On the Cover

After many months of ignoring the tragedy in Somalia, the U.S. has suddenly decided to send 30,000 troops to secure the delivery of food to the starving Somalian people. However, sending in the military is not going to result in a real long-term solution, one where the Somalians have the right to self determination. We question the motives behind this “humanitarian” mission.

Why the sudden change of U.S. policy? A year ago, an American’s official’s solution was that Somalia should be “paved over and turned into a parking lot”. [Washington Post, 1/25/92] Meanwhile, a half million Somalian died or starved past the point of mental recovery. [M. Rosenblum, Associated Press]

Why isn’t the U.S. helping other areas in much worse shape, such as the Sudan? Is it because of geography? David Winterford of the Naval Post-Graduate School suggests, “Somalia as a country is not worth much, but its geography is priceless. Whoever controls Somalia could control the southern entrance to the Red Sea and thus the Suez Canal…a prime location to which influence the political stability of the Middle East."

The U.S media’s role also has to be questioned. The television and print coverage of the first stages of the Operation Restore Hope alone cost about $20 million, as much as the largest relief agency, CARE, was able to spend over the entire year. [M. Rosenblum, Associated Press] Compare the images on our cover to what the French press dubbed “Showmalia” — countless images of George Bush patting the heads of African children.

[Images courtesy of Worker’s World Newspaper, 46 West 21 Street, New York, NY 1001. A one year subscription is $20.]

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