February 18, 2002

3:28 PM

Today the EU imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.For a long time, critics have charged "President" Robert Mugabe with everything from murder to corruption, but the expulsion of Pierre Schori, an EU election observer, for "political arrogance" was the last straw.
posted by Bag Man (13 comments total)

Ooo yeah, I bet Mugabe can already feel the heat with those very, very effective sanctions.. the poor guy must be crying. Europe is a bully!
posted by tiaka at 3:42 PM on February 18, 2002

Mugabe is out of control -- his press restrictions and threats towards journalists, seizing of private property and threats to expel and/or kill lesbians and gay men in Zimbabwe are reminiscent of some of the greatest hits of dictatorial figureheads. While I'm not entirely clear as to what standing the EU has (and hence how observers were sent for the elections) I don't know that I would call Europe the bully. Mugabe may well end up being another Amin (without the pronounced sadism.)
posted by ltracey at 6:22 PM on February 18, 2002

But how can the West possibly be responsible for another 500,000 dead children? These inhumane sanctions must end now! Mugabe may be a murderous monster inciting a civil war against whites to keep the army from deposing him, but that's not so bad when you consider the genocide in which the West will now be complicit.

No, the only proper moral stance is to stand idly by as Mugabe destroys his nation and its people. If we're really, really, really concerned, we can also wring our hands.
posted by dhartung at 6:26 PM on February 18, 2002

dhartung is correct; the only appropriate response is to observe the suffering, and occasionally mutter anti-Mugabe slogans through the press.

...we will also allow the infrequent construction of anti-Mugabe papier-mache figures, and selected dreadlocked persons are permitted to resent Mugabe. No other form of protest is permissable, because it would constitute a globalist conspiracy.

Zimbabwe has the moral right to oppress itself, and when necessary murder itself. To believe otherwise is to perpetuate the capitalist slave-system.
posted by aramaic at 8:05 PM on February 18, 2002

dhartung and aramaic: I believe your comments fall into the category of, "Reacting to things that no one actually said." At least not here. Methinks tiaka was being ironical.
posted by raysmj at 8:08 PM on February 18, 2002

Oh, I got it! You're all being ironical. In a ham-fisted way, but . . . nevermind.
posted by raysmj at 8:14 PM on February 18, 2002

The linked site is down. EU conservatives in Brussels say hand wringing won't be enough:
"We must be prepared for more grim news from Zimbabwe over the coming 19 days leading up to the election. The international community must hold its nerve. ... The EU should also declare that it will not recognise a Zimbabwean dictator kept in power through political violence and a rigged election. It should now give thought to further measures that might it might have to introduce in the event of continuing hostile actions on the part of the Mugabe regime."
posted by sheauga at 9:01 PM on February 18, 2002

So murder, corruption and the general terrorization of the populace is okay but some EU election observer gets the boot and suddenly there are sanctions?

Just when you thought you couldn't get cynical enough.
posted by pixelgeek at 9:10 PM on February 18, 2002

raysmj: it is interesting to note that it took you a whole six minutes to realize "hamfisted" irony.
posted by aramaic at 9:21 PM on February 18, 2002

"Ham-fisted" means lacking grace, clumsy. Precisely.
posted by raysmj at 9:52 PM on February 18, 2002

Also, my service went down for a bit there, thus the six minute delay. No lie!
posted by raysmj at 9:54 PM on February 18, 2002

Econimic sanctions are self-effacing and useless (see Cuba, Iraq). Without getting into the negative effects they have on the citizens of the country, they simply don't work, be it from a major country soley or an entire continental community. If someone can point me to one example where they accomplished their goal, i'd be pretty damn impressed.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:54 PM on February 18, 2002

Depends on your definition of accomplished their goal. Nelson Mandela would argue the self-effacing and useless point with you.
posted by niceness at 8:00 AM on February 19, 2002