Center-Left endorses new imperialism

["David Quarter" <davidquarter@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From:           	Kilibarda78@xxxxxxx

The fact that Chretien, Blair, and Helen Clark were at this pro- imperialist meeting that endorsed the doctrine of regime change is disgusting. The fact that Kirchener and Lula attended is even worse (considering the widespread opposition in both these countries to the program of the North). The fact that Ethiopia's Meles Zenawi - one of the most brutal and murderous leaders in Africa (responsible for a brutal war with Eritrea, the suppression of Somali and Oromo activists, a Bush champion, the implementation of some of the most devastating neoliberal reforms, driving millions in Ethiopia to famine, and a supporter of the brutal SRRC militias in Somalia) - attended this meeting of "progressive leaders" on "progressive governance" further underlines the rank hypocrisy of the governing elite. Of course, Zenawi is only a protoge of Blair and Chretien who've killed thousands with their policies in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, Congo, etc.  cheers! Kole ;-)  Tuesday July 15, 1:34 AM   Centre-left leaders, meeting in Britain, take aim at brutal regimes    AFP Photo   British Prime Minister Tony Blair and 13 fellow centre-left leaders wrapped up an informal summit with a commitment to do more to protect people from repression under brutal regimes.  Speaking at the end of a "progressive governance" meeting in rural Bagshot, southwest of London, Blair -- who faces ongoing questions at home about his decision to take Britain into the Iraq war -- insisted that the policy was general and not specific to Iraq.  "I'm not saying that it applies to any one particular situation, but I think that all of us as progressive politicians can't simply walk by on the other side when people are being brutally repressed," Blair said.  He was speaking at a podium in front of 13 other centre-left leaders from around the globe, including German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a notable opponent of the US-led war in Iraq.  "The real issue is how do we, in circumstances where there is brutal repression by a particular regime, offer (people) support and protection, and what are the rules that govern that -- because people want to know that they are operating in a system with rules," Blair said.  "That is our desire to protect people when they are subject to brutal repression from their own regime or government," Blair said, summarising the main point elaborated at the two-day meeting.  "We have agreed to take forward the work that has been done by the Canadians and others, but is in relation to a problem which we all recognise," he said, referring to a Canadian government report which was the impetus for the focus on failed states.  Blair was the United States' staunchest ally throughout the Iraq crisis, which saw bitter divisions open up in Europe over the war to oust Saddam Hussein and halt his alleged pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.  A communique summing up the leaders' conclusions also reaffirmed their commitment to the United Nations, and said that the nations would "work together to tackle the threat of terrorism".  The summit followed a "progressive governance" conference in London from Friday to Sunday which included Schroeder, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, South African President Thabo Mbeke and New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark.  Both the summit and the conference aimed to give a fillip to the "third way" that informed the politics of the centre-left in the 1990s.  "We share a belief in freedom, in justice and fairness; and in solidarity and mutual responsibility," the summit communique said.  "We share a conviction -- reinforced by history -- in the power of collective action to improve people's lives. And we share the experience of having seen our own progressive policies work in practice."  The document expressed the leaders' commitment to promote global prosperity and security as well as outlining their broad policies on both the global and domestic agendas.  The summit was the fifth in a series that kicked off in Washington in 1999 before being followed by others in Florence, Italy, Berlin and Stockholm.  Several central European leaders were on hand this time around, including Poland's Alexander Kwasniewski and Lesek Miller, Hungary's Peter Medgyessy, Romania's Adrian Nastase and Czech Republic's Vladimir Spidla.  Latin America was represented by Chile's Ricardo Lagos, Argentina's Nestor Kirchner and Brazil's Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva. Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was also present.  For Blair, sagging in opinion polls in the wake of the Iraq war, the weekend was seen as opportunity to breathe new life into his Labour party mid-way through his second term in office.