<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<div><b><big>US militarizes response to Ebola crisis while Cuba
pledges medical aid</big></b></div>
<h4>Abayomi Azikiwe</h4>
<h4>2014-09-23<br>
</h4>
<h4><a href="http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/92986">http://pambazuka.org/en/category/features/92986</a></h4>
A team of eight experts and journalists visiting the southern region
of the West African state of Guinea were found dead in the town of
Nzerekore on Sept. 20. Reports indicate that they were there to
educate people about the nature of the disease for the purpose of
its prevention.<br>
<p>
<br>
Reports from Guinea say that the delegation had met with elders in
the community but were later attacked by youths. Investigations
into the details of the killings are ongoing.<br>
<br>
There is tremendous mistrust surrounding the spread of the Ebola
disease in some West African states where the epidemic has had an
impact. Doctors Without Borders reported in April that their teams
were forced to withdraw from Macenta in Guinea after being stoned
by youth who said they were there to spread the disease. <br>
<br>
Newspaper articles and rumors have circulated that the outbreak is
a direct result of biological warfare being waged by imperialist
countries against the African continent.<br>
<br>
Although no one knows what the motivations were of those who
carried out the killings in Guinea, obviously there are many
people who mistrust the motivations of foreign aid workers
responding to the crisis. Guinea is the first country that was
identified in the latest spread of the disease which has
periodically struck in Central and West Africa over the last three
decades.<br>
<br>
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AND ECONOMIC UNDERDEVELOPMENT<br>
<br>
The most widely discussed and controversial article related to the
spread of the Ebola was published by the leading newspaper in
Liberia, <a
href="http://www.liberianobserver.com/security/ebola-aids-manufactured-western-pharmaceuticals-us-dod">The
Observer</a>. Dr. Cyril Broderick, a former professor of plant
pathology at the university there, asserted that the spread of the
disease is a direct result of U.S. Department of Defense
bio-warfare against Africa.<br>
<br>
Broderick’s article was published on Sept. 9 and stated that
“Africa must not relegate the Continent to become the locality for
disposal and the deposition of hazardous chemicals, dangerous
drugs, and chemical or biological agents of emerging diseases.
There is urgent need for affirmative action in protecting the less
affluent of poorer countries, especially African citizens, whose
countries are not as scientifically and industrially endowed as
the United States and most Western countries, sources of most
viral or bacterial GMOs that are strategically designed as
biological weapons. It is most disturbing that the U. S.
Government has been operating a viral hemorrhagic fever
bioterrorism research laboratory in Sierra Leone.” <br>
<br>
This same author goes on to ask “Are there others? Wherever they
exist, it is time to terminate them. If any other sites exist, it
is advisable to follow the delayed but essential step: Sierra
Leone closed the US bioweapons lab and stopped Tulane University
for further testing.” (Sept. 9)<br>
<br>
Broderick has been attacked for publishing the article and
according to Health Impact News “The western pro-pharma media has
chided Dr. Broderick, saying that such an inflammatory piece of
writing is ‘irresponsible’ since so many Africans are already
distrustful of western medicine. They see western medicine as the
answer to Africa’s deadly diseases such as Ebola, while Dr.
Broderick sees it as the cause. Dr. Broderick states ‘African
people are not ignorant and gullible, as is being implicated.’”
(healthimpactnews.com, Sept. 21)<br>
<br>
Following the publication of this article, President Barack Obama
announced on Sept. 16 that the U.S. would deploy 3,000 troops to
the affected West African states as a means to combat the disease.
Obama said in a press release that “The United States will
leverage the unique capabilities of the U.S. military and broader
uniformed services to help bring the epidemic under control. These
efforts will entail command and control, logistics expertise,
training, and engineering support.” (White House press statement)<br>
<br>
Washington is already heavily involved militarily in Africa.
Several thousand Pentagon troops, Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA) operatives and State Department functionaries are on the
continent as part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). This
intervention since 2008 has created more instability and
underdevelopment in Africa as represented by the events in Egypt,
Mali, Libya, Somalia, South Sudan and Nigeria where the ostensible
partnerships aimed at curbing “terrorism” has prompted the
intensification of conflict, dislocation and in the case of the
Horn of Africa, famine.<br>
<br>
Pentagon and CIA drone operations have carried out numerous
targeted assassinations in Somalia. In Mali, a U.S.-trained
military officer returned to this former French colony and staged
a coup providing a rationale for internal destabilization as well
as an ongoing occupation by Paris.<br>
<br>
CUBA OFFERS MEDICAL SOLIDARITY<br>
<br>
Meanwhile, the revolutionary nation of Cuba pledged to send
medical personnel in the fight against the disease. Cuba has a
profound history in providing unconditional solidarity with the
African continent.<br>
<br>
In an address on Sept. 18 before the United Nations Security
Council emergency session on Ebola, Vice Minister of Foreign
Relations Abelardo Moreno told the participants that “Cuba’s
response is part of our solidarity with Africa, Asia and Latin
America and the Caribbean. Over the last 55 years we have
collaborated in more than 158 countries, with the participation of
325,710 health workers. 76,744 collaborators have worked in 39
African countries. Today, in this sector, 4,048 Cubans are serving
in 32 African nations; 2,269 of whom are doctors.” (granma.cu,
Sept. 19)<br>
<br>
Moreno went on to report that “The medical brigades which will be
sent to Africa to fight against Ebola form part of the "Henry
Reeve International Contingent" - created in 2005 - composed of
doctors specializing in combating disasters and large-scale
epidemics. Cuba’s response confirms the values of solidarity which
have guided the Cuban Revolution: not to give what we can spare,
but to share what we have.” <br>
<br>
This approach contrasts sharply with that of the White House and
Pentagon. Cuba has built up considerable trust in Africa due to
its consistent policy of international solidarity. <br>
<br>
At least three countries which have reported Ebola cases are
reporting improvements in fighting the disease and its
proliferation. In Nigeria the Federal Government announced that
schools would be re-opened on Sept. 22 despite opposition from the
sections of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT).<br>
<br>
In Sierra Leone there was a state of emergency declared
restricting movements for three days. The government announced on
Sept. 22 that the situation was now under control. Similar
announcements have been made in reference to developments in
Senegal where at least one case has been reported.<br>
<br>
Nonetheless, there have been nearly 3,000 deaths reported from the
disease. In addition there are still numerous questions related to
the conditions under which the disease is spread and the most
effective means to treat and eradicate the epidemic. (WHO Update,
Sept. 22)<br>
<br>
This outbreak does draw attention to the need for genuine
independence and development on the African continent. The
training of medical personnel and scientific researchers would
contribute immensely to preventing future healthcare crises. <br>
<br>
Cuban revolutionary foreign policy provides an example of how
underdeveloped states which have a legacy of slavery, colonialism
and neo-colonialism can transform through a process of class
struggle and self-reliance. With over five decades of hostility
from the U.S., Cuba has been able to make significant
contributions to African liberation whether in the fight against
settler-colonialism in Southern Africa in years past or through
the contemporary challenges related to the Ebola outbreak, the
training of African medical personnel and other healthcare issues.<br>
<br>
* Abayomi Azikiwe is Editor, Pan-African News Wire<br>
<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415 863.9977
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.freedomarchives.org">www.freedomarchives.org</a>
</div>
</body>
</html>