US Congress Grills Jeyandi Frazer & Meles Zenawi

[AbdiWahab252]

Some disturbing reports of Zenawi & the USA's support for the terrorist regime of Zenawi.

Click on the clip under Frazer's phase:

http://dalkanews.com/news.php


Donald Payne, the Congressman from New Jersey is a good man who is deeply concerned with human rights and dignity in subSaharan Africa.

[AbdiWahab252]

The Ethiopian Accountability Bill has passed yesterday. Congrats to Congressman Payne.

Ethiopia bill faces Bush backlash

By Barney Jopson in Nairobi and Daniel Dombey in Washington

Published: October 3 2007 20:06 | Last updated: October 3 2007 20:06

The US House of Representatives has set itself at loggerheads with the Bush administration by backing a bill that would force Ethiopia, a US military ally, to improve its record on democracy and human rights or risk losing substantial aid.

The bill, passed on Tuesday, underscores unease among lawmakers over the US’s close ties with Ethiopia, which have grown since a violent crackdown on opposition supporters followed a disputed election in 2005.

But the Bush administration is unhappy about the bill, which it sees as an encroachment on the administration’s powers and misguided in some of its policies, and the legislation’s fate in the US Senate – which would also need to give its approval – is uncertain.

At the end of last year, the US gave implicit backing to Ethiopia’s invasion of Somalia, which Washington feared had become a haven for Islamist militants.

In testimony this week to the House subcommittee on Africa, Jendayi Frazer, the state department’s top official on African affairs, hailed what she called “unprecedented” agreements between the Ethiopian opposition and government, which she said were “a monumental advancement in the political environment”.

Examples she gave included reform of the National Electoral Board and a new code of conduct for the press. But she added that the US had raised “strong concerns” about human rights violations in the Ogaden region.

Known as the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act, the bill would ban “non essential US assistance” if Ethiopia obstructed US efforts to further human rights, democracy, independence of the judiciary and freedom of the press. It would restrict security assistance and impose travel restrictions on Ethiopian officials accused of human rights violations unless Ethiopia met the conditions – although the legislation would give the president a waiver to prevent such measures from taking force.

The US will provide around $300m of aid to Ethiopia this year but it is unclear how much would be affected by the bill, which also exempts humanitarian, healthcare and emergency food assistance.

The text also exempts counter-terrorism, peacekeeping operations and international military training from any funding restrictions, a reflection of Ethiopia’s military capabilities and its perceived role as a source of stability in the volatile Horn of Africa.

Samuel Assefa, Ethiopia’s ambassador to the US, described the bill as “unconscionable and irresponsible”.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007

[Megatron]

To be commended, sure. But mere window dressing, as this passage illustrates.

"The text also exempts counter-terrorism, peacekeeping operations and international military training from any funding restrictions, a reflection of Ethiopia’s military capabilities and its perceived role as a source of stability in the volatile Horn of Africa".

[AbdiWahab252]

Megatron,

However, it is a first step.

The Ethiopian government has been spending nearly 2 million dollars to buy up congressmen through lobbyists.

Zenawi is worried.

[xoogSADE14]

AW

sxb the checks won't stop coming and you know it.

[guhad122]

Excellent post AW!
The world is now paying attention to this Meles menace and his atrocities in Somalia and Ethiopia.

[Koronto91]

AW,

Rep. Payton has balls unlike many others in Congress. It may not be much, but it is certainly something. Zenawi's government oppresses people throughout the region, both at home & in Somalia. There is a HUGE anti-Zenawi group in DC, they are pushing for bills like this. Good for them.

XoogSADE,

All checks stop at some point, nothing continues forever! The Bush admin have literally bankrupted this government by funneling money in to black-hole accounts & pay-offs to dictarors like Zenawi all in their claim of fighting terrorism.

Come 01/20/09, there will be accountability in Washington, no more black-hole accounts & bogus claims of securing the homeland.

[xoogSADE14]

Guhad

member states of the U.S. lead coalition against terrorism can do no wrong. Take Musharaf and what hes doing in Pakistan for example.

Koronto

By the time the checks stop there might not be any Somalis left in the horn.

[Megatron]

I agree. Definitely a pivotal moment. But the bottom line, is that Doc Frazer is the shot-caller on affairs in Africa. She has the final say. Her comments at 18:10 clearly illustrate that the U.S will not take any steps to halt Ethiopian action in Somalia.

"US interests in the Horn of Africa are to promote and support regional stability, effective governance, eliminate any platform for Al Qaida...."

The second Al Qaida is mentioned, all bets are off. All she has to do is say "Yes, Geordie, AQ exists in Somalia", and BINGO! Green light to kill.

[AbdiWahab252]

Xoogsade,

I hope u are wrong saxiib.


Megatron,

The Burmese government should use the same trick against the monks

[Ina Baxar]

Good!!
Xoogsade , hasn't gashaanle sare Hiiraale benefited fom the CIA too, in the name of "the war on terror"?

[AbdiWahab252]

[Ina Baxar]

AW, mareexaanka Snet jooga , "timing"-ga ayaa ka yara xun , nothing big!
Way kuu aamusayaan marka hadal looga baahan yahay , arrimaha la iska dhego-tiro na oon waxaan arkayn la iskaga dhigo , sidii shinida ayay ku soo wada jabaan.
Xoogsade baa waalay nimankan