MEDIA REACTION IRAQ; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 000453

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR INR/R/MR AND AF/PDPA DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO KMDR ZI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION IRAQ; HARARE



1. The March 2 edition of the independent weekly "The
Standard" carried an article by its United States-
based stringer, Ken Mafuka, in which he accused the

U. S. of creating policies that could give President
George W. Bush unilateral powers to "declare war on
any country he regards as harboring terrorists."
"For instance, Zimbabwe could find itself declared a
terrorist state and therefore excluded from
participation in the multi-lateral organizations in
which the U. S. has a stake," Mafuka wrote in his
weekly column "Americannotes." Excerpts of the
article printed under headline "The two sides of
terror" follow:


2. "The U. S. has designed two weapons for the war
against terror. The first weapon is called the Patriot Act
that allowed the U. S. Government to coordinate the
activities of twenty-one spy agencies. Sharing information
enables them to take quick action against possible threats.
The second weapon is the Bush Doctrine - which is very
contentious. Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, and
security advisor, Sister Condoleeza Rice are its main
supporters. The doctrine would allow the U. S. to attack
and destroy any nation, or unit on the world stage, if the

U. S. president decided. It means that one man, without
the approval of Congress can declare war on any country he
regards as harboring terrorists. A memo, which was traced
to communications between an Israeli think tank and the
Bush cabinet, was leaked. This memo said after Iraqi, `we
can go after Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.' What is
important for the Third World is that the U. S. may declare
any country a terrorist state. This can be done for any
number of reasons that have nothing to do with terrorism
against the U. S. For instances, Zimbabwe could find
itself declared a terrorist state and therefore excluded
from participation in the multi-lateral organizations in
which the U. S. has a stake. . . ."


SULLIVAN