Zimbabwe: A Problem and Solutions

Mugabe, Democratically Elected or a Self-Made Tyrant? It is a question that needs answering. Though opinions differ from place to place, the general concensus is that there is a problem in Zimbabwe that needs a solution. But first, we need to define the nation and what kind of government it has.

Ian Bremmer, author of The J-Curve, places the Republic of Zimbabwe in the category of Closed Stability. This is a dangerous position to be in. Should outside influence seep in, then the entire nation could collapse into instability where it will either be destroyed the way that Yugoslavia was, or it will survive the way South Africa was able to do.

However, with the increasing amounts of Human Rights Violations in Zimbabwe, a change will come. The problem is, that if the change is not timed right, then the nation will collapse.

In a nation categorised as Closed Stability, the government and nation are held together through force, both of Charisma and Strength, by the leader of the nation. This necessitates it being a Fear Society.

The Concept of Free vs. Fear Societies was explored by Natan Sharansky in his book, The Case for Democracy. In it,he described Fear Societies as those that fail the "Town Square Test." The "Town Square Test" is a very simple one. Go out into the town square, and express your opinions and beliefs. If you are beaten down and oppressed for stating an opinion contrary to the government, you live in a Fear Society.

Thus, we have a dangerous situation in Zimbabwe. For a Fear Society to remain stable, they must have an enemy that allows them to remain closed. Though the United States has provided that enemy to Cuba and North Korea, cracks are showing there to indicate our continuing pressure on the government is working.

However, there is no such activity in and around Zimbabwe. Though we give aid to the people of Zimbabwe, we have not put any real pressure on Mugabe to change. Thus, he is able to name a successor who will continue to run the government the way that Mugabe wants it run, which will see further Human Rights abuses until critical mass is reached.

While our Food Aid to the starving people of Zimbabwe is all well and good, there is more we can do. These unarmed aid runs are vulnerable to the military forces of the nation. There is a solution though.

Armed Food Runs. During Operation Restore Hope, whose sub-operation, Gothic Serpent, was the subject of the Blockbuster Black Hawk Down, US Special Forces sent in to escort the food shipments where force to sit and watch as Technicals operated by forces loyal to Aidid shot and killed food distrubuters and seized UN Food shipments.

Thus, a new Paradigm must be put into place. The government need to use Armed Escorts of Food Aid into Zimbabwe, and authorize the gunners of Balckhawk Helicopters to fire on any who would fire on the distributors and victims. We can park a Nimitz Class Air Craft Carrier off the coast of Africa, and use the Sea King, and SH-60 Sea Hawks to run food and medicine to the people.

This can be done all over Africa, and thus, we can help the people rise up non-violently, and create the institutions that allow for long term stability within a nation. The days of Monarchies and Dictatorships is over. With the Freedom of Information available to the world these days, closed societies are doomed to failure. Thus, we must do what we can to change them from Closed to open, and try to maintain their stability in the process.

The United States is already trying that through the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly the School Of Americas, and we can do it here too.

Next, I will discuss the SOA, and the myths that surround the school.

I would like to start this blog by commending the protesters across the route of the torch for making their voice heard, and special kudos to those protesters in Paris who doused the Olympic Flame thrice during the run. Despite the paramilitary thugs who have been "Guarding the Torch," the pc term for manhandling any and all protesters away from the cameras in a try to silence all opposition, these protesters have been doing everything they can to show the world that the IOC made a huge mistake in sending the games to China.

This is not the first time they have done something this stupid. the first example being the 1936 Olympics in Germany during the height of NAZI rule, and the second being the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Why where these mistakes? Because both times they were placed in an Oppressive Regimes. The United States did the right thing when they boycotted the 1980 Olympics, and I urge them to do so again. Germany is already considering doing that, and nations all across The Continent, are going to be boycotting the Opening Ceremony.

China has a horrible Human Rights Record, and with the entirety of the world stage turned to look at China, I hope that those going to them do everything they can to highligh the Chinese Human Rights Record, hopefully including the Tibetan and Taiwanese flags in their processions if possible.

From here on out, the IOC needs to take into account the current Human Rights record of a nation when they place the Olympics, and need to look to Brazil, Spain, Portugal, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, France, Germany, Greenland, etc. These nations have shown them selves to be upright citizens of the world, and are worthy of hosting the Olympics.

Oh, and that nonsense by Iran of not allowing them to compete with Israeli athletes, if you are so much better, then prove it by meeting them on the field.

Protesting China's Hosting of Olympics

In San Francisco today, Tibetan immigrants made the city a center of Protest against the People's Republic's continuing domination of their nation, and the on-going torture being used in China on any and all who disagree with the government.

The protesters called on the mayor of San Francisco to reject the carrying of the Olympic Torch through the city due to the nation's use of torture. Though I can not be there on the 9th of April to help with the protesters, I plan on doing what I can to show my solidarity with the Tibetans on this issue, along with those of the countless people within China who shall be protesting in their hearts.

China's policy of torturing and or killing those who disagree with them is coming to light.

And thus, the red star continues to crack.

And the Red Star Cracks...

Today, a news report out of Beijing states that there is the possibility of China scrapping it's One-Child policy over fears of an aging population. This is because of the aging population being seen in China, and the fears of that as the younger generation reaches the workplace, and having to support a larger number of people above them that they have to support.

Who knows, this may stop the forced abortion of children currently being forced on women during the later tri-mesters of their pregnancy by the Chinese Government in an effort to prevent violations, or the forced sterilization of mothers should they try a fourth time.

The One-Child policy is the largest tool in the ChiCom Tyranny Arsenal, and with that one cracking, maybe the rest of them will fall as well.

Teran's noose slackens

Sorry guys, but I have no words to describe this recent story other than one, Hallelujah!

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jsz9LRIuz_NRZdE6yylApdqKJvvg

Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Kingdom. Or, as I like to call it, The Land that Enlightenment Forgot. For those of you who have not been following the nation of fundies, they recently jailed 57 men for the following crimes.

Flirting with Girls outside the Mall
Wearing "Inappropriate Clothing"
Dancing to Pop Music
Playing loud Pop Music

Come on people, how stupid is that?

On top of that, a young woman who was working in the Fundie Police State was arrested for sitting next to a man who was not her husband in the Family Section of Starbucks. Why? Because her building had lost power, and thus internet, and they had to go to the Starbucks to work.

Now for the most ludicrous story of all. A young woman is going to be put to death for being in the car of a male who was not her family while sexual intercourse occured. Normally, this would only be a life sentence. But because there where five other men in the vehicle, she is going to be put to death. For those wondering, she was assaulted, bound, and raped in that car.

Saudi Arabia needs to get it's head otu fo the ground, because the only reason they have any support is that the World needs their fuel. Once we get away from petrol, they will be fair game. Wonder how the world will to them then.

Shariah Clock

Well, many of you have heard of the Doomsday clock, which is at 5 minuet to Doomsday FYI, but not many have heard about the Shariah Clock. Think of it as being similar to the Doomsday Clock, but this one monitoring the advances of Shariah Law. When it reaches Midnight, I am leaving the fracking planet, because the entire planet will be under Shariah Law.

Well, right now it does not have an official time, but I would like to suggest that whoever is keeping track of it, we should move it two minuets closer to midnight. All of this due to the increasing craziness that is Pakistan.