Re: I envisage a new Scramble for Africa taking place -- this time, led by the US, and with Israel busy "under the table".
Well, I think the US will feel compelled to intervene in sub-Saharan Africa if only to preempt China... Indeed, China's insatiable appetite for commodities, ores and raw materials alone is driving up the prices --hence the ROIs-- of African land and property... (*)
The yanks, however, had better think twice before throwing their weight around in Black Africa --especially in view of the current mood prevailing in US public opinion. If Americans are really keen on meddling into sub-Saharan Africa then they should emulate the Europeans, that is, rely on NGOs and "Freedom doctors" (instead of French doctors <g>) --not military guys. In Africa, KEEP THE PENTAGON IN THE BACKSEAT!! After all, you don't want an Abu Ghraib scandal in CONGO, now DO YOU???????
That's a major risk for the Yanks if they ever mess around in Central Africa... I mean, just imagine the shock in the US: US marines taking pictures of n**gers abused and tortured in some detention camp in the jungle... LOL! Here's a story that will give you a whiff of the (domestic) fallout of an AFRICAN Abu Ghraib:
The Issue:
Ten years after the rioting in Los Angeles that followed the acquittal of four white police officers who were caught on video beating speeding suspect Rodney King. The riots peeled back the thin veneer of political correctness that had long veiled a raging undercurrent of racial tensions in the U.S. and sparked a renewed and difficult dialogue about race relations.
Background:
On March 3, 1991, four Los Angeles police officers, Stacey Koon, Timothy Wind, Laurence Powell and Theodore Briseno, were caught by plumber George Holliday's home video camera beating speeding suspect Rodney King. Holliday delivered the tape to a local news station and the beating was televised internationally.
Charges against King were dismissed, but the officers faced felony assault charges for the beating.
On April 29, 1992, the officers were found not guilty of crimes against King. Following the announcement of the verdict, riots erupt throughout the city of Los Angeles resulting in 53 deaths, some 10,000 arrests, 2,300 injuries, more than 1,000 buildings lost to fire, thousands of jobs lost and an estimated cost to the city of $1 billion in damages. The riots lasted several days, during which time, Reginald Denny, a white truck driver, was pulled from his truck and beaten by a mob at the intersection of Florence and Normandie in South Central Los Angeles, the heart of the rioting.
Rodney King is interviewed pleading for a cease to the rioting, uttering his now famous phrase, "Can we all just get along?" King won a $3.8 million settlement from the city of Los Angeles.
The LA Riots gained a place in history as the worst riots the U.S. has seen in modern years.
[...]
racerelations.about.com
(*) First Latin America, next Africa?
Brazil deals
Mr Hu's arrival in Argentina followed a five-day state visit to Brazil.
During the visit, Brazil met Chinese wishes to recognise it as a market economy.
In return, Brazil was granted greater access to China's market for chicken and beef products. The beef deal alone is expected to be worth $600m (£324m) a year for Brazil, ministers said.
It also gained a commitment from China to order at least 10 aeroplanes from Brazilian maker Embraer, reported the AFP news agency.
To facilitate trade, the Chinese are offering between $5bn (£3bn) and $7bn (£4bn) worth of investment to improve Brazil's roads, railways and ports.
China sees the deal as an important step towards obtaining better trade terms from the World Trade Organisation.
On Thursday, Mr Hu goes on to Chile for the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) forum in Santiago.
Later, he is due to travel on to Cuba.
news.bbc.co.uk |
