Obama in Africa
It’s his second African trip.
He visited earlier as a freshman Illinois senator. He told Kenyans, “I
want you all to know that as your ally, your friend and your brother, I
will be there in every way I can.”
He lied. America comes to exploit. At issue is controlling Africa’s rich resources.
Obama’s visiting Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. He’ll return July 3. Why these countries? More on this below.
Controversy accompanies Obama.
His one-week trip costs an estimated $100 million. At the same time,
force-fed austerity harms growing millions at home. Poverty, high
unemployment, hunger, and homelessness go unaddressed.
Obamanomics enriches corporate
favorites and wealthy elites. Popular needs go begging to do so. Obama
demands sacrifice. It’s forced on America’s most disadvantaged, unwanted
and uncared for.
Foreign travel costs plenty.
Hundreds of secret service, staff and others accompany Obama. Travel,
accommodations, security and other costs are enormous.
Military cargo planes brought 56 vehicles. They include 14 limousines and three trucks. They’re specially built for security.
Bulletproof glass will replace
hotel windows where Obama and his family stay. Entire floors are needed
to accommodate security and staff traveling with him.
US fighter jets provide
round-the-clock air cover. In 2011, estimated White House expenses were
around $1.4 billion. They include staff, housing, travel, entertainment
and perks.
Expenses rise annually. They’ve
increased exponentially during Obama’s tenure. Perhaps they’ll approach
$2 billion this year. Estimates exclude classified amounts.
What’s spent on Air Force One
is secret. So are many other security related categories. Perhaps real
White House expenses are double or more estimated amounts.
Americans pay plenty for
presidents who betray them. Imagine what presidential largese could buy.
America’s hungry could be fed. The nation’s homeless could be
sheltered. Needy families could get free healthcare. Students hungry for
knowledge could be educated.
Obama’s trip might have cost
more. Initial plans included a Tanzania safari. Counterassault team
protection against wild animals doesn’t come cheap.
Other Obama trips were
criticized. Conservative estimates for his Hawaii vacations exceed $20
million. Perhaps they cost double or triple that amount. Air Force One’s
estimated hourly rate is about $180,000.
Obama’s African visit reflects
America’s scramble for its resources. They’re vast. They’re some of the
world’s largest and richest.
They include oil, gas, gold,
silver, diamonds, uranium, iron, copper, tin, lead, nickel, coal,
timber, cobalt, bauxite, wood, coltan, manganese, chromium,
vanadium-bearing titanium, and much more.
Continental agricultural lands
are valued. So is offshore fishing. Senegal’s strategically important.
It’s a regional hub. It borders Mali.
Washington provides military
aid. The Pentagon trains Senegalese armed forces. America has an
economic presence. Senegal’s eligible for preferential trade benefits.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act provides them.
US exports include vehicles,
machinery, plastic, rice, and textile goods. Senegalese resources are
extensive. They include oil, phosphate, gold, iron, copper, uranium,
chromium, nickel, zircon, titanium, limestone, salts, barytine and fish.
South Africa’s one of five
BRICS countries. Others include Brazil, Russia, India and China. They
comprise a significant economic and political block. They account for
over 20% of world GDP.
They’re on three continents.
They cover more than one-fourth of the world’s land mass. Their
population exceeds 2.8 billion. It’s 40% of the world total.
They have their own Joint
Business Council. It encourages free trade and investment. China and
Brazil agreed to a bilateral currency swap line. It involves trading up
to $30 billion annually in their own currencies.
Doing so moves almost half their trade out of US dollars. Other
BRICS partners may make similar moves. They endorsed plans to create a
joint foreign exchange reserves pool. Initially it’ll include $100
billion. It’s called a self-managed contingent reserve arrangement
(CRA).
They plan their own Development
Bank. Initial capital will be substantial. Each country may contribute
$10 billion for starters. It’s to fund infrastructure and other
development projects.
It’ll operate separately from
Western international lending agencies. It’ll challenge their global
dominance. BRICS prioritize multipolarity. Achieving it perhaps can end
Western debt bondage.
BRICS have more global trade than America. They’re too important to
ignore. They challenge US dominance. They trade increasingly in their
own currencies. They may eventually end dollar supremacy.
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