|
|
Is Asst Secretary Johnnie Carson Rolling-on to Bush Policies?
On May 20, 2009 US Senate Committee on Foreign Relation conducted a
hearing regarding the Situation in Somalia on a setting and process
that resembled a courtroom. The case could likely be termed as, The
State against the State of Eritrea. The process seemed eerily
familiar and déjà vu to the previous administration. The victim is
the New Transitional Government (TNG) in Somalia. Eritrea is the
accused and predetermined-guilty-party to crimes committed in
Somalia, and awaits sentencing by a panel of Senators.
While the hearing appeared to be a knee jerk reaction to the fast
developing situation in Somalia, it is coordinated and timed to
coincide with the new-furious campaign being waged against Eritrea.
It is not a coincidence that IGAD called for sanctions and blockade
against Eritrea the same day the hearing was being conducted at the
US Capitol. Better yet, the AU repeated the same calls, and
condemned Eritrea giving Eritreans an early Independence-Day-gift, a
day ahead of the main celebration was to be held!
The Senate panel led by Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin held
identical hearings during the Bush Presidency. The principal actors
are different as a result of the election, but the messages and the
types of witnesses come from similar backgrounds; which means there
is no infusion of new information. So the process seems to have
continued with the Assistant Secretary Carson acting as the chief
prosecutor, while Shannon Scribner from OXFAM and Dr. Ken Menkhaus
sat as expert witnesses. Assistant Secretary Carson’s “testimony”
can be summed up as follows: US can attain her strategic objectives
with TNG/TFG led by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. And for undetermined
strategic positioning Mr. Carson decided to make Eritrea the
principal defendant as an accomplice to all the mayhem that is
taking place in Somalia. In other words, it is predetermined that
Eritrea will be the Whipping-Boy!
However, this assertion undermines the truth and fails to answer
fundamental questions. It is also a sad commentary to see a Senate
panel conducting a hearing on a setting that can be considered
lackadaisical. How is it possible to conduct a hearing about an
issue of great magnitude which affects the lives of millions in this
manner and in a process that took less than two hours? Why did
Senator Russ Feingold fail to have a comprehensive and serious
hearing that involved all the stake holders? Why did he conduct the
hearing for a policy in the process of being formulated and in a
manner that fails to educate the general public in a balanced
fashion? Who are the principal actors? What is the intended role of
the US and its track record? What is the desired outcome? Why is the
US repeating the same process over and over? Why the
inconsistencies? Why is the US supporting a leader US and Ethiopian
forces dethroned and captured as a terrorist? Senator Feingold knows
the actors and the issues very well, but why did he limit the
process?
The US supported and financed Ethiopian soldiers to invade Somalia.
Ethiopian left Mogadishu in disgrace and in defeat. Ethiopia failed
to achieve any measurable success. There is no single functioning
standing institution Ethiopia built. And if security is a measuring
stick, Ethiopia widened the conflict and made it borderless.
Because, in violation of international laws Ethiopian soldiers
entered Somalia and occupied a country that harbored historic enmity
claiming security concerns and invitation from the previous
transitional government, TFG.
Ethiopia received all the diplomatic cover it needed from the US. It
was a regular act to see Dr. Janday Frazer defend Meles Zenawi and
Ethiopian authorities from their crimes. Dr. Frazer established the
Somali Contact Group. She used IGAD and AU to give legitimacy for
her policies. She used the UNSC and UN as tools to achieve outlined
objectives. Her failed policies created hell on earth while she
avoided taking responsibility by blaming others.
Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson seems to have embraced the same
approach and actors to deal with the issues in the Horn of Africa.
Mr. Carson stated the National Security Council (NSC) is formulating
a comprehensive strategy in this regard. It involves the State
Department, Department of Defense, USAID, the Intelligence
Community, EU, AU, IGAD, the “Contact Group” and many others. The
question here is, if policy is being formulated, why the rush for
the hearing? Why legitimize a failed process that went through many
TFG/TNG leadership changes in a span of two years? Why not wait to
develop a comprehensive, coherent, transparent and reasonable
policy?
What is missing? Change! Change we can believe in! President Obama
was elected to bring change. Change in policies, approach and
fundamental change in the way this country relates to other
countries. President Obama said we will listen, engage and we will
not dictate. What Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson did contradicts
all that. Mr. Carson has not listened to Eritrea, engaged Eritrea
and did not explore how Eritrea can play a positive role. To the
contrary he is building unnecessary wall with the people of Eritrea
during a spirited independence celebration moments.
The question then becomes, is the new Assistant Secretary for
African Affairs Johnnie Carson rolling-on to failed Bush policies?
Is he falling on the traps set by the most undiplomatic diplomat,
Dr. Janday Frazer who contributed mightily to the unnecessary
bloodshed in Somalia? What is the US policy seeking to achieve? Is
it stability? The pattern doesn’t seem to indicate that to be the
focus; in fact, the opposite could be argued successfully. Why?
Because, for the simple fact that the US is supporting Ethiopia, a
historic enemy of the Somalis to invade their country Somalia
repeatedly!
As Dr. Ken Menkhaus testified, there is a great deal of suspicion
and mistrust to US policies in the region. That mistrust will not
let up until the US changes her approach. The US needs to give the
people in the region a respite they need, seek and deserve. For
decades foreign interventions have created a great deal of damage to
the people in the region and they are beginning to fight it
successfully. The more outsiders try to influence the final outcome
the more resistance they will help create thus diminishing US
influence in the region as it appears to be the case.
Considering the current economic hardships in the US and other
equally pressing and overlapping issues, it is easy to conclude that
President Obama will not have the time he needs to explore his
policy options thoroughly. It will be at least another year for the
President to evaluate the policy options and come up with a
comprehensive approach. The president needs to address the continent
in a new and meaningful manner with the same vigor he is addressing
Moslems around the globe. We need to have faith in a President that
came to power seeking to make a meaningful change.
The concern: too many players with interests that want to see the
continuation of the statues quo overtaking the process to the point
of no return. The US has unparalleled clout and uncontested ability
to use regional and international organizations to advance agendas
at will with impunity. Organizations like The African Union and IGAD
are the tools at the disposal of US leaders to manipulate agendas.
That is the process by which US agents legitimize and
internationalize decisions they seek.
That means there must be a concerted effort by interested parties to
stop the failed Bush and Frazer policies from regenerating. Because
if the virus takes over; by the time the President takes over the
issue all he can do is try to kill the virus. That will be a huge
setback to the region’s hope-for-change! The people in the region
understand it is a FUNDUMENTAL RIGHT TO LIVE IN PEACE and they will
seek and work to achieve it! So it is up to the people representing
the people in the Horn to make sure those who are responsible, like
Senator Feingold, to be held to account for their actions and
decisions.
And it is my sincere hope and wishes to see Assistant Secretary
Johnnie Carson do well for the people of the Horn and to establish a
legacy of stature by charting a new way in the direction of
legitimate peace with balanced, equal and a fair approach.
Amanuel Biedemariam
|
|
|
