Maravi

Levy is right on US military bases

Levy is right on US military bases
By Editor
Saturday September 01, 2007 [04:00]

Africa today represents one of the most important, if not the most important, fields of battle against all forms of exploitation existing in the world, against imperialism and neo-colonialism. There are big possibilities for success in Africa, but there are also many dangers. The positive aspects include the hate which colonialism has left in the minds of our people. What we consider the principal danger for Africa is the possibility of division among our peoples.

On the one side, there are lackeys of imperialism, on the other the peoples seeking to free themselves along the roads suited to them and who are willing to defend their sovereignty. We highly welcome the position taken by President Levy Mwanawasa that his government will never allow the United States to establish its military base in Zambia. This is a very correct position to take because the presence of American armed forces on Zambian soil will completely take away any hope that we may harbour for independence, sovereignty and indeed peace.

There are many examples in the world where the presence of the United States' military has resulted in nothing but continued instability and total loss of independence and sovereignty.

The Middle East is a good example of this. The United States has set up hundreds of military bases in many countries all over the world but these have not brought any increased security to those countries, regions or indeed the world in general.

And when one critically analyses all these military bases of the United States on foreign soil, one realises that there are so many nooses round the neck of United States imperialism. The nooses have been fashioned by the Americans themselves and by nobody else, and it is they themselves who have put these nooses round their own necks, handing the ends of the ropes to the peoples of the Arab countries and all the peoples of the world who love peace and oppose aggression and subjugation. The longer the United States military remains in those places, the tighter the nooses round their necks will become.

United States imperialism will not last long because it always does evil things. And because of this, many people in the world will rise and struggle against it. The attitude and behaviour of the United States needs to change, must change. It is the task of the people of the whole world to put an end to United States imperialism.

Riding roughshod everywhere, United States imperialism has made itself the enemy of the people of the world and is increasingly isolating itself. Those who refuse to be enslaved will never be cowed by the military might of the United States. The raging tide of the people of the world against the United States imperialism is irresistible. And their struggle against United States imperialism will assuredly triumph. If the United States persists in pushing its militaristic policies of aggression and war and of using their military power to dominate the world, the day is bound to come when they will be hanged by the people of the whole world.

There is no need for anyone in the world today, especially our poor world, to think they can be protected by the United States; to think the United States respects their independence and sovereignty, and pin their hopes for peace and progress on the sensibleness of United States imperialism. They will only triumph by strengthening their unity and persevering in their opposition to imperialism.

And we should never forget that the richest source of power to oppose United States imperialism lies in the masses of our people. It is mainly because of the unorganised state of the masses of our people that the United States dares to bully us. When this defect is remedied, then United States imperialism, like a mad bull crashing into a ring of flames, will be surrounded by hundreds of millions of our people standing upright, the mere sound of their voices will strike terror into them.

We shouldn't deceive ourselves in any way that the United States' decision to set up military bases on our continent, in our countries, is for our own protection, for our peace and progress. It is for its own imperial interests. The United States' policy towards Africa is defined by the increasing importance of African oil to American energy needs. United States oil industry officials emphasise that the United States intelligence community has estimated that the United States will buy 25 per cent of its oil from Africa by 2015.
The United States government claims that its military mission in Africa will be diplomatic, economic and humanitarian aid, aimed at prevention of conflict, rather than at military intervention. But when things are analysed properly, it is clear that the United States Africa Command (Africom) holds potential well beyond military oversight.

It may be necessary to remind ourselves of where the United States government is headed and why it is doing what it is doing. In March 1998, the United States government made public the "1998 Trade Policy Agenda of the United States" where it was literally indicated that it is set to be "aggressive, directed globally and at all key regions of the world"; that "as the most important and successful economy in the global trading system, the United States is in a strong position to use its powers of persuasion and influence to pursue this Agenda"; and that "despite the substantial market openings that have been achieved in recent years, there remain too many barriers to United States goods and services exports throughout the world". Such language is distressing, but that's what they believe and want to do. From this, it is very clear that the United States government "will never spread any trade investments without necessarily using some force as an avenue to aid it". And "this is basically aimed at influencing, threatening and warding off any competitors by using force, if necessary".

This is the main purpose of their military policy. Of course there is talk of fighting terrorism and moves to drive African countries into this war which is defined only by themselves. It is not difficult to realise the implications of such an initiative to drive African countries into war of terror tactics in the pretext of spreading economic investments. The desperate efforts by the United States to have a large control of oil and other mineral resources in Africa is a real threat to the stability of this continent.

We therefore welcome the position taken by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states to oppose the establishment of United States military bases in our countries and on our continent. As South Africa's defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota has correctly observed, the presence of foreign military forces in our countries might just end up dividing us and affect the relations between our sister countries and will not in any way encourage an atmosphere of security. Our region and our continent will take care of its security needs and where necessary will seek international assistance on terms and conditions that do not threaten our peace, unity, independence and sovereignty.

The decision by the United States to set up military bases in our countries should be opposed in all circumstances, including in the cool salons of political manipulation. We should never, never allow any United States military base in our countries, in our region and indeed on our continent.

As part of its policy of coercion, threats, destabilisation and aggression - with the ensuing increase in international tension and the climate of conflict - the United States government has launched the greatest peace-time arms buildup programme in its history. The aggressive and interventionist course of the United States, backed by the enormous combined offensive potential of its NATO allies, is the gravest conceivable threat to peace and security of all the peoples of the world.

It is this policy of building up an impressive military force to try to solve the complex problems of today's world through the indiscriminate use or threat of use of force that has committed mankind to an arms buildup spiral seriously endangering peace and man's own survival. Stopping and reversing it is today, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the most decisive contribution to the cause of peace, the most essential and definitive goal the world has before it. And this will be undermined if we allow the United States to establish military bases in our countries.

Everyone must be aware that today's problems cannot be solved by use of force. Our aspirations and demands clash with the lack of understanding; selfishness; colossal interests; and enormous technological, economic, military and political power of imperialism and its neo-colonialist forms and with the rigid, inexorable laws that govern that system which has imposed brutally exploiting, unequal, asphyxiating and unjust economic relations on our countries - relations that are even worse than and more sophisticated than those of the colonial system, whose eradication gave rise to so many hopes.

If a real climate of peace and security for all states, both large and small, is not created and if the absurd arms race and militarism - which is spiraling dizzily, faster than in any other time in history - is not halted, not only will the danger of wars become a terrible reality, but it will not even be possible to dream of having the resources that are needed to meet our poor people's urgent and basic needs. The task will be impossible if this militarism and military spending is not stopped and reduced drastically.

We have no alternative but to struggle without respite for peace, improved international relations, a halt to militarism and the arms race and a drastic reduction in military spending and to demand that a considerable part of those funds be dedicated to developing our poor countries. And our countries' staunchness in the defence of their sovereignty constitutes the best code of conduct against imperialism.

And in this regard, the unity of all our countries and our peoples is absolutely necessary. We should also rise above all local controversies that sometimes turn us into enemies because of old disputes or intrigues, ambitions or the machinations of imperialism. The abolition of wars between our countries should be a basic law of our states and an integral part of our struggle for universal peace.

Labels: EDITORIAL, MILITARY BASES, MWANAWASA

posted by MrK @ 3:30 AM