These NSC official strategy documents look like hastily compiled BS with no substance at all.
And the document design is also awful.
This Policy roll out is a comedy of errors.
It’s hard to overstate how sloppy this is. Why wasn’t it just left in @AsstSecStateAF Molly Phee’s hands.
A very poorly executed hijacking of the work of Phee, repackaging it as the Whitehouse, forgetting that it’s in its infancy, has no substance, and no $$$.
Meanwhile we have @MikeHammerUSA posing for selfies with US backed mass murderers in Tigray, and @USAmbUN telling African nations what they can and cannot buy.
Ben Elton would be impressed.
@SecBlinken’s visit to South Africa was supposed to be a key component in this he tripped himself up at least twice over @USAmbUN’s mistakes. And even slipped Ethiopia into his speech in a reference to nations the U.S. has helped with “security” problems.
Sounds like a nice idea, but when did this supposedly happen.
My recollection is that in early November 2021, as #cop26 was starting the US decided Addis was going to fall & high tailed. Then after TPLF started retreating, tabled a sanctions bill to put Ethiopia in shackles.
It would be great if this, and the Africa Leaders Summit planned for DC in December is a sign they wish to redeem themselves. But they need to start by acquiring some self-awareness.
And then there’s Nancy Pelosi’s involvement in efforts to start a new Cold War with China - Africa’s most reliable investment and trading partner.
And the crippling inflation being experienced by every African country due to the western “war for no good reason” in Ukraine.
All of this is just now. Last year and this year.
But there’s actually hundreds of years of western exploitation and degradation, slavery, colonialism, neo-colonialism, corruption facilitation, looting of resources, invasion and proxy war.
Given all that, when it comes time to right sone wrongs - as this US policy pivot holds itself out to be - one might expect a bit more effort to go into policy design, presentation and delivery.
And most of all substance.
It’s great that the Senate passed a climate bill, wonderful, and the sugar rush from being on the threshold of doing something that might actually make a difference is possibly responsible for this.
That being said everyone is entitled to an opportunity to change. To redeem themselves and the desire to do something good for others is the first step towards actually being helpful and constructive.
So maybe we should give them the benefit of the doubt, and see what they can put together in time for #cop27.
Without America on board efforts to address #climatechange we are definitely screwed. With them onboard we are probably screwed.
The UNSC session on the recent three day Gaza war has now started. Egypt, Jordan and a representative of Palestine are attending as observers. UN Envoy Tor Wennesland @twennesland is now briefing.
Israel is representing itself in the meeting. Earlier the Israel's UN Ambassador @IsraelinUN held a standup meeting addressing media. He did not take questions. He said he would take media questions after today's session.
No idea why Switzerland has a speaking spot in this Africa focussed UNSC meeting. No mention yet of efforts to stop their banks facilitating the looting of Africa by corrupt leaders and corporations.
I would have hoped to hear from more African nations in this meeting - ideally Ethiopia (but they may well be sick of the UNSC). Egypt qualifies. Japan’s presence may well be part of the G7 intl finance aspect of this - ditto Switzerland.
South Africa is also talking about funding/finance in the context of capacity building/peace.
This is starting to look like an informal preparatory discussion for #COP27. If so this is exactly what Africa needs.
Live streaming address by @SecBlinken currently underway from Pretoria University, South Africa. The speech is a formal announcement of a new Africa Strategy & reorganisation of US @StateDept / NSC oversight of Africa Policy.
Watch Live >>
@SecBlinken@StateDept My thread yesterday on the very recent US announcement of its internal reorganisation and new high level strategy pivot on Africa which is being officially unveiled in South Africa today.
. @USAmbUN Ambassdor @LindaT_G has also been visiting Africa and getting herself in a bit of a pickle - by telling African Nations that they can purchase Russian food and fertiliser but warning them they will face sactions if they break Ukraine sanctions.
A ceasefire announcement r.e. Gaza today. Which is very welcome. It is good that @IsraeliPM and @IDF have come to their senses. The civilian death toll in Gaza including children had reached 40. With hundreds injured. reuters.com/world/middle-e…
3. Israel knew this engineered provocation and bombing operation would kill children, this is a a crime against the law, the law of Israel, and the law of God.
Israel also anticipated a “heavy rocket fire” response which is now being used by international allies who have issued public statements defending Israel’s right to defend itself.
Israel asserted the right to bomb and kill its neighbor’s children because it thought it was about to be attacked.
After the neighbour retaliated by lobbing rockets at their US air defence system as expected, Israel feels justified in killing as many children as is needed….