Once upon a time, there was a southeastern African nation called Rhodesia. It was one of the most prosperous and tranquil places in Africa. Though the majority of Rhodesians were black, it had a largely white government, and maintained ties to Great Britain, whose colony it once was. But under pressure from Britain, the white government radically changed the franchise laws -- most importantly, they removed the requirement that to vote, you had to own land -- and was ousted in favor of the Marxist Zanu-PF and Robert Mugabe. That was when the country changed its name, becoming one of Africa's "Z" nations.
That was 28 years ago. Anyone who pays the slightest attention to the news knows what Mugabe has done to that once beautiful country. He's maintained power by imprisoning or killing his opponents, seizing the property of white farmers and handing it off to his cronies, and stealing every so-called election since he rose to the presidency.
Well, this past week Mugabe didn't quite steal enough votes. If the reports can be trusted, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) defeated him soundly. If the results of the election were respected, he'd be on his way out of power within weeks. But Mugabe doesn't intend to respect those results. He's ordered his bullies to round up all foreign journalists, and to ransack the MDC's offices under no published rationale.
It couldn't be clearer that Zimbabwe is being raped by its tyrant and his henchmen. We Americans, who hold that election results are sacred, should be appalled by these events. But what should we do about them? Diplomatic pressure? Troops? A bombing campaign?
No. Nothing. Nothing at all. The people of Zimbabwe created this monster; it should be left up to them to slay him.
Well worth reading the whole thing and pondering. Also advice on what to do in Iraq.
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