Comments on: Where Is SOS Clinton as Uncertainty Looms for Refugees and Displaced Populations in Central Africa? http://www.laprogressive.com/war-and-peace/where-is-sos-clinton-as-uncertainty-looms-for-refugees-and-displaced-populations-in-central-africa/ Progressive Politics Liberal Politics and Social Justice Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:07:42 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 The LA Progressivehttp://www.laprogressive.com/wp-content/themes/arthemia-premium/images/button.gifhttp://www.laprogressive.com8831Description of your blog. By: MD http://www.laprogressive.com/war-and-peace/where-is-sos-clinton-as-uncertainty-looms-for-refugees-and-displaced-populations-in-central-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-48024 MD Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:53:33 +0000 http://www.laprogressive.com/?p=17663#comment-48024 The long timeframe for scheduling a New Embassy Compound pretty well assures that the NEC in Burundi has nothing to do with Clinton or any recent interest in the region. This was decided several years ago. Those in charge may have forseen growth at the embassy and seen the obvious deficiencies and limitations of the current buildings, but it's not a recent thing. The "there is a reason for everything" comment is indicative of over-conspiratorial thinking. Yes, there's a huge interest in the Great Lakes region, and many more fluid indications that US policy is increasingly focused there. But the NEC is not one of them. Most every embassy will be replaced; again, it's not supicious or portentious that it's Burundi's turn. Neither is speculation about "massive communications capacity" in Rwanda. It may have massive communications capacity (or look like it does, what with all those antennae on top), but so does every US embassy, especially newly-built ones...isolating Kigali to make it look like something unique is a manipulative way to frame a simple fact. But in any case, there's plenty going on in the Great Lakes, new embassies or not, so focus on the construction is really an afterthought anyhow. The discussion is better served by examining policy and action in the region. The long timeframe for scheduling a New Embassy Compound pretty well assures that the NEC in Burundi has nothing to do with Clinton or any recent interest in the region. This was decided several years ago. Those in charge may have forseen growth at the embassy and seen the obvious deficiencies and limitations of the current buildings, but it’s not a recent thing.

The “there is a reason for everything” comment is indicative of over-conspiratorial thinking. Yes, there’s a huge interest in the Great Lakes region, and many more fluid indications that US policy is increasingly focused there. But the NEC is not one of them. Most every embassy will be replaced; again, it’s not supicious or portentious that it’s Burundi’s turn. Neither is speculation about “massive communications capacity” in Rwanda. It may have massive communications capacity (or look like it does, what with all those antennae on top), but so does every US embassy, especially newly-built ones…isolating Kigali to make it look like something unique is a manipulative way to frame a simple fact.

But in any case, there’s plenty going on in the Great Lakes, new embassies or not, so focus on the construction is really an afterthought anyhow. The discussion is better served by examining policy and action in the region.

]]> By: Georgianne Nienaber http://www.laprogressive.com/war-and-peace/where-is-sos-clinton-as-uncertainty-looms-for-refugees-and-displaced-populations-in-central-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-48001 Georgianne Nienaber Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:23:30 +0000 http://www.laprogressive.com/?p=17663#comment-48001 Perhaps red herring perhaps not. The point is Americans' inattention to these embassies. The fact that SOS Clinton is ramping up AFRICOM in this area makes construction noteworthy, as well as the fact that we recently completed new high tech embassy in Rwanda with a massive communications capability. I have written in support of AFRICOM in the sense that something has to be done for DRC, but as someone who seems knowledgeable of DOS activities, you would have to agree that this region is a strategic flash point for US interests. We could both name many poor countries that need new embassies, but they are not getting them. Burundi? Come on. There is a reason for everything, and this goes far beyond a facelift. Perhaps red herring perhaps not. The point is Americans’ inattention to these embassies. The fact that SOS Clinton is ramping up AFRICOM in this area makes construction noteworthy, as well as the fact that we recently completed new high tech embassy in Rwanda with a massive communications capability. I have written in support of AFRICOM in the sense that something has to be done for DRC, but as someone who seems knowledgeable of DOS activities, you would have to agree that this region is a strategic flash point for US interests. We could both name many poor countries that need new embassies, but they are not getting them. Burundi? Come on. There is a reason for everything, and this goes far beyond a facelift.

]]> By: MD http://www.laprogressive.com/war-and-peace/where-is-sos-clinton-as-uncertainty-looms-for-refugees-and-displaced-populations-in-central-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-47991 MD Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:35:01 +0000 http://www.laprogressive.com/?p=17663#comment-47991 The construction of new embassies worldwide is an ongoing project. The fact that Burundi's turn for a new facility has finally come up is not an indication of anything going on in Africa or not; it's an internal State Department process. Moreover, Burundi's current facilities are substandard and lack a number of federally-mandated capabilities and features. Add to that a growing number of staff for a country which has just finished a war and is going to be looking to the world for development assistance. A new embassy is not the signal for anything other than business as ususal. Not to say there's nothing going on in the region that warrants attention, but to look at the construction and call it indicative of something is a massive red herring. The construction of new embassies worldwide is an ongoing project. The fact that Burundi’s turn for a new facility has finally come up is not an indication of anything going on in Africa or not; it’s an internal State Department process.

Moreover, Burundi’s current facilities are substandard and lack a number of federally-mandated capabilities and features. Add to that a growing number of staff for a country which has just finished a war and is going to be looking to the world for development assistance.

A new embassy is not the signal for anything other than business as ususal. Not to say there’s nothing going on in the region that warrants attention, but to look at the construction and call it indicative of something is a massive red herring.

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