Ethiopia’s triumph: from the receiving to the giving state

Mulu GS  Jan 23, 2007

There cannot be any better time than this to work towards changing the misconception and bad image of Ethiopia to the world. The recent Ethiopia’s involvement is really a blessing in disguise. Irrespective of the utmost challenge and high risk Ethiopia faced from the UIC and its supporters, a window of opportunity is created to reverse the world outlook about Ethiopia. This is a year of triumph which we have to use to demonstrate how much Ethiopia and Ethiopians are selfless givers, not just receivers. As in Korea, Congo, Rwanda, Brundi, and Liberia, Ethiopians have given an ultimate gift to the brotherly people of Somalia. A gift of freedom and peace!

These is not shared by all though. There are some shortsighted Ethiopians who tell us that Ethiopia’s involvement was wrong and was against its national interest through their mouth piece VOA-Amharic service. It is an irony that this media uses resources meant to help the development and democratization endeavors of Ethiopia to selectively interview people who can only blackmail the Ethiopian government. The common denominator in most of the experts (interviewees) in this media is hatred against Meles Zenawi. If by any chance an expert of a different opinion is presented they make sure that he/she is from Tigray-as if only Tigrians are supporters of the government. Then they unfairly squander the minutes allowed for this poor folk with loaded and biased question. I feel bad for those people who volunteer to be interviewed by the journalists at the VOA-Amharic service. Disturbingly, an additional morning time is being used to magnify and report any negative developments in Somalia. Why the institution keeps such below the standard and unprofessional journalists who work against the interests of the people on both sides is beyond me. The US should do a better job.

Ethiopia has shown clear solidarity in the war against global terror by dismantling terror networks in Somalia and more importantly by taking out terrorist’s safe heaven. It is important that the US reciprocates by cracking down terror networks to display its commitment instead of recommending post war policies that did not work in Iraq and Afghanistan ( Museveni and Meles Have made it clear that there is an African way to solving the problem). This can start by reprimanding states like Eritrea, political organizations like KIL, KNA, OLF and their supporters who morally and financially showed their alliance with terror. Their statements are not any different from that of the messages of Alzawhiri verbatim. God forbid, if these continue to have their way unchecked they could hurt the national interests of both the US and Ethiopia.  So, it is prudent upon both governments to take action. Especially the Ethiopian Embassy should be able to formally file its complaint with the US against these groups.

It is not very hard to guess why the US government is giving a blind eye and a deaf ear to these groups? May be, it is because the US is not directly affected by the action of these groups. But, it is unfair for the US to expect a continued support from countries such as Ethiopia who joined the coalition against terror willingly by ignoring their plight and harboring groups who provide financial and political support for terror committed against their people. For Ethiopians terrorism is not something that came after 9/11. It happened repeatedly by the recently routed groups of terrorists. Unfortunately, it is these groups of terrorists who are getting support from Diaspora Ethiopian politicians. This is not unknown to the African Desk of the US State Department. The ugly nature of the Ethiopian Diaspora politicians has been noted by almost all recent US ambassadors to Ethiopia.

Among the individuals who work hard to give justification to the agenda of terrorists, I will take on two of the recent ones: Fekade Shewakena and Dr. Mesfin Araya. They both recently argued that the UIC was peaceful and Meles was the one who provoked the war for its own reasons. They also argued that, it was the biggest policy blunder for Ethiopia. I do not believe that these people miss the direct threat the UIC and the countries behind it posed to the national security of Ethiopia. I would guess, they have rather preferred to twist facts. Neither do I believe that their love to these evil forces is the driving force behind their fact twisting. It must rather be the hate and envy towards EPRDF. It must be deep hatred that goes beyond national feeling and academic ethics. In fact, in the case of Fekade, it is also revenge. My brotherly advice is----please open your hearts and move on. Bygones are bygones. That is what Mr. Francois Fall said to Abdullahi Yusf recently.

It is not only on the causes of the war that these “experts” put the blame on EPRDF. They are also blaming it for the quick and surprising routing of the UIC and terrorist networks. They are also blaming it for future quagmire that is very unlikely to happen. Against all their prophesy which is mostly derived from their wishes and opinion of western pundits, the situation in Somalis is so far, so good. Things are moving in the right direction except for those who make a mountain out of a molehill. It is expected that there will be hiccups here and there, but mostly very positive development is observed. For instance, Fekade cited the single US bombing incident which may or may not have collateral damage. Fortunately, it has been made clear by the Ethiopian PM that any damage on the civilian population is unacceptable. He even unequivocally expressed his concern on the US’s belated involvement. I do not understand why Fekade and co are highlighting on the small incidents?  It has been already over a month and the trend in Somalia seems unwavering and clear. Peace and reconciliation are in the making.

Even though, Fekade and Co call the recent Ethiopian engagement against the UIC as the biggest blunder, to their misery, this probably is going to be the second biggest historical thing that the EPRDF and its leadership has achieved next to the demise of the Dergue.  In fact, the resilience of our military, the strategy and calculation of our politicians is getting an honorable mention by UN, OAU, EU and the US government. Some have even recommended it as a lesson to the white house for its Iraq problem. I would not pass without mentioning in particular the trivial assertion of the shameful Professor of African Studies who described the current Ethio-UIC fight as Meles Zenawi’s making. Pitiful!!

In hindsight, I think the EPRDF government has done a great favor to AAU by firing people like Fekade. He would have been a stubborn menace to any forward thinking. He has been whining for the last 10 or so years and will probably be it. If I am not mistaken when he decided to become a Lecturer at AAU, the common sense goal would be to excel to achieve a terminal degree and become a professor.  But, it is clear by now that either he was not up to that standard or he is a symbol of failure.