MEDIA REACTION CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERROR; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 003379 SIPDIS AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR SCHLACHTER, AF/RA FOR SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERROR; HARARE ¶1. THE NOVEMBER 11 EDITION OF THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED WEEKLY "THE SUNDAY MAIL" CARRIED A LENGTHY OP-ED PIECE BY OLLEY MARUMA CENTERING ON THE U.S.-LED CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERROR. UNDER HEADLINE "WAR WILL NOT SOLVE CURRENT INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS WOES," MARUMA ARGUES: ¶2. "THE CURRENT WAR AND CRISIS IN AFGHANISTAN HAS SHOWN BEYOND DOUBT THAT THE U.S. WILL HAVE TO DRASTICALLY CHANGE ITS FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS MANY REGIONS OF THE THIRD WORLD, IF IT IS TO GAIN GENUINE FRIENDS AND ALLIES IN THOSE AREAS. . . IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW THE AMERICANS WILL CREATE A 'POST-TALIBAN' GOVERNMENT WITHOUT GETTING BOGGED DOWN IN A VIETNAM-STYLE QUAGMIRE IN AFGHANISTAN. HISTORY HAS CLEARLY SHOWN THAT THE AFGHAN PEOPLE'S ABHORRENCE OF FOREIGN RULE OR CONTROL RUNS VERY DEEP INDEED. SHOULD THE AMERICANS OPT THE MOST LOGICAL SOLUTION, INSTALLING A PRO-WESTERN GOVERNMENT IN KABUL, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THAT GOVERNMENT WILL BE STABLE OR DURABLE. . . WHATEVER HAPPENS TO AMERICA'S WAR AGAINST AFGHANISTAN, INTRODUCING A NEW ERA OF MCCARTHYISM IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS WHERE THERE IS A 'THEM' AGAINST 'US' IS NOT GOING TO ERADICATE THE SCOURGE OF TERRORISM. NOR WILL IT WIN GENUINE FRIENDS. . . AS LONG AS WE HAVE SELF- RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE AND NATIONS THAT PROMOTE HATRED AND BIGOTRY AGAINST OTHER NATIONS OR AGAINST CERTAIN RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC GROUPS, WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE HATRED AND SENSELESS VIOLENCE AMONGST US; WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE WARS." SULLIVAN UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 03379 140910Z UNCLASSIFIED >