Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!sri-spam!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!XX.LCS.MIT.EDU!WLIM From: WLIM@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Newsgroups: mod.politics Subject: Re: Poli-Sci Digest V6 #99 Message-ID: <12263065327.2.MCGREW@RED.RUTGERS.EDU> Date: Mon, 15-Dec-86 16:09:45 EST Article-I.D.: RED.12263065327.2.MCGREW Posted: Mon Dec 15 16:09:45 1986 Date-Received: Tue, 16-Dec-86 22:04:48 EST Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Reply-To: WLIM@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 67 Approved: poli-sci@red.rutgers.edu From: Steve WaltonPersonally, I can't see that the nations of black Africa grant much more freedom to their citizens than the Afrikaners give to black South Africans, and that includes Zimbabwe. Would Idi Amin be an improvement over P.W. Botha? You forgot about Bostwana which is a democracy but currently being bullied by the white tribe (i.e. the Afrikaners see the Wall Street Journal and the Economist over the last few months) in South Africa. You should also note the curious fact that hundred of thousands of whites who fled Zimbabwe to SA are now returning to Zimbabwe (again see the Wall Street Journal and the Economist over the last few months). These whites originally left for fear of the blacks doing onto them what they have done onto the blacks (i.e. subjugation) and also for the belief that the blacks are going to screw the country up. Now they obviously think that Mugabe is an improvement over P.W. Botha. SA is worried about the economic success of Zimbabwe as it is the first front line country that over time will be strong enough to threathen SA. Furthermore the British have investments in Zimbabwe and are helping in training the Zimbabwean military, building the railroad to Beira, a port in Mozambique so that Zimbabwean goods can get out without going through SA (see the latest issue of the Economist). There is also talk of having white settlers along the Beira railroad to protect it from the SA backed guerrillas. Furthermore, the former Zimbabwean minister of agriculture (a white) has been abroad canvassing for financial support for the revitalization of the Beira line. As an aside, in a recent issue of Forbes, Zimbabwe now has the most sophisicated (i.e. highly computerized) and the world's largest tobacco auction floor in Harare. It is built by a Zimbabwean white. There was also a report on human rights in Zimbabwe which said that the whites have experienced very little atrocities committed against them. So don't you think that the Zimbabwean whites are doing pretty well under black majority rule? As another point, many African nations have served us well by showing the world what a big lose communism is. It was reported in the Time magazine that it was Machel (a Marxist) the late leader of Mozambique that persuaded Mugabe not to repeat his mistakes. Until his death, Machel was starting to move to our camp (the British and the West Germans are starting to return to Mozambique). I don't think the black INDIVIDUALS in SA would repeat the mistakes of the other African nations (which are now admitting the mistakes of Marxism and starting to experiment with elements of the free market) when there is majority rule. I do find it troubling that some people still think that black Africans don't know what it is good for them i.e. economic freedom which include the freedom to own property and businesses. SA has a long way to go with regard to this even if you were to ignore the right to one man one vote. Furthermore a black African leader (I think it was Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia where the ANC is headquartered) said that SA is the jewel of Africa. I don't think he would want to see it destroyed by a careless implementation of majority rule. SA, the so-called friend of capitalism, will not let any of the front line nations become economically successful even via capitalism for SA wants these nations to be subservient to SA. It is a matter of time before SA's interests conflict with our national interest (i.e. more pro-West, economically viable and stable states in southern Africa). One would be curious to see then if the white tribe in SA would find the communists in all-white Russia and Eastern Europe more preferable to the racially mixed but democratic and capitalistic USA. Willie ------- -------