US Arms Sales Ban for Eritrea: Disastrous for the US, Uplifting for China, Russia

The US arms sales ban for Eritrea was announced in an attentive and modest phraseology; however, the main aspect of the problem is synopsized in the fact that the US "anti-terrorism efforts" do not consist in an axiomatic representation of the political realities of our times.

Assuming that the phenomenon of the Islamic terrorism is real and genuine, devoid of any Western political machination and involvement (and this suggests that we are assuming a lot), there has never been a unanimous approval of a method as the only correct to be implemented in order to eliminate the nefarious phenomenon.

Assuming the US establishment has set up a holistic approach to the issue, we would find ourselves constrained to admit that they failed to communicate it, and it is known to few for the time being.

Realizing that there is no US holistic approach or approved method in this regard is essential; it helps us understand that, if countries allover the world have to cooperate "with anti-terrorism efforts", they have to first specify what these efforts have to be, and second agree to undertake them. Criteria have to be identified in this regard, and it is essential that they are commonly accepted by all.

Criterion and target prioritization is of seminal importance as well; the variances can be extreme. One country may conclude that top priority in the "anti-terrorism efforts" is to eliminate the mostly invisible and fairly invincible Taliban of Afghanistan, but for another administration, the unelected and undemocratic regime of the Saudi theocracy should be the first to eliminate, as it spreads Wahhabism, which is the theological and ideological system – quintessence of Islamic terrorism.

Others may still contend that Islamic terrorism in Africa and various parts of the Middle East is expanding because of the abnormal and calamitous preservation of the totalitarian state of Abyssinia (fallaciously re-baptized ‘Ethiopia’) whereby the Muslim majority 52% has long been oppressed, offended and terrorized by the tiny minority of the heretic Monophysites (who represent less than 20% of the dictatorial country’s population, as worshippers of traditional African religions total ca. 17% and Christians form the smallest group with ca. 11.5%).

The US administration’s approach was dictated by unapproved lobbies and unelected groups of influence that rose to power and by now are able enough to impose their political agenda. Not only this approach does not reflect the American common opinion but it has customarily been rejected by many European administrations, Russia and China.

More specifically, the American failure to conceptualize the correct ways to face off the Islamic Terrorism, which is a real threat, and the double failure in Afghanistan and Iraq do not allow significant margin of maneuver to Washington.

Thus, the poorly phrased accusation of Eritrea is definitely unsubstantiated. It is rather a matter of irony for America to ask Eritrea to fully cooperate "with anti-terrorism efforts" at a moment the US administration political decisions certainly help trigger further diffusion of any practices that could be possibly identified as Islamic Terrorism. In fact, the US turned to be the Islamic Terrorism’s best advocate and promoter.

Confronted with this reality, Russia and China have a better chance to expand their influence throughout Africa in counterbalance of the colonial Anglo-French and American presence and grip.

Key to success in this regard will not a sudden rise in the bilateral trade; this can only reflect an enhanced relationship. Russia has a great experience in the subject; the diffusion of Soviet influence in Africa was truly significant in the 70s, but it all vanished in the late 80s. China should study very well the easiness with which the African allies of the Soviets turned pro-American in the 90s.

The colonial model in Africa cannot be opposed by either America or Russia and China, except through the rejection of its concepts and pillars of function and utility.

The quintessence of the colonial model involves the following:

- prohibition of nation building,

- demolition of the national authenticity of a people,

- destruction of its historical integrity,

- violation of its cultural – religious identity,

- obstruction and prevention of the effort leading to the implementation and full function of a complete national educational system, and

- projection of confusion, fake identity, and ignorance on each colonized nation and ethno-religious group.

Therefore, the validity and the perspicacity of the Russian and the Chinese diplomacies will be evaluated on the basis of their ability to differentiate between their inner policy for their national minorities, ethnic groups, religious groups and their foreign policy – and more specifically their African policy – which will be successful only if in the case of every national minority and ethno-religious group the Russian and the Chinese diplomacies oppose frontally, totally and overwhelmingly the aforementioned axes of the colonial model, promoting nation building, national independence and cultural – historical integrity.

America could have taken most of the benefit that such a policy change would herald, thus reversing 500 years of European colonial adventures in Africa. Apparently, this is not an option for the group that presently controls the US decision making process.

The detrimental American loss can easily translate to gain for China, Russia, and any other influential country with African aspirations, Italy, India, Japan, Turkey or Brazil.

In fact, the American arm sales ban for Eritrea can be extremely beneficial for Eritrea too; suffice it that the Red Sea country gets disentangled from the basic concepts of colonial policy making that have prevailed throughout Africa and are extremely difficult to detect, let alone cancel.

On this, I will expand in a forthcoming article. Here, I republish a Press Release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea on this issue, and a feature elaborated out of an interview given by Mr. Ali Abdu, Eritrean Minister of Information, to Press TV.

Press Release: Unwarranted Act Stemming from Utter Desperation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Eritrea

http://www.hornofafrica.de/index.php?id=18&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1018&tx_ttnews[backPid]=9&cHash=81c570a998

On October 6 yesterday, the US State Department issued a government notice banning arms sales to Eritrea by designating it "as a country that is not fully cooperating with anti-terrorism efforts". Venezuela, Cuba, Syria, Iran and North Korea are other countries that were put in the list previously by a similar US government notice. The timing and real motivation of this ludicrous act is too transparent to seasoned observers of our region to merit further elaboration.

Indeed, as it must be crystal clear to all concerned, this unwarranted measure is purely prompted by the frustration of the US Administration with the misguided policies it has been pursuing in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and the Sudan. Furthermore, US authorities could not substantiate the unfounded accusations they leveled against Eritrea in the past as a "sponsor of terrorism." In the event, they have concocted this indirect ruse as a last ditch effort to cover up their blunder.

The real facts are otherwise the following:
- Eritrea has at no time in its history purchased, or received in any form, military hardware from the United States.

- In our region, groups and elements that the United States often dubs as "terrorists" are in reality those that Washington itself, and its surrogates in the Horn of Africa, employ for subversive activities.

- If Eritrea would wish to purchase weapons from the United States, it could not possibly be barred from doing so under spurious concerns of "non-cooperation with anti-terrorism efforts."

On the occasion, the Government of Eritrea urges the US Administration to stop its reckless policies in our region that have fuelled instability.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara

Mr. Ali stresses need for the world population to work jointly in combating Western media domination and make their voices heard

http://www.hornofafrica.de/index.php?id=18&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1017&tx_ttnews[backPid]=12&cHash=a1833718d5

Mr. Ali Abdu stressed the need for the marginalized majority of the world population to work jointly in combating Western media domination, and thus create the ground that would ensure their voices to be heard.

He made the remarks in an interview he conducted yesterday with Press TV. Mr. Ali pointed out that in view of the fact that the dominant Western media is striving to serve the interest and strategy of the big powers in violation of the ethics and norms of journalism, the voice of the majority of the world population is being muffled and marginalized. In this respect, he underlined that the marginalized people should work in a coordinated manner so as to portray the correct picture of issues and bridge the information gap created as a result of such domination. In this connection, Mr. Ali indicated that the agreements concluded in Tehran with different Iranian government officials on media cooperation are within this context.

Noting that the big media corporations monopolizing the world are owned by less than 25 rich individuals, he explained that the major powers are employing these media outlets as an instrument in implementing their dominant and dangerous policies through funding and indoctrinating them with loyalty to the Western ideology.

Replying to a question regarding Eritrea’s role in the Horn of Africa, Mr. Ali Abdu underscored that Eritrea has been making modest contribution in the region right from the achievement of independence. The initiatives taken in reactivating IGAD and resolving the Sudanese problem fully attest to this fact, he elaborated. Mr. Ali further stated that the encouraging relative stability and regional integration that emerged in the Horn region as a result of such effort have been undermined by the big powers through their servant regime, the TPLF, for the sake of safeguarding their individual interests.

Moreover, he pointed out that it is becoming the usual practice for the US to allege as "sponsor of terrorism" or "terrorist" to any party that refuses to rally behind it or reject its imposed prescriptions.

Mr. Ali Abdu went on to explain that the problem in Somalia emanates from the US attempts of military intervention under the pretext of so-called crisis management in a futile bid to ensure its interests in Somalia and other parts of the Horn region at the expense of Ethiopian youths.

In conclusion, Mr. Ali underlined that if lasting peace and stability is at all to prevail in Somalia, an end should be put to external interference, the Somali people should be encouraged and given the chance to resolve their issues themselves, and that if there should be foreign support, it should be aimed at creating conducive atmosphere.

Note
Picture: Traditional fishing boat in Eritrea (photo: Dawit Rezene)
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Traditional_Boat-Eritrea.jpeg
More pictures from Eritrea: http://www.world66.com/africa/eritrea/lib/gallery