Diplomacy Too Heavy-Handed

The Nation (Nairobi)
COLUMN
December 30, 2003
Posted to the web December 30, 2003
Nairobi
Rising opposition in Kenya to how the war on terror is being executed
illustrates the hurdles the US has to overcome if it intends to keep its
friends abroad.
Though the Narc regime came to power on values Americans practise at home and
promote abroad, all that our leaders have received are constant lectures on how
they should combat terrorism.
The frustration engendered by this obsession with fighting terrorism instead of
rectifying the environment that breeds terrorists is understandable.
For instance, the US is yet to deliver Kenya's share of the US-sponsored $100
million intended to benefit five East African countries. All that the US has
done is to issue numerous travel advisories that end up badly damaging Kenya's
economy.
This has been made worse by the US pegging its support on Kenya passing anti-
terror laws that will inevitably whittle away all our hard-earned civil
liberties.
How the Government is expected to push through the Suppression of Terrorism
Bill 2003 while respecting the supremacy of Parliament is not easy to
understand.
Iowa University political scientist Joel Barkan echoes these sentiments in the
January 2004 edition of the influential bi-monthly journal, Foreign Affairs.
Prof Barkan urges the Bush team to adopt "a more nuanced and quieter approach"
if it is to maintain its ties with Kenya.
It is now up to the American Government to strike a balance between its
strategic interests and those of its allies. To practise a cynical and self-
serving foreign policy the way the Bush regime has been doing is not the best
way to win and keep friends.
The situation has not been helped by the curious position that seems to imply
that civil liberties and security concerns are mutually exclusive.

   

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