DEALING WITH AMERICAN DOUBLE STANDARDS

Sir,

I have been intrigued and touched by some comments made by concerned Swazis regarding whether the Americans are bullying us or whether they are being fair, following the announcement that came on May 15 that we may be expelled from the preferential trade treaty of AGOA, unless we meet some of the conditions that are viewed as repressive.

The question from a number of Swazis is over the perceived bullying and double standards that the Americans are apparently applying to poor Swaziland and other countries in a similar position as ourselves.
However, as Swazis, we need to understand that beggars cannot be choosers; therefore, the Americans believe that what they say goes.

Distressing

It is indeed distressing for countries such as ours to see the Americans apply double standards. While they preach democracy, they come short of saying that this is not universal but dependant on how they view you as a country.
Take the example of Palestine, where Hamas won a democratic election but still the Americans would not recognize Hamas; why not? Because the Americans view Hamas as an extremist organisation out to destroy America’s biggest ally, Israel.

The examples of American double standards are well documented and some examples include the following:
The Americans never supported the liberation movements of sub-Saharan Africa and, in fact, labelled most of the liberation movements as terrorist organisations; this includes the ANC in neighboring South Africa. Incidentally, the Americans were given centre-stage during the funeral of Africa’s best known statesman, Nelson Mandela, who the Americans had listed as a terrorist! This is hypocrisy of the highest order!
The Americans are continuing to support Israel in the face of the worst form of aggression and outright murder of the Palestinians.

Stringent

The Americans continue to pump in billions of Dollars into the Israeli and Egyptian Governments without requiring the stringent checks and balances that they would require from poor Swaziland and other countries perceived to be in the same boat as ourselves.
The Americans continue to dictate how countries should manage their affairs, including the promotion of what most Africans believe is the worst form of absurdity in the name of gay rights. According to the Americans, the views of Africans are immaterial on some of these issues.

The Americans harboured the Iranian Shah when he was overthrown by a popular uprising some three decades ago. Why? Because they were skeptical of the Islamists that had overthrown the Shah and their hatred of the new regime in Iran prompted them to finance Iraq in the eight-year war against Iran.

It is history that, years later, the Americans turned on their stooge Saddam Hussein and ultimately succeeded in their quest to get rid of him when he played into their hands.

The lesson, therefore, for African leaders is that they don’t dare challenge the Americans, who will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that challengers are isolated and marginalised.

Manipulation

It is, therefore, sad that African leaders continue to give the Americans ammunition with which to attack them, such as being intolerant of dissenting views, the gross manipulation and abuse of government systems and resources and rampant corruption; this is the ammunition that the Americans need - and guess who gives them that ammunition?

It’s the African leaders themselves. African leaders should not be passionate about defending their positions to the Americans; they should rather be obsessed with doing the right thing for their people and ensuring that they maintain a high standard of humility.
This is the only way to ensure that the Americans have no ammunition that they can use against you.

Hanger,
Mhlume

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