The State-owned Herald brushed off United States Secretary of State Colin Powell as a boot-licking Uncle Tom and a disappointing slow learner.
Powell had promised in an article in the New York Times that the United States would pour aid into Zimbabwe if the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front and the Movement for Democratic Change entered into dialogue that could lead to new elections for a democratic government.
In response, the Herald said it felt that Powell was not the best person to lecture anyone on democracy, rule of law and human rights because he was part of the George Bush administration that had invaded Iraq and was killing thousands of innocent civilians.
“If Powell really cares about these values, why was he party to the Iraqi invasion? Why is he silent on the dire situation in the DRC and Liberia? As a starting point towards being useful, Powell should advise his cronies in the Bush regime to apologize to the world and the Iraqi people for lying about the situation in Iraqi and waging a senseless and cruel war against that country,” the paper said.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 03HARARE1319, MEDIA REACTION POWELL OP-ED ON ZIM UNDER FIRE;
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270851Z Jun 03
UNCLAS HARARE 001319
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/PDPA FOR DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: N/A
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION POWELL OP-ED ON ZIM UNDER FIRE;
HARARE
¶1. Under headline “Powell is a slow learner” the
government-controlled daily “The Herald” dedicated
its June 27 editorial to criticizing Secretary of
State Colin Powell for penning a critical op-ed in
the “New York Times” on Robert Mugabe’s government.
Excerpts follow:
¶2. “American Secretary of State Colin Powell, despised
throughout the world as a boot-licking Uncle Tom by
all self-respecting people of color, is a
disappointing slow learner. . .Several important
facts must have struck Powell when he was dismissed
in South Africa if he had been endowed with a bit of
wit. The first is that he is not as powerful and as
popular as he fancies himself. The second and most
important one is that while the U. S., Britain and
Australia top the list of a few countries rabidly
opposed to the land reform program in Zimbabwe, they
are not the international community. . .We feel that
Powell, who is part of the Bush regime, which
invaded Iraq and mercilessly slaughtered thousands
of unarmed, innocent civilians including women and
children, is not the best person to lecture anyone
on democracy, rule of law and human rights. . .If
Powell really cares about these values, why was he
party to the Iraqi invasion? Why is he silent on
the dire situation in the DRC and Liberia? As a
starting point towards being useful, Powell should
advise his cronies in the Bush regime to apologize
to the world and the Iraqi people for lying about
the situation in Iraqi and waging a senseless and
cruel war against that country. . .South African
Foreign Affairs spokesman Mr. Ronnie Mamoepa,
commenting on Powell’s hate campaign against
Zimbabwe, said: `I would urge you to ignore Powell.’
We concur.”
SULLIVAN
(86 VIEWS)
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