MEDIA REACTION PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO AFRICA;

UNCLAS HARARE 001422 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/PDPA FOR DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER LONDON FOR GURNEY PARIS FOR NEARY NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO KMDR ZI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO AFRICA; HARARE ¶1. Under headline "Bush visit sees welcome consensus on Zim" the independent weekly "The Zimbabwe Independent" dedicated its July 11 editorial to hailing President Bush's trip to Africa, saying: "By reaching out to Africa. . .Bush has indicated that post-Iraq America may be turning a new leaf." Excerpts: ¶2. "President George W. Bush leaves Africa this weekend hopefully better informed about the myriad problems the continent faces. He cannot be accused of lacking enthusiasm. He has committed his government to billions of U. S. dollars in aid and trade that far exceeds anything the Clinton administration attempted. And as well as promoting a now-familiar agenda on governance, he listened to what other leaders had to say. In particular he built on ties already forged at past meetings with South African President Thabo Mbeki. Of interest to us was of course their talks on Zimbabwe. . .While Mbeki appears to have given Bush the same questionable assurances on Zimbabwe that he has been giving other heads of government. . .there does appear to be an identity of views on the need to make progress in resolving the spiraling crisis here that has consequences for the region and NEPAD. . .But for things to give, Mbeki will have to move beyond the facile argument that `the principal responsibility for the resolution of this problem rests with the people of Zimbabwe.' If the people of Zimbabwe lie bound and gagged, how then are they supposed to free themselves? If Bush missed the opportunity to ask that question. . .he will have missed a gaping hole in Mbeki's rhetoric armor. . .We trust Bush is not intent upon ignoring these problems in the interests of diplomacy. . .Bush has faced considerable hostility from civil society during his visit to South Africa. His record on the environment, including abandonment of the Kyoto consensus, breaches of long-held liberties in the interment of individuals suspected of links to Al-Qaeda, the promotion of security legislation that infringes on basic freedoms and encourages other states to do the same, and the frontal assault on the post-1945 international dispensation which the end of multilateralism portends, have all combined to create the impression of a brash gun slinging regime in Washington that disregards the concerns of friends and foes alike. But bullheaded diplomacy and confrontation with critics do not. . .provide a basis for sound relations with the international community. By reaching out to Africa, addressing its concerns and doing some uncustomary listening, Bush has indicated that post-Iraq America may be turning a new leaf; that there is more to U. S. power than twisting arms. . . . " SULLIVAN