North Africa Nothing But ‘Butter in the Eyes’ of Bush
May 3rd, 2008 by WILLIAM KERN
There is angst on North Africa - otherwise known as the Maghreb - over the second-class treatment meted out to the region by the Bush Administration.
And since this is where the Pentagon intends to headquarter its new African Command - and since it hosts a blossoming al-Qaeda presence - this is not an inconsequential matter.
In the latest in a series of articles WORLDMEETS.US has translated that one might call “we can’t get no repect,” Abdelkamel K. writes for Algeria’s Liberte newspaper:
“During his eight years of presence at the White House, George W. Bush has rarely shown concern for the countries of the Maghreb, despite their strategic importance to U.S. policy in the region. … the Bush Administration continues to ignore these five countries … everyone knows the important role that Saudi Arabia plays in the politics of George Bush, as it remains Washington’s gas pump; and Egypt, which is regarded as the linchpin of U.S.-Arab relations; but other countries in the region are nothing but butter in the eyes of the White House boss.”
By Abdelkamel K.
Translated By Sandrine Ageorges
May 2, 2008
Algeria - Liberte - Home Page (French)
During his eight years of presence at the White House, George W. Bush has rarely shown concern for the countries of the Maghreb, despite their strategic importance to U.S. policy in the region.
Neither he nor his number two, nor his main collaborator Condoleezza Rice, have made a visit - although they have made many trips to neighboring countries. With the exception of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, whose missions were purely technical and military and who once made a lightning tour to the Maghreb, the Bush Administration has showed no real interest or consideration for the countries concerned.
It must be said that the occasions on which the tenant of the Oval office has referred to North African states can be counted on the fingers of one hand. As for the idea of doing a tour, such a thing surely hasn’t even crossed his mind. And yet important connections exist between the United-States and these countries. While these ties differ from one country to another, they are all certainly worthy of a bit more consideration.
With Algeria, the rapport that used to be based almost entirely on economic issues has expanded to include collaboration in other areas, particularly with regard to security. This is due chiefly to the terrorist threat that emerged after the transformation of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat into the al-Qaeda of the Maghreb, which has had ramifications for Morocco, Mauritania and in Tunisia.
As for Morocco, it has been considered a true ally of Washington because it hosts U.S. military bases, to say nothing of the large-scale trade relations between the two countries. Even Tunisia maintains a significant relationship with Uncle Sam, especially since Zine el-Abidine Benali came to power. Just to remind you, the Tunisian President is a career soldier that was trained at the famed West Point Military Academy.
And Libya is not to be outdone. Tripoli, which made great efforts on the issue of human rights, has also renounced the use of weapons of mass destruction in order to rejoin the family of nations.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of how the world perceives our nation.
This entry was posted on Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 at 2:33 pm and is filed under Military Affairs, Donald Rumsfeld, White House, Al Qaeda, Bush Administration, Mideast, State Department, Pentagon, Islamism, Foreign Policy, Columnists, Condoleezza Rice, Africa, War On Terror, Iraq, Military, Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, Foreign Politics, Terrorism, Saudi Arabia, Foreign Affairs. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
