McComack statement: US playing with people's minds

DEAR EDITOR - I was shocked to read the latest statement by Sean McComack of the US Department of State with regards to Zimbabwe. This public diplomatic approach of the US is now getting ridiculous. How can a country that has imposed sanctions on a country be concerned about the suffering people?

What rank hypocrisy!

US interference in Zimbabwe has become nauseating and many of us are beginning to see through such machinations and that country's efforts at trying to play on people's minds by using this kind of propaganda.

This approach - a feature of the 1980s Cold War - does not work anymore. Many of us are now media savvy and can see through such statements. US could be a huge donor for Zimbabwe, but it is also responsible partly for the suffering we face today (in concert with her ally Britain). They have caused a lot of suffering in the country.

At a time when the region, especially South Africa, is making efforts to help Zimbabwe they issue such a statement. What does McComack mean when he says "The United States calls upon these leaders to resolve the impasse between the two parties now"? Who is McCormack in Zimbabwe and why the obsession with this tiny landlocked country? McComack knows what needs to be done for the suffering in Zimbabwe to end. The US should reopen diplomatic channels with Zimbabwe, remove sanctions and allow US businesses to work with Zimbabwe (according to the laws of the country). Humanitarian aid will not give people jobs nor improve the economic well-being of the country.

This US propaganda has been used too often. They should reverse ZIDERA first and allow businesses from America to do business with Zimbabwe, then talk about the suffering of the people.

The US is well known for causing deaths and havoc in many countries and then hide under the banner of humanitarian assistance. This has happened too often now that we are all no longer absorbing this propaganda anymore.

This level of propaganda from a country that claims the stewardship of the world in shocking. It is a good thing now that global power is being realigned as US and Britain are adopting a 'Look East Policy' and running to China for rescue packages. What is shocking is the fact that US still thinks it is the greatest nation on planet earth when its public diplomacy has failed dismally and has made so many enemies the world over.

The rise of Barack Obama is true testament of how fed up people are with Washington and its excesses.

The US has never been involoved in state building anywhere in the world. Everywhere it has been involved, it has left intractable conflict and caused terror on civilian populations. Just look around you - the evidence is there for everyone to see.

Peter Chimutsa
peterchimutsa@yahoo.com