Date: Tue, 18 Feb 97 05:11:06 UT
Subject: RE: M-G: Re: EASTERN ZAIRE AND THE US


Rolf,

You ask:

"Zaire: rebels advance, obviously *not* liked by US!". Why
don't you agree?"

I don't agree because it doesn't mesh with the facts.
The rebels are supported by two countries which the U.S.
is supporting.  They have great control over these
two countries.  They are choosing not to exercise
their simple control over the two countries enabling
the rebels to fight.  They continue to financially
and militarily support the two countries that in turn
financially and militarily support the rebels.  What logical 
conclusion can you draw from this?  
That, of course, the two countries
are, in fact, doing the U.S.'s bidding - by passing on the
aid they receive to the rebels.  Where do I get this from?
Here are portions of the story from
today's Washington Post that I read on the web at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WParch/1997-02/16/140F-021697-idx.html

"By early this month, Zairian rebels -- reportedly 
JOINED BY TROOPS FROM NEIGHBORING RWANDA AND UGANDA 
-- had transformed their local rebellion into a 
serious threat to Zaire's government and perhaps 
to its existence as a state. . . 


THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE THIS MONTH WARNED 
UGANDA AND RWANDA TO STOP BACKING THE REBELLION 
-- they deny they are doing so -- BUT Western 
diplomats here said THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS 
NOT PREPARED TO APPLY ANY REAL PRESSURE TO FORCE 
THEM TO COMPLY. . .

"There is also the question of how long Uganda 
and Rwanda can continue supporting" the war,
a diplomat said. Western embassies here said 
THE TWO COUNTRIES ARE SENDING THOUSANDS OF
TROOPS TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE THE REBELS AND ARE 
PROVIDING THE FIGHTERS WITH UNIFORMS, WEAPONS AND
TRANSPORT. They said Burundi has offered training 
facilities, which the government in Bujumbura
denies. Several diplomats and aid workers said 
Uganda and Rwanda aim to help Kabila seize eastern
Zaire up to around the Zaire River. "That's a 
logical frontier," a diplomat said. Uganda and
Rwanda, the diplomat said, seek "a buffer zone 
to their west." Such an area would distance
Rwanda from Hutu extremists who took part in the 
1994 genocide and were launching
cross-border attacks from Zairian refugee camps; 
Uganda's government also faces rebellions
along its border with Zaire and would like 
a pliant neighbor.
IF A WEAKENED ZAIRE GOVERNMENT HAD LESS -- OR NO -- 
CONTROL OVER THE REGION, UGANDA AND RWANDA ALSO 
COULD HELP EXPLOIT IT ECONOMICALLY, THE DIPLOMAT 
SAID. Eastern Zaire contains gold deposits with 
tons of reserves plus a large petroleum reserve 
near the town of Bunia -- and established cobalt 
and copper mines in the south.
Diplomats here said THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE 
ARE STILL SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM PUTTING ANY
TEETH INTO THEIR WARNINGS TO ZAIRE'S NEIGHBORS 
TO STAY OUT OF ITS CIVIL WAR. BOTH UGANDA AND
RWANDA ARE SMALL AND POOR, AND THUS HIGHLY 
VULNERABLE TO PRESSURE, DIPLOMATS SAID. THE
WESTERN POWERS COULD CUT OFF AID OR MULTILATERAL 
LENDING, OR PLACE EMBARGOES ON WEAPONS OR
THE ECONOMIES OF THE TWO STATES. BUT A SENIOR 
WESTERN DIPLOMAT SAID, "IT IS NOT CERTAIN THE
UNITED STATES WILL GET TO THE POINT" OF 
CUTTING OFF AID OR APPLYING SANCTIONS."

(The emphasis - putting sections in all
caps, is mine.)

If you now accept that the AFDL is not all it's cracked up to be,
I urge you to re-read Dave's reply to Louis Godena and the article
he kindly attached to it.  It is a difficult reality to accept, the
magnitude of the suffering and hopelessness in this region
of the world today.

Angie


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