Remember when I told you toads do not hop around in broad daylight unless some predator is trying to turn them into a lunchtime snack? What makes you think Obama’s top diplomat Hillary Clinton is just notching Frequent Flier Miles when she arrived in Cairo on Saturday? The US Secretary of State appears to be on a charm offensive to reassure Egypt’s newly-elected Islamist President Mohamed Morsi and placate military supremo Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi, two of the key players in the power struggle playing out in post-Mubarak Egypt. Remember it was the US that kept Mubarak in whatever they call State House Cairo until his last days and also bankrolled and modernised the military. And believe you me, the generals will leave Morsi alone as soon as Big Brother USA finishes the “friendly chat”.
Impunity is a harsh taskmaster andmust hurt a lot when the shoe is on the other foot. Gamal and Alaa, the sons of former President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, are in court alongside seven other defendants, accused of stealing huge amounts of money from selling the Egyptian National Bank and controlling its shares in the stock- exchange! Oh how the trappings of power become grapes of wrath! Remember, their dad and his former Interior Minister Habib al-Adli are serving life sentences for failing to stop the killing of protesters in Arab Spring demonstrations last year.
Fellows who carry guns around must get a very warped sense of invincibility. Now if, as alleged, a well trained police officer really did threaten to shoot First Lady Michelle Obama, then he must be the world’s leading nutcase. US federal law is very clear: “Threatening the President of the United States is a Class D felony, punishable by 5 years of imprisonment. Threatening other officials is a Class C or D felony, usually carrying maximum penalties of 5 or 10 years.” Now close your eyes and imagine which Manyani stone block the chap would be hewing if this case was anywhere in Africa.
And finally…
So Americans are livid that Team USA will be proudly wearing red, white and blue, from beret to blazer with labels reading “Made in China.” Why all the ruckus considering virtually everything else Americans use/buy is Made in China? And cheaper too!
editorial@standardmedia.co.ke
