Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 14:34:51 +0100 (MET)
From: rolf.martens-AT-mailbox.swipnet.se (Rolf Martens)
Subject: M-G: Congo: Evacuation? Is that what (US) "friends are for"?


The latest CNN report, yesterday Sunday 23.03, has a
US Army unit arriving in Congo (the other one, that
with Brazzaville as capital) on that day "to prepare for 
the possible evacuation of Americans and citizens of other 
countries from strife-torn Zaire", and the amphibious
assault ship - with 1000 marines and i.a. attack chpppers
and Harrier jump jet fighters - the USS Nassau, as having 
been "dispatched from the Adriatic to a position off Zaire" -
"It will take some 10 to 13 days before the ship reaches
its destination", the report says. And it's all "so far only 
a precautionary measure".

But as all know, the reason is that the people's forces
in Congo/Zaire, the AFDL led by Laurent Kabila, is obviously
gaining ground very fast, having the most massive support
among the people not only in the regions it has already
liberated, and the Mobutu regime, the one that the US 
imperialists in reality have still been backing (as "first
bet" - they always have more than one), looks doomed. 

Now some writers to this list - no doubt sincerely - have 
believed, and since last November have argued over and over
again, that the AFDL is a "friend" of the US imperialists, 
that in reality it's a "muppet" of theirs "for egding out 
the French".

But if so, why on earth would the US governemt now be
preparing for mass *evacuation*, "just in case" those
"friends" would soon be in control even in the capital,
Kinshasa?? What would such "friends" be for??

Or, does the US govt. "fear an anti-Mobutu coup" by some
other forces in the capital? This too would be a strange
fear, if the people who maintain that the US "has long
ago *abandoned* Mobutu as their client" were right - then
they'd be *in with* some coup makers now, wouldn't they?

Of course a "fear of unrest in general" might not be
*entirely* justified, *if* what the US imperialists say
they're concerned about, the safety of US and some other
foreign residents in the country, is their real main
concern. But "as usual", this "usual suspect" - a good 
term introduced on this list by Adolfo, in connection with
the still unfinished hostage business in Lima, Peru - must
be suspected of some other motives (too). 

It all IMO shows very cleary once more, in addition to the
things I pointed to in a posting an hour ago or so, that
US imperialism not at all likes what's taking place in
Congo/Zaire just now but is deeply apprehensive over it.

So, Angie - and others too - isn't it *now* high time you 
change your mind(s) on what's going on there?

And also, at least somewhat change your estimate(s) of the 
strength of the peoples of the world versus that of 
imperialism! Things look considerably better than you 
(used to) think, don't they? I mean, taking this conflict
in one - not unimportant - African country as an example.

Support the AFDL in the Congo!

Rolf M.


 



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