Bush's horrors continue in Africa

[Mystery]

What follows are two accounts of George W. Bush's visit to Sub-Saharan

Africa. In my opinion they reveal the true attitudes of our current

administration and their cynical approach to domestic politics and

international aid. The implicit message that Bush has sent to the

people of Sub-Saharan Africa is nothing short of shocking. As a U.S.

citizen I wish to personally apologize for this unacceptable behavior

and open disdain for the hard won sovereignty of the nations of

Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Jim Igoe

University of Colorado at Denver

 

Bush in Senegal

 

FYI. Not knowing the Senegalese writer of this private message and not

wanting to cause him/her any trouble, I have deleted the routing

information.

 

Dearest friends,

 

As you probably know, this week George Bush is visiting Africa.

Starting with Senegal, he arrived this morning at 7.20 AM and left at

1.30 PM. This visit has been such an ordeal that a petition is being

circulated for this Tuesday July 8th be named Dependency Day.

 

Let me share with you what we have been trough since last week.

 

1- Arrestations : more than 1,500 persons have been arrested and put

in jail between Thursday and Monday. Hopefully they will be released now

that the Big Man is gone

 

2- The US Army's planes flying day and night over Dakar. The noise

they make is so loud that one hardly sleeps at night

 

3- About 700 security people from the US for Bush's Senegal, with

their dogs, and their cars. Senegalese security forces were not allowed

to come near the US president

 

4- All trees in places where Bush will pass have been cut. Some of

them are over 100 years old

 

5- All roads going down town (were hospitals, businesses, schools

are located) were closed from Monday night to Tuesday at 3 PM. This means

that we could not go to our offices or schools. Sick people were also

obliged to stay at home.

 

6- National exams for high schools that started on Monday are

postponed until Wednesday.

 

Bush's visit to the Goree Island is another story. As you may know

Goree is a small Island facing Dakar where from the 15th to the 19th

century, the African slaves to be shipped to America were parked in

special houses called slave houses. One of these houses has become a

Museum to remind humanity about this dark period and has been visited by

kings, queens, presidents. Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, and before

them, Nelson Mandela, the Pope, and many other distinguished guests or

ordinary tourists visited it without bothering the islanders. But for

"security reasons" this time, the local population was chased out of

their houses from 5 to 12AM. They were forced by the American security

to leave their houses and leaves everything open, including their

wardrobes to be searched by special dogs brought from the US. The ferry

that links the island to Dakar was stopped and offices and businesses

closed for the day.

 

According to an economist who was interviewed by a

private radio, Senegal that is a very poor country has lost huge amount

of money in this visit, because workers have been prevented from walking

out of their homes. In addition to us being prevented to go out, other

humiliating things happened also. Not only Bush brought did not want to

be with Senegalese but he did not want to use our things. He brought his

own armchairs, and of course his own cars, and meals and drinks. He came

with his own journalists and ours were forbidden inside the airport and

in place he was visiting. Our president was not allowed to make a

speech. Only Bush spoke when he was in Goree. He spoke about slavery. It

seems that he needs the vote of the African American to be elected in

the next elections, and wanted to please them. That's why he visited

Goree.

 

Several protest marches against American politics have been

organized yesterday and even when Bush was here, but we think he does

not care. We have the feeling that everything has been done to convince

us that we are nothing, and that America can behave the way it wants,

everywhere, even in our country. Believe me friends, it is a terrible

feeling. But according to a Ugandan friend of mine, I should not

complain because it Uganda one of the country he is going to visit, Bush

does not intend to go out of the airport. He will receive the Ugandan

President in the airport lounge.

 

 

Homes bulldozed to clear way for Bush

 

ABUJA - Armed police backed by bulldozers tore down illegally built

homes and shops in the Nigerian capital Abuja today ahead of a visit by

US President George W Bush. The operation began yesterday after an order

from President Olusegun Obasanjo to clean up the city ahead of his

American counterpart's arrival, officials said.

 

In one residential quarter of the city reporter saw around 60 buildings

- ranging from brick-built structures to makeshift wooden shanties -

ploughed down as hundreds of residents looked on in despair.

 

"They didn't give us any warning," wailed tailor John Emeka, who saved

his sewing machine but lost much of his stock when a joint taskforce of

police and environmental protection agents pulled down his business.

 

Nearby a stock of computers lay mangled in the wreckage of an electronic

goods store, and the ownwer of a grilled meat stand argued with officers

attempting to condemn his barbecue. The police came armed with assault rifles

and tear gas, but there was no violence as the bulldozers rolled in.

 

A senior local official, Babangida Aliyu, told reporters that Obasanjo

had personally ordered the destruction on a visit last week to the

Federal Capital Territory's lawmakers.

 

"Obasanjo gave specific instructions when he visited, and we have no

qualms in carrying them out," he said.

 

More than 2,000 Nigerian police and intelligence officers have been

deployed around Abuja to provide security for Bush's visit, the last

stage in a whirlwind five-nation tour of Africa.

 

The US leader is due in Abuja late today after a stopover in Uganda and

is to return to Washington on Saturday.His trip has so far taken him to

Senegal, South Africa and Botswana.

 

AFP

[LuCkY]

Mystery, what is the basis of his visit other than to gain afro-ame. voters on his side for re-eLection. :rolleyes:

And why are they aLLowing him to enter their countries in the first pLace? :confused:

[zak99]

mystery: that was a great piece. i love it brother. lucky, hit right on it! u know when he came next he was to urban league to get black peole vote. but see that the whole, he wants to fool black people. but guess what, i dont wann what african party i am in american, but i have save this article and will disemenate to my friends. as the saying, u never know who is listening that way i wanna keep my contact under cover. good information mistery! i love it.