Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Obama extends Zimbabwe sanctions

COMMENT - The notion that Zimbabwe represents: "a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States" is bizarre, to say the least. A more rational explanation is that Zimbabwe presents a threat to the diamond interests to certain large donors to the Democratic and Republican parties, to be specific, Maurice Tempelsman and Danny Gertler. Tempelsman is a donor to Hillary Clinton, who co-sponsored the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001.

Obama extends Zimbabwe sanctions
Our reporter
Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:09:00 +0000

UNITED STATES President Barack Obama has extended for another year economic sanctions on Zimbabwe unapproved by the United Nations. Obama has completely ignored calls to have the sanctions lifted.

The punitive sanctions have been denounced by 118 member states of the Non Aligned Movement, 53 from the African Union and 15 from the Southern African Development Community.

Former President George W. Bush first imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2003, then expanded them in 2005 and 2008. They would have expired on Friday if Obama had not extended them.

The extensions placed on Zimbabwe ban more than 250 Zimbabwean individuals and companies from doing business with the U.S. Obama's announcement came on Wednesday after Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had called for an end to Western sanctions.

A statement issued by the White House said: "The crisis constituted by the actions and policies of certain members of the government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe's democratic processes or institutions has not been resolved,“

Obama added in a statement. "These actions and policies pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States.“

The Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment last night when approached by the Zimbabwe Guardian.

A statement from the Government of Zimbabwe said: "Through this action, Obama — who campaigned on a mantra of change — followed his predecessor, George W. Bush’s policy of destructive engagement with Zimbabwe."

Labels: BARACK OBAMA, MAURICE TEMPELSMAN, SANCTIONS

posted by MrK @ 7:33 PM