the civil war there. Within the next few months, US combat troops will be sent to South Sudan, Congo and Central African Republic to only “engage” for “self-defence.” Like all America’s subsequent invasions, a trail of blood from Latin America to Afghanistan and Iraq, the rationale was usually “self defence” or “humanitarian,” words long emptied of their dictionary meaning.
In Africa, Obama says the “humanitarian mission” is to assist the government of Uganda defeat the Lord’s resistance Army (LRA), which “has murdered, raped, and kidnapped tens of thousands of men, women, and children in central Africa.” Obama’s other justification also invited satire. This is the “national security of the United States.”
However, US “national security” usually means buying a corrupt and thuggish regime that has something Washington wants. The main reason the US is invading Africa is no different from that which ignited the Vietnam War- it is China. China is replacing al-Qaeda as the official American “threat.” Africa is China’s success story. Where the Americans bring drones and destabilization, the Chinese bring roads, bridges and dams.
Article Title: The Son of Africa Claims a Continent’s Crown Jewels
Source: Information Clearinghouse Date: October 19th, 2011
Author: John Pilger
URL: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29461.htm
Student Researcher: Jessica Belluomini, Sonoma state University
Faculty Evaluator: Elaine Leeder, Sonoma State University