I am re-upping this thread from the weekend. Tomorrow is an important day for @USAmbUN, a day for courage, to seek moderation of an indefensible US Foreign Policy or a day of shame, one which will not be remembered fondly in history.
https://twitter.com/althecat/status/1429033414288723969
In February 2003 Former GWB Admin U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell delivered a speech which led to the Iraq War, and countless horrors thereafter.
@USAmbUN Linda Thomas Greenfield is not facing quite such a significant moment. Yet.
@USAmbUN Linda Thomas Greenfield is not facing quite such a significant moment. Yet.
Greenfield has an opportunity to live up to her own words, "African Lives Matter", delivered in the last UNSC meeting to address Ethiopia and Tigray. She will be very closely watched diplomatically, across Africa, in the East and more generally in the global south.
Her recent statements in the sessions on UN Peacekeeping and Counter Terrorism last week were lacklustre, scripted, absent any real effort. Both issues directly relate to the current crisis in Ethiopia where a terrorist rebellion/insurgency is underway by the former TPLF Govt.
This former Govt. was a close ally of the U.S. and notwithstanding its mounting atrocities and war crimes the U.S. is continuing to stand by it, and to utilise all its diplomatic powers to protect it from the international condemnation that it deserves.
And a lot is at stake. Tomorrow's UNSC meeting will be the last opportunity to reset the diplomacy around a foreign policy disaster of epic proportions, a destabilised and isolated Ethiopia, would be akin to a destabilised Iran. This is an ancient nation of 115 million.
But this is not the likely outcome at this point, far more likely the outcome will be a final military showdown, between a new democracy that is fighting for its freedom against regressive corrupt political chimera that wants to return to power, the TPLF.
Ethiopia is preparing for this showdown with the support of its two material allies Eritrea (the Cuba of Africa) and Turkey, a member of Nato, a fellow ancient civilisation with massive regional influence.
The UN, US and EU are right to try to prevent this coming to a military solution. But their failure over the past 10 months to put any pressure on the TPLF to understand this is the central problem here.
At this point Ethiopia has been left with no choice.
At this point Ethiopia has been left with no choice.
A negotiated settlement might now be possible, given the TPLF's relative weakness and significant defeats, but that would require more than just words from the great and the good, among them @USAmbUN Linda Thomas Greenfield.
The decision by US Secretary of State @SecBlinken to sanction Ethiopia's closest and most useful ally Eritrea in the lead up to this UNSC meeting, is a clear attempt to prejudge and undermine the possibility of this meeting achieving any meaningful outcome.
@SecBlinken U.S. policy on the Ethiopian issue is wholly incoherent.
They support democratic reforms but yet they attack a newly minted democracy.
The are appalled by atrocities, but yet they continue to support a terrorist organisation which has in recent weeks committed a great many.
They support democratic reforms but yet they attack a newly minted democracy.
The are appalled by atrocities, but yet they continue to support a terrorist organisation which has in recent weeks committed a great many.
They support UN peacekeeping efforts but yet their actions in Tigray & on the #GERD are resulted in withdrawal of thousands of Ethiopian peacekeepers in Sudan and Darfur.
They condemn terror against themselves, but through their actions they seek to compel Ethiopia to accept it.
They condemn terror against themselves, but through their actions they seek to compel Ethiopia to accept it.
While media do not appear to be watching all this, I can assure @USAmbUN @SecBlinken and @JoeBiden that millions of Ethiopian Americans are, and that Africa, Turkey, Israel, Middle East, India, Russia, China and all of the Global South, all who are preparing to attend #Cop26 are.
American exceptionalism is a disaster. It was a disastrous idea and it has proven disastrous in its implementation. It looks and feels like fascism, like contempt for the rule of law.
For you, Linda Thomas Greenfield @USAmbUN former @AsstSecStateAF, you know all of what I have said here more than anyone. And you are probably the only person whose actions at this late stage can prevent a diplomatic calamity for your great, but all too often, misguided nation.
@USAmbUN @AsstSecStateAF And we will be watching you tomorrow.
/ENDS
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