Hail! Gen. Museveni, who once praised Hitler, learned a few things from him
[Publisher’s Commentary]
The National Security Council Spokesperson Bernadette Meehan just released the following statement about a meeting today between National Security Advisor Susan Rice and the Ugandan dictator of 29 years, Gen. Yoweri K. Museveni:
“National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni met today in New York City to exchange views on regional developments. They discussed the devastating humanitarian as well as regional economic costs of continued conflict in South Sudan. They agreed on the need for the international community and South Sudan’s regional partners to work quickly to achieve peace in the face of the intransigence of the country’s leaders. Ambassador Rice reiterated the United States’ deep concern over the increasing level of conflict in Sudan, specifically the continued conflict in Darfur and the vicious bombing of civilians in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States. Additionally, they reaffirmed a shared commitment to advancing regional efforts to defeat the Lord’s Resistance Army and continuing cooperation to support the vital work of the African Union Mission in Somalia. Finally, they discussed the important cooperation between the United States and Uganda to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism in the region.”
This is what George Orwell would have called New Speak on steroids.
Gen. Museveni has played the essential role in causing the “devastating humanitarian as well as regional economic costs of continued conflict in South Sudan” by invading Southern Sudan to take sides in the war by supporting Salva Kiir; because Ugandan soldiers helped tilt the balance, Kiir is now beholden to Gen. Museveni and has no incentive to talk genuine peace with Riek Machar, his former vice president turned rebel.
The statement also refers to “the United States’ deep concern over the increasing level of conflict in Sudan…” but yet no mention is made of the fact that, according to Human Rights Watch, Uganda’s army likely used banned cluster bombs, internationally banned, after it intervened in the war.
The statement also talks about “shared commitment to advancing regional efforts to defeat the Lord’s Resistance Army” when in fact, the indeed vicious Lord’s Resistance Army has been a largely spent force, hiding in the jungles of the Central African Republic. And, the most recent lethal terror army was in fact M23, which committed war crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and who were trained, financed and armed by Uganda and Rwanda.
In fact, the leader of the M23 terror army, Sultan Makenga, who has never been brought up on trial for his crimes, is a guest of Gen. Museveni inside Uganda. How can he reliably be involved in a “search” for Kony while hosting the leader of the M23 terror army in Uganda? In fact there are reports that Gen. Museveni has deployed M23 fighters in Southern Sudan.
And in terms of “regional conflict”, Uganda’s multiple armed interventions in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the past two decades have contributed to the deaths of an estimated more than seven million Congolese. As The Wall Street Journal reported on its June 8, 2006 edition, the International Criminal Court started an investigation of war crimes allegations on the role Gen. Museveni and Uganda’s army played in the Congo conflict. The Wall Street Journal reported that Gen. Museveni himself personally asked then U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to block the criminal investigation.
The U.S. continues to cover for an unindicted war criminal.
The troops Uganda provides to help stabilize Somalia doesn’t personally belong to Gen. Museveni but to the Ugandan people; Ugandans, without Museveni would still be more than willing to help restore peace for their African sisters and brothers in Somalia.
Yes, Gen. Museveni plays the role that Mobutu Sese Seku once played for the U.S. in Africa; a reliable puppet serving outside interests while causing great harm to Africans.
Rice, who has a soft spot for Africa’s despots, departs from government in two years; Museveni, who would have been in power 30 years by next January, aims to extend his dictatorship through sham elections next March.
The cynicism and utter disregard for the lives of millions of Africans in Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, must end.
