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May 1, 2008 at 04:46:57
Hero Mandela On US Terrorist Watch List"- Could it Affect AIPAC and Mideast? by Rob Kall Page 1 of 2 page(s) |
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Once we get past the listing of parents and relatives, Nobel Prize winner, Nelson Mandela is, by far, the first on peoples' lists. I'm talking about the first on American's lists. "Nelson Mandela is flagged on U.S. terrorist watch lists and needs special permission to visit the USA. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calls the situation "embarrassing," and some members of Congress vow to fix it. The requirement applies to former South African leader Mandela and other members of South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC), the once-banned anti-Apartheid organization. In the 1970s and '80s, the ANC was officially designated a terrorist group by the country's ruling white minority. Other countries, including the United States, followed suit.
So it comes as somewhat of a surprise to discover that Mandela is on U.S. terrorist watch lists. USA Today reports,
"U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says it is time to end U.S. travel restrictions against former South African President Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress (ANC). Mandela and the ANC were blacklisted by the United States during their fight against apartheid Democratic Congressman Howard L. Berman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced a bill to lift the travel restriction. He told VOA the U.S. was on the wrong side of history and that it's time to correct the injustice against Mandela and the ANC.
"-The notion that people knew about this restriction all these years and didn't do anything about it is very disappointing. And so we're trying to rectify it"-' "-
This is a bill that the Democratic congress should rush to pass. It should go through unanimously. That could do their dismal poll ratings some good. And if any member of the opposition party votes against such a bill, they'll be in a terribly indefensible position, making them seem like total extremist fear mongers.
BBC, one of the first media organizations to report on this situation, said, ,
"Howard Berman, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, who introduced the bill said it was "shameful" that the United States still treated the ANC this way.
"-Amazingly, Nelson Mandela still needs to get a special waiver to enter the United States based on his courageous leadership of the ANC. What an indignity. This legislation will wipe it away,' he said"-
It's a no-brainer that Hillary and Barack should go on the record supporting this, and insist that McCain do the same"- except for one small problem that may complicate things a bit"" AIPAC. The forgiving of ANC members just might lead to a precedent that could lead to forgiveness of other freedom fighting organizations that are currently deemed terrorist by the regimes they are currently fighting"- like FATAH, or even Hamas.
I'm not saying there is any equivalence between ANC and these organizations that have proudly taken responsibility for suicide bombings and rocket attacks on innocent civilians. But the AIPAC lobby IS very powerful. They have been able to intimidate US politicians into backing off from passing legislation forbidding Dubya and Cheney from starting a war with Iran without first getting explicit approval from congress.
AIPAC along with the far right extremists like Christian Zionist John Hagee and others who pray for the rapture and consequently, the destruction of Israel, might get a bit squeamish when they hear what the VOA says,
"Congressman Berman said he was motivated to introduce the legislation because the ANC successfully made a change from armed struggle to peace, and that the U.S. should celebrate this transformation rather than continue a two decade-old policy that is out of reality.
"-I learned"- that based on an old designation of the ANC probably 25 years ago, membership in the ANC put you on a data base which kept you from getting a visa. The notion that Nelson Mandela is deemed ineligible for a visa to the United States and has to apply and in effect beg for a waiver to come here, there's no justification at all. Here is a much revered leader of a very important cause that we strongly support is subjected to that kind of treatment is just wrong. So we're going to change it"-' Berman said.
He said by blacklisting the ANC based solely on its designation by the apartheid regime as a terrorist organization, the United States was on the wrong side of history out of ignorance rather than out of bad intentions."-
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Rob Kall is executive editor, publisher and site architect of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, more...)
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| 13 comments |
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Pathetic, as Usual
The United States wields its Terrorist Watch List with all the aplomb of a cracker-sheriff's deputy wielding a baton at a civil rights march in the 60s, in other words, to beat up on those struggling for peace or justice as well as any inadvertant miscreants. Over the years I have watched how the State Dept has put Sandinistas, Cuba, the ANC and countless others on the Left , or some not even really Leftist at all, on its various lists of condemnation, while at the same time wining and dining, or permitting to settle in this country, some of the worst human rights violators or state-sponsored terrorists in the world. When the State Dept makes its lists, they should really be looked at as "Enemies of the Empire" lists with about as much ethical validity as a Mafia hit-list. Meanwhile, yes, AIPAC may fight taking Mandela off the list. After all, they are probably paranoid Mandela, like Bishop Tutu, might say something critical of Israel once in a while, especially in light of the fact that Israeli agents were helping to train and arm the South African Apartheid military and police, as well as helping the same regime with its budding nuclear weapons program. by Mac McKinney (53 articles, 113 quicklinks, 240 diaries, 1413 comments [31 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 11:40:53 AM  (0+)
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Tops my hero list
without question, so I shouldn't be all that surprised that he is on the U.S. Terror Watch List -- but appalled nonetheless. What a perverse way of thinking when the peacemakers of the world are held suspect while the terror-mongers walk freely. by Jan Baumgartner (60 articles, 148 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 311 comments [12 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 12:40:43 PM (0+)
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'Trying' to fix it.
It does not look to me like they are trying very hard. Not much money in it, I guess. Never look to a Republican to do the right thing when they can't make a few bucks at the same time. by Roger (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 465 comments [22 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 1:57:00 PM (0+)
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The US
is the only country in the world in which the legislative body arbitrarily and in violation of the International Law designated FOREIGN organizations and even countries as terrorist, bad, good, etc. This cowardice and idiocy is not just pathetic- it is totally nuts. It results in the phenomena when other countries do the same ; in Russia, for instance they polled people on what to do with Bush if caught. You do not want to know. In China it was allowed for some time to call Condi... well, I will pass. But Madeleine Allbrignt was called a ' skirty dog' in Serbia and Bill Clinton had an obscene nickname in Russia. Recently when Condi went to Russia on some visit, the notorious Zhirinovsky, speaker of the Duma said a very obscene thing about her too. It will go more, it will expand because people are fed up with our idiocy multiplied by arrogance. The unfortunate thing is that no one even thinks about abandonment of the Terrorist list altogether. I know, I know, Mandela does not have to do that but how great would it sound if he says,'I would like to stay on that list unless you abandon it as a whole'. He will not say that, I know. BTW, such things did happen. On the night of St. Bartholomew in Paris during the Guegenot massacre by the Catholics an absolutely non- related stranger, a Dutch scientist ( his first name was Peter, but I forgot the second name, sorry) in protest converted to Luterancy and was immediately killed. He surely risked much more than our celebrities and.. even his name is forgotten now. What a shame. by Mark Sashine (72 articles, 19 quicklinks, 269 diaries, 4101 comments [131 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 2:05:17 PM (0+)
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Absurd? No utterly predictable
Well, after just seeing the way the valid message of Rev Wright has been distorted beyond belief, I will be surprised if this government of thugs doesn't pass a special bill to put him on a "terrorist watch list". Our track record, i.e. history, is dismal when it comes to supporting the good guys. No wonder we are dispised in so much of the world. Can you blame them? by Char Stellamaris (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 37 comments) on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 6:33:09 PM (0+)
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This is your farthest right wing of Government at work....
What utter balderdash....good work and kudos to Rob Kall for writing this! Mandela is also one of my personal top heroes, after 60 years, I know what constitutes a worth hero in my book. One of mine just passed, the Dalai Lama's Friend and Translator, Lobsang Lhalungpa. Details are here: by Stephen Fox (96 articles, 3 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 802 comments [33 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 6:53:57 PM (0+)
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thankful for this article
Of course the MSM won't be repeating this news redundantly like they do other news. Heck, when Code Pink (which I am an active online member of) members were detained in Canada and found they were on the Terrorist Watch list, they were detained for over 3 hrs. Seems Peace is not a popular topic with this Administration, nor are the movements therein. I have several Jewish friends and none of them are fond of AIPAC. Most of them don't like the Israeli Government and military. They claim they are fascist (we definitely agree on that). They don't like the Christian-Zion movement of Hagee's either. I rather like Maher's attitude on the Jewish matter and I don't take the Bible literally when it states that [God] will punish those that go against the Israelis. That's what Congress fears and that's why they submit to everything AIPAC demands, IMO. Btw, the Israeli military has been brutal to the Palestinians. These Jewish ppl running the Israeli government, are the Jewish Khasars from Russia, in my opinion. Google "Benjamin Freedman's speech at the Willard Hotel-1961". Mandela is a hero and he is a strong advocate of peace. I do believe he could change the Terrorist Watch List with a stand. I don't fly, but I bet I am on the list for being active with Code Pink and PeaceWest, et al. by shirley reese (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 592 comments [98 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 8:49:34 PM (0+)
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Is this a surprise?
The so-called 'terrorist watchlist' was created as a repressive political tool. It is used as a repressive political tool. Another sign of the fascist times. Is anybody surprised? The purpose of the list was made obvious the day Ted Kennedy was identified as 'on it'. It is a travesty and an obscenity. Just as our authoritarian government is a travesty and an obscenity. Just as America has become a travesty and an obscenity. I am not surprised. by richard (0 articles, 5 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 1359 comments [400 recommended, 8 rejected]) on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 8:49:44 PM (0+)
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The answer to the watch list
is to make it relevant solely to the air marshal. It should mean that the marshal is informed that there are persons on board the place that are on the watch list and what seat they're assigned to. And that's it. If the persons cause any trouble, the air marshal has been forewarned as to their presence and will be in a position to take appropriate action. If the persons are demonstrably dangerous and truly do pose a threat, the US informs the country they board in that so-and-so is on the list and that they risk being arrested when they set foot on US soil. by Richmond Gardner (36 articles, 1 quicklinks, 25 diaries, 38 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 9:24:36 PM (0+)
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It'll be interesting to see if AIPAC keeps this in committee
or if it makes it to the house floor. by Rob Kall (952 articles, 4177 quicklinks, 374 diaries, 2087 comments [45 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 10:45:09 PM (0+)
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Reply: Total Incompetence
When Ted Kennedy is stopped from boarding a plane THREE TIMES, that kinda gives you an idea something's not quite right with our "watchlist." by JC Garrett (40 articles, 65 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 604 comments [10 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, May 2, 2008 at 1:10:39 PM (0+)
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Israel's "right to exist"
Rob writes: "Though I'm Jewish, and a steadfast supporter of Israel's right to exist and defend itself from terrorist attacks,..." Well, I'm totally Jewish by the official Orthodox and Zionist definitions (four Jewish grandparents and two Jewish parents, and even a damned Bar Mitzvah), but I don't think Israel -- as a Jewish state on land stolen by terror from non-Jews with U.S. imperialist backing -- has any right to exist. And, as one of the world's major ongoing practitioners of terrorism, especially against the people whose land it stole, it has no right to defend itself against terrorism! The ability of "Israelis" to live in peace should be an end result of the solution of Palestinian demands for redress, not a precondition. Addendum: I just got this message on previewing the above: This is the word that Jewish colonialists have been using for their own movement for well over a century! Since Rob is a supporter of Israel's "right to exist", I can only guess that it is criticism of such colonialism, not defense of same, that he wants to mute. by Aaron Aarons (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 30 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, May 2, 2008 at 4:15:06 PM (0+)
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Mandela - Hero or Sellout?
Nelson Mandela was probably the key person in pushing through a deal with the white capitalist rulers of South Africa to keep them in power after the end of formal Apartheid. His disciple and successor, Thabo Mbeki, picked up the neo-liberal ball and ran with it -- so well, in fact, that the material conditions of the Black working class and peasantry are worse now than they were under open white rule. A layer of the Black population, including most of the ANC leadership and even that of former rival organizations, are doing quite well as high-priced blackface for the white regime. And most whites are doing better than they were when they were openly privileged just for having white skin. But, for the bulk of the Black population, their oppression is in many ways worse, since those educated Blacks who used to help them in their struggles are now among those oppressing them. The U.S. does Mandela and the rest of the ANC a favor by keeping them on its "terrorist" watch list. By doing so, it probably helps them maintain some undeserved shred of credibility among the Black masses. by Aaron Aarons (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 30 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, May 4, 2008 at 2:16:10 AM (0+)
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