It makes sense. The US government in its global war on terror should have an ally in the continent. Somalia the worlds largest on going conflict, has been known to harbor Al-Qaeda members. But when we think of Africa, do we really think that it would be a place where human rights and fair trials are a common occurrence?
"Nothing has been done in secret. All legal procedures are being followed and the suspected terrorists have been allowed to appear before the relevant court of law."
Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The government of Ethiopia would be a shining example for an ally on the Global War on Terror, not to be confused with the War on Terror which is a domestic occurrence. Ethiopia is a bordering nation of that beacon of freedom Somalia. Which in 1993 the Clinton administration sent in the special forces to capture the head of the largest militia...well you have seen the movie.
As much as the international community should trust the words of the Ethiopian Minister, we must not forget the past. Ethiopia is a nation in which, according to Human Rights Watch
making dozens "disappear" and US security agents of routinely interrogating people held incommunicado.
Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chad, any nation could be tempted by the prospect of helping the US on the Global War on Terror. The economic "incentives" would be far to great to pass on. However looking at the history of the continent and the present actions of the Bush Administrations brings about several questions.
1. Why Ethiopia, which has a poor human rights record, to proceed over the trials
2. Are they even trials, or summary judgement.
3. What is preventing the government of Ethiopia from just making the "detainee" disappear.
Africa is a poor location for anything legal or democratic in the high-minded US sense of the term. Africa has been exploited in the past for its economic resources and labor and now its being exploited for its "legal" system.
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