Why Tanzania should keep away from US

Analysis

by Issa Shivji  

December 19, 2007: Energy and militarisation under the aegis of globalisation is the agenda of US imperialism. Terrorism is a justifying ideology; a means to rally the American people on the one hand, and to demonise liberation struggles from imperialism by the peoples of the South, on the other.

WAT (war against terrorism) plays just about the same role that the bogey of communism played during the Cold War. In the Third World the war was never “cold”.  Meanwhile, the US pursues its twin objectives of securing energy (oil) and establishing its absolute military hegemony. In this scheme of things, driven by these objectives, the eastern seaboard of Africa, from Djibouti to Durban, is strategic.

Before the American-backed Siad Barre was overthrown in Somalia in 1991, he had signed concession agreements with four American oil companies. It is believed Somalia has oil and gas reserves, although the amounts are not yet fully established.

Americans are furiously looking for a base for their Africom. The US African Command is a military command for Africa created by Bush in February 2007.

A number of African governments have openly refused to provide them with a base. A few seem to be supporting it in private, but dare not come out in the open. That Americans may be eyeing Tanzania for this purpose is logical. The country has legendary political stability and respect on the continent.

It is one of the biggest countries linking the Indian Ocean with the rich central Africa, especially the DRC. I get worried therefore when I see the stripes-and-stars- ambassadorial car moving around the country condemning corruption, seducing journalists with trips to Washington and New York, entertaining sheikhs to Iftar, or giving human rights prizes to gullible NGO leaders.

Why so much interest in Tanzania? Africans must learn from the Iraqinisation of Somalia. There are two states in the world today that  one should keep safe distance from, the US and Israel.

These are the most militarised states; the least law-abiding and the greatest warmongers that  humankind has ever seen. One has flattened two countries to rubble within a decade;  the other wanted to bomb Lebanon to Stone Age causing enormous devastation.

True, politics and diplomacy may require one to keep quiet; true, one is not powerful enough to fight these forces single-handedly. But “if you can’t fight them, join them,” is not always the best policy. If you can’t fight them, keep away.

Shivji is a professor of law.

Source: Kenyan Economics

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