Thursday, July 09, 2009

Obama's Africa Visit Must Be About More Than Promises


Earl Ofari Hutchinson

President Obama’s two day visit to Ghana is history making only in the sense that he’s the first African-American president to visit the continent. President Clinton and Bush also made extended trips to African nations during their presidency. And both former presidents made big promises to boost trade, business ties, aid dollars, and wage an aggressive battle against corruption and disease, and to promote democracy. Though Clinton and especially Bush did substantially boost cash to fight HIV-Aids and other diseases, the score of other promises they made was just that promises.

Now Obama has a chance to add real body to those promises. He talks of a new partnership with Africa. This implies that the U.S. will bump Africa higher up on the White House’s radar scope. He must be true to his word.
This means more than uttering a few platitudes about the crime of slavery, the devastation of AIDS and other diseases, making more promises of a bigger role for the U.S. in ending the slaughter in Darfur and the Congo, and a saber-rattle of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.

United Nations reports continue to tell a dire story about the plight of the continent. 20 African countries have repeatedly ranked dead last on a list of economic development rates for the world’s nations. At their present rates of growth it will take these nations a century to achieve universal primary education, and 150 years to cut poverty in half and child mortality by two-thirds.

Much of the blame for the famine, disease, poverty and corruption that seem endemic to many African countries can be dumped squarely on the backs of a long parade of African dictators, despots and demagogues. While Ghana, Obama’s host country, is a stable, functioning democracy, and has a relatively good human rights records, it’s an aberration among many African nations. Africa’s dictators have killed, maimed and terrorized their citizens, rigged or rejected free elections and systematically looted their countries’ treasuries while living in palatial splendor. Their greed and dictatorial rule have locked many of the nations into destructive and near permanent cycles of poverty, war, disease and dependency that have become Africa’s trademark.

Meanwhile, Africa’s military rulers have squandered millions of their countries’ meager funds on sophisticated weapons, mostly to keep themselves in power. They have turned the Congo, and for a time Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Liberia into killing fields.

Then there’s the AIDS epidemic. Nearly 70 percent of the millions worldwide afflicted with AIDS/HIV are in sub-Sahara Africa. In South Africa, more than 10 percent of the total population has HIV/AIDS. Only a tiny fraction of those with the disease have any hope of getting the potential life-sustaining anti-retroviral drugs. Bush’s pledge of $15 billion to fight AIDS and other diseases in Africa and the Caribbean during his White House tenure helped. But more money is still needed.
Also, Bush proposed a $5 billion to fund a Millennium Challenge Account to spur development in poor nations. The hitch was that Congress had to approve the funds, and even if it had, the money was not exclusively earmarked for African nations. Still, this is a proposal that’s worth revisiting. Obama should also call on Japan and the wealthier European nations to increase their aid to Africa. According to U.N. reports, these nations could and should double their foreign aid to spur African development.

The crucial need for Obama to put muscle into the pledge to provide more political and economic support to African nations is not based on charity, morality, or simply being a good contineantal neighbor. Africa is of vital potential economic and strategic importance to the United States. It contains a vast portion of the world’s copper, bauxite, chrome, uranium, gold and petroleum supplies. The growing list of pro-U.S. African client states provide Obama with reliable political allies in his war against terrorism and the fight against Muslim fundamentalism, as well as potential military bases.


African nations remain firmly locked in the grip of terrible poverty, disease, war and autocratic rule. The United States and wealthy nations can help lift that grip by massively increasing investment in African agriculture, transportation, manufacturing and technology; restructuring Africa’s crushing debt; encouraging greater regional integration and cooperation; condemning African nations’ disastrous military arms race; and, most important, challenging African nations to establish real democratic rule. Obama’s can truly make history with his Africa visit with a real start toward making this happen.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His weekly radio show, “The Hutchinson Report” can be heard on weekly in Los Angeles on KTYM Radio 1460 AM and nationally on blogtalkradio.com

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

This comment is in reference to Galena AK police chief John millan. He is a member of a police website called policelink. This site posts law enforcement related, and other, stories. Readers post followup comments afterwords. Chief Millan has posted some of the most hate filled and disgusting comments I have seen in his posts. He identified himself as the police chief of Galena Alaska and even posts his picture in uniform. In some of his posts he has called for a suspect to get a "tune up"...He has called for suspects to be "Doused in gasoline and burned alive". He has stated "Burn in hell you POS" Referring to suspects ... In a recent posting in reference to the death of Michael Jackson he made these comments.

"Yes Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have now also oozed out of the celebrity septic tank to pile revolting adoration on this revolting creature. And they are "reverends" too, so what does that tell about so-called "men of God" who epitomize a Godless, child-raping, pill-popping, radical Islam convert-freak? This is getting the bizarre coverage to the point of ad nausem. Get over it people!"

http://www.policelink.com/news/articles/109760-police-to-question-michael-jacksons-doctor

In reference to a story about gun control, Chief Millan talks about President Obama disrespectfully with these comments.

"I love how these liberal crazies speak for me...NOT! Go after the gun violators, NOT the guns and most of all, not the gun owners! Liberal, lefty, kooky, nobamunist socialism!"

http://www.policelink.com/news/articles/107158-editorial-we-need-to-get-assault-weapons-off-the-streets?comment_page=7

Anyone who disagrees with Chief Millan in these forums are berated and cursed by him.
I believe that no person,..much less a Chief of Police, should make such hate filled and inflammatory statements.

I wish to remain anonymous as I am afraid of retaliation by Chief Millan.

Anonymous said...

Consider yourself Blessed to be able to observe and hear the Beast display their ware. Even the veil of Hypocrisy has a spirit of truth within its vein. Learn to listen and teach your children the artful game of silence and Thank-giving while observing and listening to those who enjoy sharing their mystic believe in hate and self-defining oneself openly...

Anonymous said...

This guy is part Cherokee Indian, so I know this is not racial but it seems like he has a 1st Amendment right to say what he wants, so what is the issue? He is respected and very well-liked by the Native Alaskan Indian population in his town...

Anonymous said...

Pure HATE drips off this police chief's words.

Anonymous said...

In reference to a disturbance where latinos were tasered by Maryland police officers and language was a communications barrier Chief Millan made these comments,

"Don't be a violent moron, you won't get tased! How hard is that? Speak English while you're at it!"



http://www.policelink.com/news/articles/117773-police-defend-taser-use-on-2-people-at-party

Anonymous said...

What about selma Albama:fire-hoses, chainsfor dragging, police dogs, beatings, and tolit plungr for police tortuer? Even AIDS caused by CIA labrotarory, discrimination, John Maccaine, jim crow laws and secret sterilizationizing black men in 1950 or poisons nerve gas in subways too. it is all a facts my friends. It is more even then is raceism, enviromental destruction to cause eco-terroristisms and grenoside and where is PETA now?

Anonymous said...

gwantanamoe bae are racyst camps to keep minoritiyes in prison becaus barock obomma is not alowed to protect peoples from raceisms and racest polices. This is proven to be a factuals by cnn.alsharpton won new yrok city mayer but he was arristed for disturbanse of piece. it is a conspierasey to prvennt the powers from taking ahold. and u now hoo u r.

Anonymous said...

As a somewhat liberal and much enlightened college professor, I get the impression that this is the posting board of the hate-filled, most radical liberal politically-correct thought police, who want to destroy the first amendment. I notice no one has the guts to post their names as they smear people. I note alot of postings are made by by those who clearly failed the 1st grade entrance exam for grammar, spelling, punctuation and general english comp. This is a very goofy website with goofy posts by goofy extremists who make all liberals look like hate-filled totalitarians like Hugo Chavez. What is illega or unethical about ANY of the comments this guy in Glenallen Alaska suposedly said? Last I checked, disliking gun control, Pres Obama's politics and irresponsible actions, hate-filled racists like Gates, Jackson and Sharpton and pedophile drug addicts like Michael Jackson is still legal unless we woke up in North Korea this morning.

Anonymous said...

More hate filled comments from the Chief. I see

Anonymous said...

Mental health care anyone??? I think emergency walk-ins are free for the seriously mentally ill in most jurisdictions. some of the posts in here should result in long-term hospitalizations.

Anonymous said...

Apparently everything is hate-filled, according to some of the loonys in here. I would like this supposed chief guy to see some of this crazy stuff in here. I for one am glad that I live in Texas, where we don't have crazies like this since the Davidians burned down! The first amendment is still alive and well in most places, much to the displeasure of the racist hate-baiters left-wing crazies. It is funny that the same racist hate-mongers and people who despise the first amendment are the very same gutless cowardly liars who are posting slanderous posts about other people and myself included. I was called a racist for demanding more border patrol in my region and the marxist kooks in this forum took my post down after I was called a racist. I am amazed at the uneducated, nut-job posts that this whacky forum attracts. That tells alot right there. I started to be a cop last year when I got out of the Air Force and thank God I didn't, so I don't have to put up with crazy scum like these intolerant imbeciles in here. Hang up your LSD vials, earn a GED and get a job people.

Anonymous said...

So now these guys are all for pedophiles and drug abuse too?

Anonymous said...

Whear was crack invinted racests? It was in a CIA laberatery, to kill persons of minoritey status bc they no political tide is turned. This is the last atimpt to stop minoriteys from suces. From AIDS to prison, many nee-farieous consperaseyces abound/ The UN will not help so our only hope is barrack Obama...Talk your anger recests but you are expowsed.

Anonymous said...

Why would this police chief make these comments? It doesn't seem like they have anything to do with police work at all.

Anonymous said...

I am so glad that I don't live in Galena Alaska. I wonder if there are any black people there.

Anonymous said...

Galena Alaska must be very proud of their police chief

Anonymous said...

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Galena lover said...

Chief Millan does not work for us in Galena anymore Thank God...He is now the polce chief at Hoonah Alaska.

Anonymous said...

Even that i live in Fairbanks, he (cheif milan) was very nice to my family in Galena when they were victimized in assault and he was kind to the Alaskan Native people in the area, esp. the kids and not a raceist like the last cheif Benet who was ther. I do know he was relentlis and hard on woman-beaters and childden-abusers, so that is probably where these anonamus coments are comeing from. Last time I saw him in Fairbanks at the airport in October he said his online info was hacked as he was going through a divorce so he had changed all his log-ons and this all stopped. I appreciate he helped my family, so their is 2-sides to eveything.

Anonymous said...

WHY DID THE LAPD SPECIAL INVESTEGATEONS UNIT AND C.R.A.S.H. TEAM HELP SETUP THE EARTHQUAK IN HATI? SHOUDNT THAT BE THE JOB OF THE US AIR FORCE OR MARINES? THIS HOLE EARTHQUAKE WAS CAUSED BY RACEISTS WHO WANT TO BUY THE HETIEAN PEOPLE LAND CHEAP AFTER THEY MOVE AWAY. JESY JACKSON NOWS IT TO. THIS IS RACEISM AND YOU PEOPLE NOW IT.

Anonymous said...

Come on chief, give it up. The last 2 posts are from you.

Anonymous said...

Wow, i went to this chiefs policelink profile. He may be a hatemonger to some, but looking at his profile he seems to really love himself,

http://policelink.monster.com/member/chiefmillan

Anonymous said...

http://policelink.monster.com/member/vutpm7upmf

Anonymous said...

This Chief is truly a POS

Anonymous said...

He retired recently but his ex-wife WAS busted by the police in Fairbanks AK in late 2009 for identity theft of hacking his accounts, so she settled the divorce with the agreement not to have her prosecuted from all this right after this went down.

Anonymous said...

I became aware of this after someone in Galena told me about it. Did anyone think the wife of ANYONE could do this to someone-post on their website on side blogs and it would possibly go on for years b/c unless you know where to look or someone warns you, how would one know it is happening? This is because a spouse would know answers to all possible security questions: favorite color, pet's name, mother's maiden name, grade school and etc. I note he quit that website about the time he settled his divorce but the fact that she got busted by the Fairbanks cops for identiry theft and agreed to settle the divorce in lieu of criminal charges tells alot.

Anonymous said...

Um, ANYONE defending Whacko Jacko is a supporter of raping little children, so I think half the imbeciles in here are apparently scum of the earth, because whoever made those comments about Michael Jackson was dead on the money. As for English, yea, SPEAK IT! When I was in college I travelled to Italy and I didn't break the law there and demand they accomodate my actions AND speak my language; I spoke theirs. You liberal thought-control politically-correct fascists are pretty sad.

Anonymous said...

LMAO oozed out of celeb septic tank...if he DID write it, that shit's funuy as hell!!!

Galena Guy said...

Give it up Chief. You posted the last 4 comments in here.

You are still defending those policelink comments? And sticking with the hacked account story?

Ha Ha Ha.

Don't insult us here in Galena. We know the truth.

Anonymous said...

I think Michael Jackson should have been stood up an shot myself, sleeping with little boys OVER and OVER, eating pain pills, dying his skin, acting like some trasnsexual freak. yet because he was once black, being a pedophile is ok apparently.....People in here taking up for him are no better than baby rapists theirselves.

Anonymous said...

Apparently these crazies in here love Iran too, murdering people in the streets. I watched the poor woman die who was shot in the head by the Iranian govt thugs. Is there anything bad in teh world these sick crazies would ever condemn? They support Iranian terrorism, child sexual abuse, drug addiction, cross-dressing singers and what else????

Anonymous said...

That Chief Milan was commended by the State pf Alaska Governor for heroism for dragging 2 dying police men out of gunfire in that Hoonah sniper attack last August. Maybe the death-to-the-police crazies in here look kind of like trash now.

Anonymous said...

Chief please for your own good let it go. Your hate speech is still just as venemous now as it was when you were spouting it on policelink. Did you say "gueer names"? Wow again with the gay bashing. I rest my case Chief.

Anonymous said...

That Chief in Alaska didn't put a lotta priority in officer safety. Never did.

Anonymous said...

Isn't this the podunk Police Chief in Alaska who let one his officers who was deaf work the street? Can you say STUPID. Yep he obviously did not know the concept of officer safety.

Anonymous said...

I knew the deaf officer Tony Wallace from the Fairbanks Academy. He was not deaf in the true snese, he had limited hearing in certain frequencies and could read lips. I never was buds with Chief Milan but he was a trainer statewide and known as a competent officer. I know from talking to other chiefs that he reorganized 2 different departments that had been in bad shape before he arrived. As for this repulsive room, the hate, liberal venom, stupidity and evil arrogance in this room of pedophile lovers and cop killer supporters is genuinely revolting. A lot of you people need to consider suicide as a viable option. If you had a child raped, you would not think pedophiles were so funny.

Anonymous said...

This room has to be the sickest cesspool i've ever seen, chock full of criminals, deviants, idiots, dolts, crazies and baby-rapers! I have to agree tho, that whoever said Michael Jackson lovers ooze out of a celebrity septic tank OMG that is the funniest shit i eve heard. I am gona use that from now on! Anyone who is ranting about wacko jacko care to address their love of pedophilia?

Anonymous said...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=157648&mesg_id=157666

policelink was my down fall said...

Yeah this chief let a deaf officer work the street. Would an officer who was not deaf been able to hear a threat behind him such as a door opening, a gun being cocked or any other sound that may have given some sort of warning of an ambush. We will never know. But I think we can all agree letting a hearing impaired officer work the street is plain irresponsible. No rational police administrator can reasonably argue that it is safe for a deaf person to be a policeman.

Even if one moron would argue that a deaf person isn't deaf in the "Truest sense". Pure lunacy

Anonymous said...

We ran this sorry piece of trash out of Avery NC and after reviewing some data, I see most of his history he uses to justify himself is trumped up bs. He was never a chief anything in NC that I aware of, nor do I have any evidence he ever worked for the NCSHP but I am open to correction. he nothing but a CRAPPY school resource officer that got his blue lights taken away because he couldn't contain himself with them. I believe after everyone knew what a moron he was, he had to go as far as AK to even get a job as a cop probably.

He is a very unstable and creepy person from my experience who can't accept his ego is not a point of law. Now, he's using his further trumped up history in AK to justify another run for Coroner in Avery co, NC, and is the ONLY OPTION ON THE BALLOT THAT I AM AWARE OF!

I do not trust this guy with even a dead body.

Anonymous said...

Yes this John Millan is a loser and a POS. The people in Avery county need to know this guys history. They need to ask him why he left Galena Alaska where he was chief for such a short period of time. They need to ask him about his hateful comments he posted on the policelink.com website for months. If he starts the "my account got hacked" claim, then he should be asked to take a polygraph test. In my opinion he does not make rational decisisions. As a police chief at Hoonah he allowed a deaf person to work the streets as a police officer. This goes against every tenet of police officer safety. And lo and behold this poor officer was in fact killed in the line of duty while millan was chief. In my opinion Avery County taxpayers should avoid this guy like the plague. Just my opinion.

Anonymous said...

This guy Millan goes with the hacked page alibi again. This time on facebook.

http://www.wbtv.com/story/33292187/avery-co-coroner-claims-facebook-page-hacked-inflammatory-language-posted/