Zimbabwe: A Question for Obama (and McCain) that Won't Wait [Updated]

Updated below.

In case you haven't noticed, the world is on the brink. We are caught in a gigantic mudslide slowly gathering speed downhill, tearing out even the strongest trees by the root. It is impossible to figure out what crisis is more important than another. But I would urge the Huffington Post community (and those who are not in the community but who visit to get their blood pressure up) to pay attention to what is happening in Zimbabwe today. Right now. Because the crisis there is at boiling point and Britain and the United States are desperately trying to get a debate scheduled today in the U.N. Security Council...time is very short.

For a while now the destruction of the country by its President Robert Mugabe has been documented on the inside pages of those newspapers that still carry foreign news. But the limits of column inch space does not allow for the details and the context to give the tragedy of Zimbabwe its full measure. Here is one of Mugabe's milder expressions of megalomania,"Only God who appointed me will remove me -- not the MDC, not the British. We will never allow an event like an election to reverse our independence."

At a time when rising food prices are disproportionately effecting the world's poor, a country that was once Africa's great food exporter is incapable of bringing in a crop to feed its own people because Mugabe's insane land re-distribution program has destroyed the nation's agricultural infrastructure. At a time when good governance is still a major problem in Africa, one of its most democratically inclined nations -- has just effectively had its election stolen from it via a campaign of murder and rape.

It would be cruel and cynical to ask the leading voices of neo-conservatism to extend their campaign for global democratization to the people of Zimbabwe, who have no oil in their nation, only the most fertile soil in Africa. Besides, the neo-cons are too busy reminding all of us how the surge is working to care much about what is happening in Zim (although the fact that China is a major supporter of Mugabe should engage their attention).

What I am asking is whether Barack Obama will use his rapidly growing international credibility and speak out against the terrible cruelties perpetrated by Mugabe and his henchman. Will he put in a discrete call to Mugabe's chief enabler, South African president Thabo Mbeki and demand that he stop supporting the thug over the border and instruct his U.N. ambassador to stop blocking the subject being brought before the Security Council. I know the candidate is busy but this is a crisis that just won't wait.

In the interest of bipartisanship I ask the same question of John McCain.

Finally, in the interest of the New World Order, where politicians have less power than they like us to think, I ask Bill Clinton, Bill Gates and Bono if they would stop congratulating themselves for a few days and get on a plane to Harare -- a city with all modern conveniences -- and refuse to leave until a free and fair election can be contested.

If anyone on Obama's staff (or McCain's or the rich guys' staffs) want more info they should go here.

UPDATE: I filed post above yesterday, Monday. Today, Tuesday, Senator Obama issued a statement.

The Senator's statement begins, "I am deeply disturbed by the recent events in Zimbabwe and condemn the actions of President Robert Mugabe in the strongest possible terms. The United States and the international community must be united, clear and unequivocal: the Government of Zimbabwe is illegitimate and lacks any credibility."

Obama goes on to endorse yesterday's United Nations Security Council's statement of condemnation of the Mugabe regime's brutal suppression of the opposition and agreed that the elections could not be held under the present circumstances. He added, "If fresh elections prove impossible, regional leaders backed by the international community should pursue an enforceable, negotiated political transition in Zimbabwe that would end repressive rule and enable genuine democracy to take root."

Given the Senator's delicate position as a candidate and not actually in charge of American policy this is as strong a statement as he could make.

Finally:

I would love to reply to all those who have commented on the original post about the impossibility of relieving the situation. There is pressure that can be brought from within the region and from those in the international community with moral authority. It is wrong to wash one's hands of this crisis because the Iraq intervention went wrong. The failure in Iraq was caused by the criminal stupidity, arrogance and vanity of the Bush Administration. There are a handful of egregious dictators in the world. Whenever it is possible to remove a tyrant from the neck of his peopl - and Mugabe absolutely is such a tyrant - the international community backed by progressives should do everything in its power to make it happen

And I still think if former President Clinton were to fly to Harare and refuse to leave as part of a grand strategy to force Mugabe to allow free and fair elections that might have a dramatic effect.

Comments

[expatwing]

How about pressuring Kofi Annan and the AU - the only way anyone is going to be able to make a difference in Zim is if African leadership starts to put pressure on Mugabe. Even then, Mugabe will accuse them of being 'pawns of the imperialists', but it's the best chance there is.

And to the people of SA: be patient and understanding as you receive thousands of Zimbabwean refugees... we all know that it will be a strain on your economy, infrastructure, etc. but YOU have a great deal of power to help the people having to suffer b/c of Mugabe. Please rise to the challenge as best you can and show the rest of the world how Africans can pull together to make a difference!

[KELLI2L]

I believe the United Nations is still working on this problem but they seem to take forever, that's why Bush didn't want to wait on the UN in regards to Iraq.

What do U think a novice like Obama can do - except send American troops there, and I believe that is the last thing American citizens would want. . .

[ZenJu]

I hear a nearly thundering silence from the so-called "left" on the horror and abomination that is going on in Zimbabwe. I see no massive protest marches in London, I hear no mass outrage, only the occasional news item, while millions suffer from the sick Mugabe regime. Meanwhile, one finds no shortage of Israel-baiting, and the UN "Human Rights Council" (snicker!), open to the worst regimes on the planet, obsesses on bashing the little Jewish democracy in the Middle East, totally ignoring the crisis in Zimbabwe and the hundreds of thousands of hungry refugees brutalized by Mugabe's thugs. Hypocrites.

[harriscrl3]

I seriously want an indepth foreign policy debate between Obama and McCain because then the American public will see that McCain doesnt know anything about foreign policy beyond Iraq Pakistan and perhaps Afghanistan. Although he still gets facts wrong there is a whole world out there that McCain doesnt have a clue about and I need something to trip him up and the reality to hit home for the American people. Its not just about other countries its about how you are going ot address issues like food shortages, poverty, genocide etc. McCains position is so simple and basic that when people hear it they are going to realize wow he really is old.

Carol

[jeanrenoir]

Thanks for your call for justice for Zimbabwe, especially your call to Clinton, Bono, and Gates to get their rears in gear and take a stand on Mugabe. If Bono doesn't make a stink about Mugabe, all his efforts to relieve suffering in Africa will look like a bad joke. First, the world sits on its tail as Rwanda commits genocide, ditto Darfur, now relative silence in the face of Mugabe, who makes Saddam Hussein, jackal that he was, look like Walt Disney.

[billw8017]

Clearly the mess in Zambabwe is the fault of Clinton, Bono and Gates. I just thank God that George Bush is the President of The United States or America would be doing nothing there.

And about what a jackel Saddam Hussein was: Don't forget to say something snide about the French, too.

[eden4barack08]

I hope you sent this request to Pres Bush, since he's the one STILL in power and therefore able to do if anything about this situation!

[Adamwestiii]

In the 80s under the leadership of Mugabe when in the rural areas thousands of people - many were supporters of former VP Nkomo, many innocent had been massacred by the Fifth Brigade, the force specially trained by North Korean Advisors to operate independenly of the official army and police. Whole villages had been burnt to the ground, cattle slaughtered, women raped. Unfortunately when Nkomo passed away 1 July 1999 then all hell broke loose. Mugabe started confiscating "White farmer's land." Now, he was only going to confiscate land that hadn't been bought, but land that was initially stolen. He was not going to go after the land that was purchased and where the government received the money. In lieu thereof, he took land even that was legally purchased and deeded. As a result of land grab, over 600,000 blacks lost their jobs when they were kicked off the farms and became homeless. He was brutal then as he is today.
Recently I sent letters and photos to Senator Feinstein showing where people had the hand cut off , or severely beatened of those who voted for MDC.
Because of the background information, it will be difficult for Obama to curb Mugabe! When the US government criticizes Mugabe, his throw back is, "why is the US in Iraq?" Why are prisoners being tortured in Guantanamo, or the Abu Graib incident.

[frugorfoto]

Right on about Bono, Clinton, and Bill gates. They do some admirable work, but what is it about Zim? Everyone by passes it. No one really gets to Mbeki (Probably because he is impervious).
Bush has done Zip. And I wouldn't hold my breaht that Obama (even less, McCain) will be any different. He is starting to become more and more of the politics as usual candidate. Not that I am surprised.
It is just untenable to me that the world just stands by and watches!

[dejtemper]

The only way to take care of Mugabe and his regime is for someone to go on a mission. The world once again stands by while another African nation desperately needs assistance. Someone in Zimbabwe will have to orchestrate this, and they will sooner or later.

[Strain]

What I'd like to know is.....why hasn't the UN done anything? Are all these diplomats sitting on their hands, or the hands covering the ears and eyes. If this world is going to go global, then let's go global and do something worthwhile....and I include the US in this statement. Why are we in Iraq? Not because Saddam gassed the Kurds; and not really because Mr. Bush believed the lies he was told; he knew they were lies. If the US MUST poke it's nose in, then let's poke in where there such wide spread misery and hunger. Mugabe is crazy as a loon and so was Saddam. But here we are in Iraq getting killed and maimed; If we must die or be crippled, then let it be for something else other than oil. How about human kindness? Mugabe and his kind, irregardless of who they are or where they are shouldn't be allowed to get away with what's going on there. If we are supposed to be a Christian nation, living Christian ideals, then why are we in Iraq and not Zimbawbe?

[Raemond]

what you're talking about here is humanitarian intervention. a very good book on the subject is called "saving strangers" and is written by a man called Nick Wheeler.

Unfortunately, the UN is a largely toothless body, it's only options are offical disapproval, economic sanctions, and in cases where violence stretches over national borders, the deployment of peace keeping trooops.

the UN is not allowed to infringe the sovereignty of its member states. Which is why it didn't approve the war in Iraq. One of the basic principles of international relations is national sovereignty, you're not allowed to meddle with another states internal affairs. not that usually stops anyone, they just do it by funding rebel groups and giving them weapons, or assasinating democratically elected leaders with ideals they don't agree with.
that no-one has even bothered to try these kind of tactics is zim is too depressing for words, no matter faith you profess, or don't profess, or whatever.

while this remains such an under reported issue there will be no mass protests or pressure on world leaders to give a damn. Even here on huffpo i had to scrole to virtually the bottom of the page to find this article, and then it had to be linked to McCain and Obama to get people to read it.

[RasAlula]

Its amazing that a website for so-called progressives is so backwards in its thinking regarding Zim. While the author implies that the misery and poverty of the black Zimbaweans is due to Mugabe's insane land redistribution program, the reality is that black Zimbabweans have always been mired in poverty and misery. What sparked the West's outcry over Zimbabwe and Mugabe? Was it really the poverty and repression Mugabe's regime has inflicted on the masses? I think not. More likely, it was the fact that whites were kicked off their land. That's when you saw sanctions, the flight of capital and the collapse of the economy. Some would argue the collapse came because the remaining blacks did not know how to farm the land, as the superior whites did. But I would have to be deaf, dumb and blind to believe this. More likely, it has to do with the West's new found interests in Zim and its instant desire to spread democracy there. One has to ask what the real motivation is for the West's interests.

The author further insults any one with half a brain by implying that prior to this latest crisis (i.e. whites being removed from the land) Zimbabwe was a democratically inclined state. Democracy is nothing if one portion of the people of the country are relegated to misery, while the other inherits fancy cars and domestic serveants.

Is the misery in Zimbabwe really the fault of Thabo Mbeki? Get real!!!

[sky2blue]

Exactly! Thank you for saving me the energy and doing a much better job than I could've!

[Johnjlws]

Obama is not the Messiah, although a few bloggers suggest those of us who “drank the Kool-Aid” have deemed him such. But, in my view, his train of thought is far removed from, and much improved over, that of Bush, McCain and the right. Where they see profit, he seems to see people. Where they see conflict, he seems to see opportunity. Bush/McCain’s view of our world is “we are threatened and afraid.” Obama’s view in my opinion is “we are strong and fearless.”

I want a fearless optimist with his finger on the button; I think putting a curmudgeon in such a position portends a disaster that perhaps would make GW’s approval numbers look refreshing. I believe the world is in for a pleasant awakening when they see how far back we’ve come how fast and when they hear President Obama utter lines like “Ich bin ein Berliner" and offer the strength and support or our nation for worthwhile international humanitarian and democratization efforts.

So, Mr. Goldfarb, I cannot speak for Obama, but I know he at least has the capacity to recognize the tragedies in our world that actually need our attention; McCain still thinks the only threats we face are militarily and people who are delusional probably have a stronger foothold in reality than McCain's paradigm seem to suggest he does.

[Mark01]

Mugabe, will kill everything and everyone in his way to stay in power. How can a country with a little less than 14 million people have close to 6 million of them in diaspora. More than 6 million people leaving as refugees.
There is little doubt that Mugabe never had any intention of letting this election go forward fairly, and even less intention of relinquishing power after 28 years as president. Mugabe lost the March election by his government's own admission, and yet he determined a run-off was necessary. During the lengthy interim his party wreaked havoc on the people of Zimbabwe, systematically beating, torturing, and slaughtering those who openly supported Tsvangirai, burning homes and shops in areas that voted for him, and (according to the MDC) making plans for widespread vote-rigging; all in an effort to intimidate and "re-educate" those stupid enough to consider voting for the opposition again in the run-off.

PEOPLE ARE MURDERED EVERYDAY AND THE WORLD IS JUST WATCHING. EVERYDAY I GET PICTURES OF PEOPLE BEING BURNT TO DEATH, BEATEN TO DEATH, INNOCENT GIRLS BEING RAPED EVERYDAY, KIDS STARVING AND THE WORLD IS JUST WATCHING.

[Mark01]

The UN has no balls. How can 80+ people die withing the last 30 days due to election violance.

[sherbug]

Here is a man after Bush's own heart.

I would like to see Obama not only speak out against it but try some of the diplomacy he was talking about. I'm not hopeful, since Mugabe has been in power for 30 years. But, perhaps Obama could facilitate some type of accord.

[eden4barack08]

FOR GOD'S SAKE! Obama is ONLY a nominee right now! STOP expecting miracles from him!!!