On the one hand, I have to give the Washington Post credit for frontpaging today's story on longtime Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe's campaign of police thuggery against opposition leaders.
Yet when I looked through the article, I found no mention that Mugabe is a socialist or leftist, nor was he labeled a dictator.
In fact, the only dictator reference came in a graph that noted that the latest high-profile victim of Mugabe's violence, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, has himself been accused by political rivals of having "dictatorial tendencies."
[more after the drop]
It's great that the Post is now bringing Zimbabwe's long, slow slide into economic ruin and political upheaval to the fore with its latest coverage.
But could it hurt to educate readers a bit about why the economy there has tanked?
Socialistic economic policies coupled with no rule of law and no free and fair elections are the perfect cocktail for Zimbabwean chaos anywhere.
It's a shame the Post doesn't delve into the role that despotism and discredited Marxist economics has played in the political and human tragedy that is Zimbabwe.
UPDATE/clarification (16:40 EDT): There is a graph in the article that mentions the seizure of farms owned by white property owners, and that the economy has tanked since then. But that policy as part and parcel of a long-standing tradition of socialism is not really explored, nor is it labeled socialistic in nature.
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March 17, 2007 - 14:47 ET by the mad poleWhat if it's learned that this bum admires President Bush?
Highly doubtfull pole, he m
March 17, 2007 - 15:05 ET by BlazerHighly doubtfull pole, he most likely admires his fellow Democrat, and Liberal comrades who follow the Communist Manifesto.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
I will NEVER understand why
March 17, 2007 - 15:53 ET by gopsteveI will NEVER understand why the lib msm embrace the very people who do not have a "free" press...Can anyone help me with this?
Let them become a journalist in say, Korea or Cuba, and be critical of the government...see what happens...........
But could it hurt to educat
March 17, 2007 - 15:04 ET by Jack BauerBut could it hurt to educate readers a bit about why the economy there has tanked? Socialistic economic policies coupled with no rule of law and no free and fair elections are the perfect cocktail for Zimbabwean chaos anywhere.
Great pick up Ken.
Rhodesia was the bread basket of Africa. Now the bread has gone, and Zimbabwe is the basketcase of Africa.
Just one of the many thanks to those wonderful folks who bring death, misery and penury: SOCIALISTS.
Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy - Winston Churchill
Jack, its probably too late for Zimbabwe. AIDS!
March 17, 2007 - 15:18 ET by acaiguanaJack, its probably too late for Zimbabwe. AIDS!
One of my affiliated companies studies these things regarding the promise of success in developing countries. It is pretty much been shown that when AIDS crosses the 3.5 percent barrier to spiral upward, the chances decrease exponentially.
"An estimated 1.8 million Zimbabweans have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Of that group, 295,000 need antiretroviral treatment immediately, but only 8,000 -- less than 3 percent -- are getting it, according to a December report from WHO. The need for treatment is growing far more quickly than the capacity to provide it, the report shows"
and
"An international team of AIDS researchers has found that HIV infection rates in the eastern province of Manicaland declined from 23 percent in 1998 to 20.5 percent in 2003, a reduction of nearly 11 percent." (that means 11 percent of 20.5 percent or 2.5 percent real terms)
The resources required to fight this problem overwhems the health system. If they don't fight it, it overwhems their economic engine.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
I have waited for years to he
March 17, 2007 - 15:16 ET by bigtimerI have waited for years to hear about the total racism on top of everything else the evil thug dictator is and has been...the media has been so silent about Zimbabwe and Mugabe it has made me ill. He has murdered plenty of white farmers and any blacks that have stayed on to try and work on their farms...that brought their economy and food to them, on and on.
Leftists complain here about voting...my oh my.
It has been a disgrace what the media has done with the non-stories, we have more important 24/7 stories...Holloway/Anna Nicole....ect.
I for one would like the MSM
March 17, 2007 - 15:39 ET by BlazerI for one would like the MSM to come out, and say what the reason really is behind countries like Zimbabwe , and South Africa's declines. Zimbabwe,and the SA's declines have come from having socialist principles installed.
These two countries together were the breadbasket of Africa, and were reasonabley economically succesfull. They kicked out all the white farmers who succesfully farmed on land for generations, and divided the land up as reparations between various native factions who they deemed had this land stolen from them, and who basically had no experience in farming. Mugabe socialized all private institutions, and raided the treasurey at his pleasure.
Now Zimbabwe, depends heavily on U.N. support for economic, and food aid, and very soon SA will too. SA used to be the jewel of Africa, but now has slid into massive deprivation,poverty, and crime,as well as an Aids pandemic.
It makes me sick when I see the MSM fawn over, and do puff-pieces on Marxist racists like Mandela,Mugabe, and Mbeki who have destroyed thier countries in a corrupt campaign designed as racial healing.
Please take the time to visit this sight. It is both shocking, as well as educational, and enlightening. See what happens when Socialism is applied in the guise of being politically correct.
http://www.africancrisis.co.za/Home.php
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
Amen.JMR
March 17, 2007 - 15:43 ET by sarcasmoAmen.
JMR
I second that sarc.Thanks Bla
March 17, 2007 - 16:40 ET by bigtimerI second that sarc.
Thanks Blazer for that link too.
Great stuff.
It's not Mugabe's fault that
March 17, 2007 - 17:06 ET by Roger the ShrubberIt's not Mugabe's fault that Zimbabwe is in such bad shape. It is obviously the Jooos, er, I mean, Halliburton's, er, the Neo-cons, er, I know, George Bush's fault.
Marxist Mengistu Mariam is hangin out with Mugabe
March 17, 2007 - 21:22 ET by Carl KolchakEx ruler of Ethiopia Mengistu Mariam who is a Marxist is being harbored in Zimbabwe. He was recently found guilty of genocide against his own people while he ruled Ethiopia. The left wing MSM doesn't mention too much about him either.
Checkout this article about Mariam's "Red Terror". He must have learned these methods from Trotsky and Lenin from their "Red Terror".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6171429.stm
"Theres blood in the streets, its up to my ankles" 'Peace Frog'
I was wondering when you woul
March 17, 2007 - 21:37 ET by Roger the ShrubberI was wondering when you would show up, my friend.
You, like me, cannot resist a good Mugabe story!
You, like me, cannot resist
March 17, 2007 - 21:42 ET by Jack BauerYou, like me, cannot resist a good Mugabe story!
I think Tim Robbins should play Mugabe in the inevitable Oscar nommed movie (The Last Kook of Africaland)
But only if either Forrest Whittaker or Dave Chappelle aren't available.
That's why the Shrub Report is the best
March 17, 2007 - 23:21 ET by Carl KolchakThe "Shrub Report" does an outstanding job of keeping us posted on the happenings of Mugabe. I really have no idea why we don't hear more about him. I guess the left wing MSM is too busy bringing up Pinochet stories. I'm still working on the petition for Angus Scrimm to get an Oscar since Gore has one and he doesn't. Waxman and Congress really need to get tot he bottom of why the left wingers on the Oscar nominating committee haven't ever given Angus Scrimm an Oscar.
Also, Denver has a movie theatre with a huge screen that shows old movies on Wednesday nights. Last Wednesday was "The Road Warrior". That movie gets better and better each time. Seeing it on the big screen was too cool. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" will be shown next month, so I'll probably have to check that one out too. Did you know "The Road Warrior" movie was really about Bush? Yeah, the Humongous was really George Bush who wanted the oil from the people. He was also Wez too. The Road Warrior was also Bush, because he was protecting the people from the terrorists who were attacking the people, so in essence I think every movie ever made, or that will ever be made is about Bush. The little kid with the boomerang was Bush too. Yeah I know this movie is like 25 years old, but Kennedy Miller was really making this movie about Bush. He must be psychic or something, to know about all these events in the future.
"Two days ago I saw a vehicle that could haul that tanker. You wanna getoutahere...talk to me" Max
I saw "The Road Warrior&
March 18, 2007 - 09:00 ET by Roger the ShrubberI saw "The Road Warrior" in the theatre when it came out. My buddy and I were young high-schoolers, and huge "Mad Max" fans. We were dismayed that the theatre only had about a dozen people in it, but were very pleased with the movie. People do not realize how Mad Max has influenced movie-making for the past 25 years.
Your analogy of George Bush being pretty much all the main characters was interesting. I think The Toadie would be Karl Rove, and Wez, to me, had to be Dick Cheney.
Plus, one of the classic movie lines ever come from this movie:
"The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla!"
Where's the outrage, Ken?
March 18, 2007 - 00:32 ET by JMSUWhere's the outrage about Mugabe's blatant homophobia, and draconian sodomy laws?