Comments on: Why the silence on Zimbabwe and the noise on Burma? http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/ Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Wokingham Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:11:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Rebecca http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6842 Rebecca Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:48:49 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6842 The Free Market Foundation published this article as their article of the week http://www.freemarketfoundation.com/showArticle.asp?ArticleType=AOTW The most dramatic fact in this is the reduction of life expectancy in Zim. The situation is causing chaos in the surrounding countries with roughly half the country having fled his rule. Incidently Robert Gabriel Mugabe won the Libertarian "Marie Antoinette" dictator of the year award last year. I think they are still awaiting someone to pick it up... The Free Market Foundation published this article as their article of the week

http://www.freemarketfoundation.com/showArticle.asp?ArticleType=AOTW

The most dramatic fact in this is the reduction of life expectancy in Zim. The situation is causing chaos in the surrounding countries with roughly half the country having fled his rule.

Incidently Robert Gabriel Mugabe won the Libertarian “Marie Antoinette” dictator of the year award last year. I think they are still awaiting someone to pick it up…

]]> By: Warwick http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6817 Warwick Fri, 28 Sep 2007 05:15:56 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6817 They may have a new leader but times obviously do not change in the Labour party. As with recent announcements that they wish to 'help' people who tackle crime this is merely another example of the government jumping on a convenient bandwagon - and Gordon told us that he wasn't all about spin! They may have a new leader but times obviously do not change in the Labour party. As with recent announcements that they wish to ‘help’ people who tackle crime this is merely another example of the government jumping on a convenient bandwagon - and Gordon told us that he wasn’t all about spin!

]]> By: Richard http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6763 Richard Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:28:23 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6763 Funnily enough, I was reading from a book of (neo)cconservative essays this lunchtime, and noticed that Margaret Thatcher hinted in 1996 (in her speech 'New Threats for Old') what Rudolph Giuliani made more explicit in his recent UK speech: that NATO needs to assume the role of a 'democracies only' United Nations who can actually be relied upon to intervene in suffering countries rather than sit around passing condeming motions about Israel! reply: The UN is often hindered by anti demoractic countries protecting nasty regimes. Funnily enough, I was reading from a book of (neo)cconservative essays this lunchtime, and noticed that Margaret Thatcher hinted in 1996 (in her speech ‘New Threats for Old’) what Rudolph Giuliani made more explicit in his recent UK speech: that NATO needs to assume the role of a ‘democracies only’ United Nations who can actually be relied upon to intervene in suffering countries rather than sit around passing condeming motions about Israel!

reply: The UN is often hindered by anti demoractic countries protecting nasty regimes.

]]> By: Man in a Shed http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6761 Man in a Shed Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:14:27 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6761 A good question. The reality is Gordon is all talk, smoke and mirrors right now. What has he actually done, apart from threaten not to go to a conference which he hates going to anyway ? A good question. The reality is Gordon is all talk, smoke and mirrors right now. What has he actually done, apart from threaten not to go to a conference which he hates going to anyway ?

]]> By: Tony Makara http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6750 Tony Makara Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:33:19 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6750 Zimbabwe was always going to be a tragedy once Mugabe took over. Now that the country is in economic meltdown and all pretence at human rights and democratic political practice have been abandoned, it really is time that the international community looked at the case for military intervention. The dire economic problems in Zimbabwe will eventually lead to starvation and disease. This is no longer a question of politics but has become a question of life and death. Mugabe seems entrenched and untouchable. If powers felt compelled to act against Saddam Hussain why won't they even consider acting against the Marxist Mugabe? If Mugabe is ever deposed he should stand trial for human rights abuses. Zimbabwe was always going to be a tragedy once Mugabe took over. Now that the country is in economic meltdown and all pretence at human rights and democratic political practice have been abandoned, it really is time that the international community looked at the case for military intervention. The dire economic problems in Zimbabwe will eventually lead to starvation and disease. This is no longer a question of politics but has become a question of life and death. Mugabe seems entrenched and untouchable. If powers felt compelled to act against Saddam Hussain why won’t they even consider acting against the Marxist Mugabe? If Mugabe is ever deposed he should stand trial for human rights abuses.

]]> By: Cliff http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6746 Cliff Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:53:32 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6746 Mugabee is the one person responsible for the demise in his country. However, I listened to his speech at the UN last night and to be honest some of the points he made in relation to the USA and Britain had some truth in them. I do not personally feel that sanctions help the majority of Mugabee's people, if anything they suffer more from them. I do not believe there is any real stomach for military action amongst the usual suspects to resolve this situation. I also feel that Mugabee is still seen as a hero amongst many black Africans as he has effectively stuck two fingers up at the former white colonial powers. It is a mess and I do not know what the answer is, but something does need to be done if for no other reason than to end the suffering inflicted on this once prosperous and largely self-sufficient country. I am not one for continuous handouts year upon year for Africa; I feel we need to help them to help themselves. Many of the problems of Africa, setting aside natural disasters, stem from cultural attitudes amongst the population. I was interested to read recently, that since Britain gave independence to Malawi, life expectancy has dramatically dropped. This phenomenon has been repeated in many of the former colonies not just former British ones. Mugabee is the one person responsible for the demise in his country. However, I listened to his speech at the UN last night and to be honest some of the points he made in relation to the USA and Britain had some truth in them.
I do not personally feel that sanctions help the majority of Mugabee’s people, if anything they suffer more from them. I do not believe there is any real stomach for military action amongst the usual suspects to resolve this situation. I also feel that Mugabee is still seen as a hero amongst many black Africans as he has effectively stuck two fingers up at the former white colonial powers. It is a mess and I do not know what the answer is, but something does need to be done if for no other reason than to end the suffering inflicted on this once prosperous and largely self-sufficient country.
I am not one for continuous handouts year upon year for Africa; I feel we need to help them to help themselves. Many of the problems of Africa, setting aside natural disasters, stem from cultural attitudes amongst the population. I was interested to read recently, that since Britain gave independence to Malawi, life expectancy has dramatically dropped. This phenomenon has been repeated in many of the former colonies not just former British ones.

]]> By: Jago http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6738 Jago Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:39:11 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6738 Does anyone see the irony in Western democracies asking one oppressive, dictatorial regime China, to put pressure on another Does anyone see the irony in Western democracies asking one oppressive, dictatorial regime China, to put pressure on another

]]> By: Letters From A Tory http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6736 Letters From A Tory Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:58:26 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6736 Let's face it, Gordon Brown is trying to show strength on the Zimbabwe and Burma issues but isn't really achieving anything apart from looking rather weak. http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/style-over-substance-mr-brown/ Let’s face it, Gordon Brown is trying to show strength on the Zimbabwe and Burma issues but isn’t really achieving anything apart from looking rather weak.

http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/style-over-substance-mr-brown/

]]> By: Praguetory http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6728 Praguetory Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:21:43 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/27/why-the-silence-on-zimbabwe-and-the-noise-on-burma/#comment-6728 This point has also been made forcefully over at David Miliband's new blog. http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/blogs/david_miliband/archive/2007/09/26/13662.aspx#comments Unlike the Burmese monks, when the Archbishop of Bulawayo (backed by other clergy) called for international action to protect his people he met silence. This point has also been made forcefully over at David Miliband’s new blog.

http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/blogs/david_miliband/archive/2007/09/26/13662.aspx#comments

Unlike the Burmese monks, when the Archbishop of Bulawayo (backed by other clergy) called for international action to protect his people he met silence.

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