Fw: *DHR* Kagame warned not to go the Mugabe way- Wikileaks

 

 

Kagame warned not to go the Mugabe way- Wikileaks Sunday, 15 May 2011 13:10 (http://www.insiderzim.com/stories/1741-kagame-warned-not-to-go-the-mugabe-way-wikileaks.html)   Rwandan leader Paul Kagame was warned eight years ago not to go the Robert Mugabe way when he won his second term of office as the country's president but last year he contested the elections and won another seven-year term. Kagame became the country's leader in 1994 when his Rwandan Patriotic Front overthrew the government and ended the genocide in the country that had killed hundreds of thousands. Although he spearheaded reconciliation and the economic growth of the country resulting in his country becoming one of "Africa's biggest successes" he has largely survived on the grace of the West. He invaded the Democratic Republic of Congo twice with impunity and is reported to have used Congo's resources to finance the war. In an editorial soon after his 2003 election victory, Canada's Globe and Mail said though Kagame had managed to transform the economy and promoted reconciliation largely because of the large amounts of aid he was getting, Western governments should move beyond genocide-related guilt and begin to measure Kagame by the standards they applied to others. "They and he need look no further than Zimbabwe, a few borderlines to the south, to see what happens when power goes to a strongman's head," the paper is quoted as saying in a diplomatic cable just released by Wikileaks. "History will judge Mr. Kagame by his ability to ensure that the poison of ethnic hatred is not supplanted by the vices of one-man rule."   Full Cable: Viewing cable 03OTTAWA2473, MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ; WTO; AFRICA; U.S. If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin 03OTTAWA2473 2003-08-29 12:35 2011-04-28 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Ottawa This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 002473   SIPDIS   STATE FOR WHA/CAN, WHA/PDA WHITE HOUSE PASS NSC/WEUROPE, NSC/WHA   E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO KMDR OIIP OPRC CA SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ; WTO; AFRICA; U.S. POLITICS   IRAQ ¶1.   "Leaving Iraq would be unparalleled disaster" Columnist David Warren reflected in the nationalist Ottawa Citizen (8/27): "...[T]he situation [in Iraq] continues to improve. It was never going to be a rose garden, but it is clear to impartial observers within the country that Iraqis themselves are co-operating - the overwhelming majority within each of its religious and ethnic groups, including even the Sunnis, co- operating with each other and with the U.S. military to hunt down Baathists and insurgents, and rebuild the country both physically and institutionally, even through the baking summer heat. It is the most promising event in post-colonial Arab history. Yet it could all be overthrown tomorrow if the U.S. decides it cannot stay the course. Terrorism achieves its results by drama.... [T]he problem, from the political view, is that while the U.S. soldiers may be risking their lives for the good of Iraq, what they are doing for the folks back home is much less obvious. It is very real - for a functioning, non-totalitarian Iraq will make a huge difference in the fate of nations - but this requires some explanation. Back home in the U.S., people want to know how they are benefiting, by putting the lives of 'our boys' on the line.... The American people have grown tired of being in Iraq, and want to move on. Their attention is refocusing on domestic threats, and the Democrats are making hay with the notion that progress against the enemy abroad is made at the cost of progress at home. This is a lie, but it is a good one.... The question on my mind is thus, will the Americans funk out? And the only thing I can say for sure is that if they do, it will be an unparalleled disaster. For 9/11 itself was the payback for the last U.S. funk-out from its responsibilities as a superpower."   WTO ¶2.   "WTO: the rich get more" Columnist Paul Knox commented in the leading Globe and Mail (8/27): "...[I]f globalization is a win-win no- brainer, why are international trade negotiations in such a mess? There's continued pessimism about the chances of a comprehensive free-trade-area-of-the- Americas deal clicking into place on schedule at the beginning of 2005. That's also the deadline for finishing the Doha Round of negotiations under the World Trade Organization, and Doha isn't shaping up as a slam dunk either. Sharp splits among rich and poor countries, and those in between, will be exposed next month at a key meeting of WTO ministers in Cancun, Mexico.... Social activists have worked hard the past few years to challenge the notion that globally integrated markets will necessarily bring prosperity to the poor. Maybe they should relax. No one is working harder to discredit globalization than the representatives of rich countries at the WTO. When you cut through the verbiage, the message from the First World is this: globalization when it works for us; self- interest when it doesn't."   AFRICA ¶3.   "The result in Rwanda" The leading Globe and Mail opined (8/28): "...Mr. Kagame now begins a new seven-year mandate. Helped by large amounts of Western aid, he has made the economy grow and promoted reconciliation at the community level. He has the chance to lead the survivors of appalling atrocities toward a genuinely democratic, prosperous and harmonious future.... For their part, Western governments must move beyond genocide-related guilt and begin to measure Mr. Kagame by the standards they apply to others. They and he need look no further than Zimbabwe, a few borderlines to the south, to see what happens when power goes to a strongman's head. History will judge Mr. Kagame by his ability to ensure that the poison of ethnic hatred is not supplanted by the vices of one-man rule."   U.S. POLITICS ¶4.   "Howard Dean and the U.S. buzz" The leading Globe and Mail editorialized (8/28): "Is George W. Bush vulnerable in 2004? Until recently, the answer has been an unequivocal no.... But there are signs that may be changing.... Why the sudden buzz? For one thing, Dr. Dean is a ferocious and tireless campaigner. In the past five days he has made nine campaign stops in eight states. For another, his speeches pay scant attention to his Democratic rivals, focusing instead on attacking Mr. Bush and his policies.... Dr. Dean also appears to be tapping a growing vein of unease about the President's economic policies. He is a no-nonsense fiscal conservative, widely credited with balancing Vermont's books. He dismisses Mr. Bush's economic policies as 'borrow and spend.'... Nor is Dr. Dean the only prospective Democratic candidate generating a buzz. General Wesley Clark, most recently CNN's top military analyst and formerly NATO's commanding general in Kosovo, has hinted that he may jump into the race. In addition to being a decorated Vietnam veteran, Gen. Clark is a Rhodes scholar and former lecturer in economics at West Point. Dr. Dean, no fool, has already named Gen. Clark as a potential running mate. Mr. Bush's second term is no longer a given."   ¶3.   "If only money grew on bushes" Columnist Marcus Gee wrote in the leading Globe and Mail (8/28): "...If Mr. Bush and the Republican- controlled Congress make the tax cut permanent, as they have promised, it will cost Washington a total of $1.5-trillion over the course of a decade. As if that were not enough, the White House also wants to start providing old people with subsidized medicines. The cost over 10 years: $400-billion.... Of course, it would be hard for Mr. Bush to change course now. He sees himself as a man of his word. When he says he will do something, whether defanging Iraq or cutting taxes, he does it. But real leaders know that a change of circumstances sometimes requires a change of course, however embarrassing. Instead of stubbornly sticking to an outdated and irresponsible fiscal plan, he should cancel or delay at least some of his tax cut. Americans would surely understand. As they must know, the only thing worse for the United States than a tax-and-spend liberal is a spend-and-don't-tax conservative."   CELLUCCI

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