Targeting a tyrant.Byline: The Register-Guard In a welcome move that could undermine support for a tyrant tyrant, in ancient history, ruler who gained power by usurping the legal authority. The word is perhaps of Lydian origin and carried with it no connotation of moral censure. and promote democratic reform, the Bush administration moved this week to widen economic sanctions Economic sanctions are economic penalties applied by one country (or group of countries) on another for a variety of reasons. Economic sanctions include, but are not limited to, tariffs, trade barriers, import duties, and import or export quotas. against Robert Mugabe's oppressive regime in Zimbabwe. President Bush signed an executive order freezing all property and financial holdings in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. owned by Zimbabwe's leading officials and businesses. The order also prohibits U.S. citizens from having financial dealings with them. Sanctions are blunt instruments Blunt instrument is a legal description of a weapon used to hit someone, which does not have a sharp or penetrating point or edge. Their effect is usually blunt force trauma, to stun, or to break bones. They sometimes kill. that can strengthen, rather than weaken, oppressive regimes. U.S. embargoes on travel and trade with Cuba, for instance, have failed to topple Fidel Castro's government after more than 45 years. The best way to foster democracy in other nations is usually to build bridges, not tear them down. But Zimbabwe is an exception. Increasingly out of touch with reality and indifferent to world opinion, Mugabe retains power through intimidation and corruption - and by lining the pockets of a small inner-circle. The U.S. sanctions are aimed not at Zimbabwe's beleaguered be·lea·guer tr.v. be·lea·guered, be·lea·guer·ing, be·lea·guers 1. To harass; beset: We are beleaguered by problems. 2. To surround with troops; besiege. general public, but at the elite that keeps Mugabe in power. Mugabe has systematically destroyed his own country, inflicting starvation, violence and misery on his people with criminal abandon. Once hailed as a freedom fighter for his struggle against white minority rule, he has become what South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu Noun 1. Desmond Tutu - South African prelate and leader of the antiapartheid struggle (born in 1931) Tutu aptly describes as a "caricature of an African dictator." Zimbabwe was once the breadbasket of sub-Saharan Africa, with farms that produced bumper crops In agriculture, a bumper crop refers to a particularly good harvest yielded for a particular crop. Example: "With all the rain we've had over the last few months, we are expecting a bumper crop this year. of corn, wheat and tobacco. Then Mugabe initiated a campaign to seize the nation's white-owned farms and distribute them to his supporters. Now, millions of Zimbabweans are at risk of starvation. Mugabe has suppressed opposition groups, ignored court rulings, silenced the media and stolen elections. His government's recent mass destruction of slums and shantytowns has deprived an estimated 700,000 people of their homes or livelihoods. U.S. sanctions that target Zimbabwe's cruel and corrupt leadership - and not its long-suffering people - should help undermine Mugabe's regime. Without such pressure, he will continue to push his country even further into chaos and disaster. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion