We no longer live in a world where an outright invasion in order to steal the resources of another nation would be tolerated. Of course, that is violated from time to time under the pretension that the nation that is invaded is a global threat, developing weapons of mass destruction, or some other insidious lie. We saw this when the US and the UK invaded Iraq. Yes, Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator. I will not defend him, but the motives for going to war had nothing to do with weapons of mass destruction. The motives were a form of colonialism. Thousands of US and British soldiers as well as innocent Iraqis and Iraqi soldiers lost their lives in what was based on a lie. Is the world better off without Saddam? That is a question I cannot answer. The Sermon on the Mount does not give me permission to hate even those who hate me. Truth be told, I would rather not have to deal with the likes of Saddam, but to wish his death is equal to hate.
We now see Russia and the United States engaged in a new "Cold War" over Ukraine. Do not be fooled. Neither nation has one bit of sympathy for the innocent citizens of Ukraine who are victims in these battles. Both nations are engaged in a battle of wills for resources and the hearts and minds of the Ukrainian Government that will ultimately feed those resources to either the US or to Russia.
This week, US President Barack Obama held a forum for African leaders. He praised Rwandan strongman dictator Paul Kagame for his leadership and even gave a nod to the ineffective dictator of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila. At the same time, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was not even invited to the summit. As I later found out, Mugabe is not even allowed to travel within the US Border.
If we look at the human rights records of these three African leaders you will see first of all that people who are in leadership of a nation are forced to make decisions that I as a Christian cannot ethically or morally make. The same can be said for ANY nation! But, how can two men (Kabila and Kagame) who are personally responsible for the deaths of at least a very conservative estimate of 6 million innocent people be praised for their leadership? How can a president (Mugabe) who refuses to allow Zimbabwe to be robbed of its minerals be considered a criminal?
This all goes back to "Colonialism Redux." Instead of directly invading nations, the powerful nations install or support puppet governments. It is public record that President Bill Clinton blocked every measure in the UN to send aid during the Rwandan Genocide so that Kagame's RPF could take control of Rwanda. It is well known and reported that Kagame sends militias into the Congo under the pretext of eliminating the FDLR (an opposition group - or now - a refugee group of Rwandans who cannot return safely to Rwanda). Under this pretext, he is funneling the minerals so rich in Congo to Rwanda and ultimately to the US and UK.
Why would the nations support Joseph Kabila? One could find a rock with more leadership skills than this president. He does nothing, rigs elections, and allows his nation to be raped and pillaged. That is why powerful nations call him a leader they can support.
Colonialism is far from over! It is time for citizens to demand that other people around the world without a voice be treated as humans created in the image of God.
It is time we stop listening to the xenophobic rants of pundits such as Ann Coulter who says that our concern should only be within our own borders and that the battle is really between liberals and conservatives. This is a red herring meant to distract. God knows no borders. Liberal and Conservative are misnomers (at best) and false labels.
Colonialism must be called what it is. The enslaved must be set free.
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