At this time, one of South Africa’s main concerns arose, which was America’s invasion of Iraq. In South Africa’s eyes, the situation in Afghanistan was one aspect and the war in Iraq was something totally different. Aziz Pahad, South Africa’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, led a delegation of weapons experts to Baghdad to disprove US claims of weapons of mass destruction there. None of the stated reasons for going to war, much less America’s supposed intelligence information, was considered plausible. This soured relations, and placed a big question mark over cooperation with the US. How do you cooperate with the US when the intelligence they are sharing with you is demonstrably flawed? On top of that, in the heightened tensions after 9/11, American representatives sometimes went over the top and behaved in ways that alienated their friends. They acted as if US interests, or their version of those interests, superseded every other country’s interests, and they did not care whose interests they trampled on in doing what they had to do.
This was perhaps understandable in the context of the time, but one has to say it did not help either country. It was a temporary irritation, but even such experiences take time to overcome, and may go some way towards explaining the occasional reluctance of South African officials to respond favorably to demands by their US counterparts.
South Africa further maintained that the invasion of Iraq in 2003 would have a “profound effect on the poor countries of the world, particularly in Africa, which would set back development and progress years and perhaps even decades.”[73] This line of thinking implies that the war would lead to more terrorist recruits around the world if Iraq turned into a failed state. One of South Africa’s suggestions to the US is to examine the root causes of conflict and to make reduction of poverty and the peaceful resolution of conflicts their main priority. With South Africa’s role in Angola, Burundi and the DRC peace process, they perceive themselves as well positioned to take advantage of the benefits that come from America’s preoccupation with defeating terrorism by Islamic extremists, or any other group for that matter. South Africa feels that when the underdeveloped economies of Southern Africa grow, it will create an environment where stability and democracy will flourish.[74]
This irritation over Iraq most likely played its part when President Bush and Mbeki met in Washington in 2005. It is believed that the war against Islamic extremism was discussed. It was an important factor to the US, as Kurt Shillinger of the South African Institute of International Affairs points out, Western officials quietly admitted that Pretoria’s ability to monitor the flow of people moving across its borders was poor.[75] From the South African perspective, the South African intelligence community remained skeptical of the US. The NIA had accused some members of the Scorpions, in which the US assisted in establishing and training personnel, of spying for foreign governments.[76] The NIA was unhappy about the Scorpions’ alleged working relationship with US-owned Kroll, a risk-management company with perceived strong ties to former CIA operatives. There were additional concerns about the Scorpions’ apparent close and regular liaisons with the US embassy in Pretoria and the fact that they employ foreign nationals like Ms De Gabrielle, an American who was assigned by the US Department of Justice and its local counterpart to advise the South African National Prosecuting Authority on financial and commercial prosecutions. Other alleged links included connections to Chinese, German and French foreign intelligence services.[77]
Like their response to the 9/11 attacks, South Africa does exercise caution when it comes to supporting US action. In an interview with Adam Habib of the University of Johannesburg, he maintained that South Africa’s position could be summed up by examining South Africa’s then Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils’s speech at the Brenthurst Foundation meeting on international terrorism in Southern Africa in January 2007.[78] Kasrils says in the section regarding lessons to be drawn:
First, we clearly need to continue to strengthen the capacity of our intelligence and law enforcement bodies. We need to know our societies well enough to predict threats and act against them. We need to be able to deal with those who wish to use our countries as a safe haven by making it difficult for them to travel, obtain documentation, support and finance.[79]
Then in his fourth lesson Kasrils states:
Fourth, there is a need to avoid destroying the rule of law or eroding international conventions. This must be fundamental. We lose everything, including the moral high ground, if we sacrifice basic principles of human rights. It is hard to explain to Muslim communities why a particular individual was denied a visa seemingly because of his name or religious persuasion.[80]
Kasrils continues by mentioning the specific withdrawal of the visa of the South African academic Adam Habib and his family, including his 11-year-old son, by the US, which caused an outcry in South Africa. Prior to 2006, Professor Adam Habib, a South African citizen, deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Johannesburg and a critic of US policies, traveled to the US with ease. Habib lived in the US for years while pursuing his PhD, but in October 2006 the US government “prudentially” revoked his visa. Habib’s lawyer, Melissa Goodman of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), asked the question of what had changed since 2003 (his last visit to the US) and October 2006?
Goodman went to court to challenge his exclusion on behalf of the American Sociological Association, the American Association of University Professors, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and the Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights—all organizations that have invited Habib to speak at upcoming events and which have a right under the US Constitution to hear his views.[81] The State Department eventually claimed that Habib was barred because he has “engaged in terrorist activity,” but according to Goodman, they had provided no evidence to support this charge. The ACLU maintained that Habib was excluded not because he has done something wrong, but because of his political views and associations.
“We are party to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267 listing suspected terrorists and their sympathizers but any action taken must be based on sound evidence,” Kasrils said in his 2007 speech. By looking at his previously mentioned first and fourth point, it can be deduced that Kasrils was really saying South Africa supports the war against Islamic extremism, but that there is a fine line, which the US crossed with Habib.
It was reported in January 2010 that the US State Department, in the form of an order by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, would no longer bar Adam Habib from entering the US. A State Department spokesman said that should Mr. Habib apply for a visa again, he “will not be found inadmissible on the basis of the facts that led to denials when they last applied.”[82]
South African diplomat Fadl Nacerodien conveyed a similar tone to the Habib “fine line” argument when interviewed by the author; South Africa supports the war, but that the two countries differ on the definition of terrorism.[83] Nacerodien elaborated further on South Africa’s perception by recalling the frightening statistics of more than 5,000 people injured in Nairobi alone at a result of the 1998 embassy bombings. Of the dozens dead, most were Africans and not Americans. This is something that South Africa does not want to happen in their country, according to Nacerodien.[84]
South Africa’s foreign policy principles also stipulate that the country must promote security and protect its citizens. South Africa does feel because of a Middle Eastern foreign policy that is critical of the US and the West in general (i.e., Palestine and the Iraq War) that it is somewhat sheltered from the wrath of Islamic extremists.
With that viewpoint in mind and recalling PAGADs bombings in the late 1990’s, South Africa has had this fear of agitating their own small Muslim community. We saw this on January 5, 2002, when Nelson Mandela, in his private capacity apologized to Muslim leaders for his “vociferous and unqualified support” to the US led war on terrorism in Afghanistan.[85] South Africa’s Muslim population was originally angered by Mandela’s and President Bush’s joint press conference given in November 2001 where Mandela expressed his support. Another example, according to Kurt Shillinger, was upon the arrest of Aswat in connection to the London bombings. The South African, British, and US governments were at odds over how to handle him. South Africa was disinclined to arrest him out of fear of agitating its own large Muslim community.[86]
Outsiders proclaim that South Africa has not been attacked since 9/11 due to terrorists using South Africa as a base and a transit point. They assert that it would be unwise for a terrorist organization to attack a country they perceive as a safe haven with the necessary support infrastructures. The Associated Press’s London office quoted unnamed British “security officials” in 2009 as saying South Africa had become a new base for terrorist activity. This served as one of many reasons why the UK decided to change the immigration law that now requires South Africans to obtain visas before entering the UK.[87]
US-South Africa cooperation and the future
Some instances of cooperation were discussed in the previous two sections. This included the FBI assisting in the training of the Scorpions and joint investigations into extremists connected to PAGAD and al-Qaeda. However, there have been other incidents since the ANC formally came to power in 1994 that more clearly show the cooperative nature of the relationship despite both countries numerous concerns. One of the earliest examples occurred in 1998 when SAPS apprehended Khalfan Khamis Mohamed in relation to the US embassy bombings. South African police were first to question him followed by two FBI agents and Assistant US Attorney General Ken Karas. He was then illegally spirited from South Africa to the US where he appeared in America’s courts.
In a later court ruling in May 2001, the South Africa Constitutional Court stated their authorities acted illegally when they extradited Mohamed due to his role in the bombings. “The handing over of Mohamed to the United States Government agents for removal by them to the United States was unlawful,” the Court said in its official judgment. “The immigration authorities failed to give any value to Mohamed’s right to life, his right to have his human dignity respected and protected and his right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment,” it said.[88] Despite the ruling, it was reported in 2007 that Mohamed was still sitting in a super maximum-security prison in Florence, Colorado, serving a life sentence without parole.[89]
south african this is the first time am hearing. terrorist is there in south african: am praying that cristian and muslim in african should not go to war: but if it hapen cristian will win the war. am from muslim country but am a cristian i no them.one if you are not muslim you are unbeliver how.they call you kafiri means pagan.when i was in the prison with them i was force to read quaran.if i dont execution.my two friend refuse and were execute.i no them i will like to worck with the american i no were they are in african: from jerusalem wiseman
Even in his Nation’s hour of anguish, as shaken Norwegians mourned their dead, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg Secretly vowed in his mind that his people will never be Intelligent Enough to know the threat from within the Country, because they are only Stupid Fools.
The Stupid Norwegian People will not be told the true Story of Kosovo, or if High Ranking Officials of Norwegians Political Parties are be offered Secret Paedophilia and Secret Polygamy by certain immigrant groups and Money from Banksters to engineer Norway, and the rest of Europe the way that Anglo-America and France wants to benefit their Evil Empires.
Anglo-America and their Puppet France, know that they need the Muslims to do this, they will GLADLY give other European Countries to the Muslims Many Times Over If they Could, in exchange for the help that the Muslims give to Anglo-America and France.
The Norwegian Prime Minister told the crowd that he was crying crocodile tears about Democracy, and the Need For Democratic Debate on what Norwegians want, because there are People who could be Secret Muslims who pretend to be Christians who Love Secret Paedophilia and Secret Polygamy.
There are many Secret chemicals and Secret tablets that can make People look like they are Crying, but this must NEVER be discussed in Norway’s Democracy, because Norway ceased to be a democracy long ago.
I want to say that I am saddened for the People and the Friends and Relatives of the People who were murdered and injured, and I am sure that their tears are real, and not because of Secret Laboratory chemicals made and supplied by America.
If the Muslims ever became 50% of Noway, then what happened here is nothing compared to what would happen, and Norway would go from 50% to 100% Muslim overnight by using a method that is known to achieve this, and one of those method would be voluntary mass conversions to Islam.
The Norwegian People will continually be told lies about Islamic Kosovo, and about the fact that Norway is murdering Innocent People in Libya and doing to Libya far more Evil than was done to Norway, because Barrack Al-Qaeda Hussein the Secret Muslim Obama want to give Libya to Al-Qaeda.
It needs to be understood that Barack Obama is just a Puppet, but he is a Dangerous Puppet of the International Banksters who cleverly deceived the American Elites that he would enlarge the Anglo-American and French Empires by stealing Africa’s Resources, and imposing Neo-Colonialism on Africa, with Libya as the key to the Recolonization of Africa.
If we look at the true History of Kosovo, and not the lies made up from the Puppet Secret Paedophile and Secret Polygamous Euro-Atlantic Politicians then you will see what awaits your Country.
The Norwegian Bankster Puppet Government wants People to think that the cure for protection against Violent Criminals is to have more Violent criminal released into the Community.
It does not help to label People Right Wing or Fundamentalist Christian, because a Person can claim to be a Christian, but he could be a Secret Muslim, and he can Vote for the Dark and Lunatic Left in Norwegians, because the Dark and Lunatic Left will more readily and more quickly make Norway become an Islamic Republic, even if it has the farce of Elections.
Many Euro-American Democracies have the farce of an Election, but they are on most matter essentially the same Political Party pretending to be two different Political Parties.
The following is how I, rightly or wrongly, or partly rightly and partly wrongly view Albanians.
I want to state that I know that there is a small percentage of Albanians who are honest and decent as the larger percentage of honest and decent People of other Races.
However, in my opinion there are only a few honest and decent Albanians, and they are too few to even mention.
I would never buy any Food or Drink products made by Albanians, because I will not take the Risk that the Albanians have put cancer causing chemicals or contraceptives in the Food and Drink Products.
I my Genuine Desire is that ALL Serbian People would follow this Advice that I truly believe is Sensible and Wise.
As a Serb, I would NEVER employ an Albanian, even if Serbia had 200% Full Employment, because the Albanians have only the one thought to destroy one way or another anyone who is not Albanian, and I would hope that All Serbian People would follow this Advice that I truly believe is Sensible and Wise.
I found a video on the Internet that is Titled: History of Kosovo, it should be able to be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-_QHbUGW6Y, unless the CIA changes the location and contents of that video to try to discredit the things I said.
I find this article to contain various exaggerations – and to be too Americo-centric which harms its impartiality. Christians, Jews, Muslims, African Pagans and atheists generally live fairly happily together in SA, witnessed by anyone who strolls the streets. You will get more greetings, smiles and hellos from people of all colours and stripes in South Africa than you will in a month on Europe’s pavements, for example. South Africa’s woes are largely economic/neo-liberal in origin – economic and class apartheid dog development, more than race.
Pagad is a spent force and was always a rather minor force to begin with, situated in one small corner of the country.
The author writes “More cooperation between the US and South Africa in the war against Islamic extremism is likely. However, it is also likely that this cooperation will be kept much quieter than during the Mbeki-Bush administrations. This silence will not only be beneficial for both countries, but for the overall war as well.”
Given that South Africa’s ruling elite are looking to push through an Information limiting bill – that will classify far more info and effectively create more opaque government and less transparency – I find the author’s smug conclusion rather worrying. He seems to like the sound of less transparency – because it will keep the SA public away from too much info on how Zuma sucks up to the Americans in their rather mendacious ‘war on islam’. Should we be looking for more democracy and transpaency or less? Why does the author seem to regard more secrecy as ‘beneficial’?
I would be interested to hear your views on this article, Jeremy Hammond?