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WASHINGTON — Nobel Peace Prize winner and international symbol of freedom Nelson Mandela is flagged on U.S. terrorist watch lists and needs special permission to visit the USA.

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“Naturally the common people don't want war, but after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
I can see why the Bush regime would label him a terrorist - he was crucial in bringing democracy to South Africa, after all. The last thing Bush wants in the US is a functioning democracy...

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Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says "common sense" suggests Mandela should be removed. He says the issue "raises a troubling and difficult debate about what groups are considered terrorists and which are not."

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Guerrilla activities

In 1961, Mandela became the leader of the ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (translated as Spear of the Nation, also abbreviated as MK), which he co-founded. He coordinated a sabotage campaign against military and government targets, and made plans for a possible guerrilla war if sabotage failed to end apartheid. A few decades later, MK did wage a guerrilla war against the regime, especially during the 1980s, in which many civilians were killed. Mandela also raised funds for MK abroad, and arranged for paramilitary training, visiting various African governments.

Mandela explains the move to embark on armed struggle as a last resort, when increasing repression and violence from the state convinced him that many years of non-violent protest against apartheid had achieved nothing and could not succeed.[6][2]

Mandela later admitted that the ANC, in its struggle against apartheid, also violated human rights, and has sharply criticised attempts by parts of his party to remove statements supporting this fact from the reports of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.[7]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
I can see why the Bush regime would label him a terrorist - he was crucial in bringing democracy to South Africa, after all. The last thing Bush wants in the US is a functioning democracy...

So now we've labeled Mandela a terrorist, and we managed to stop the guy who wrote "Peace Train" from getting into the country. I feel soooooo much safer today.

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Originally posted by Tankobite:
Godwin's law FTL. Second post?

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Originally posted by Hero:

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
I can see why the Bush regime would label him a terrorist - he was crucial in bringing democracy to South Africa, after all. The last thing Bush wants in the US is a functioning democracy...

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If by Bush regime you mean George W. Bush, then you are wrong. If you instead mean Jimmy Carter, George HW Bush, and Bill Clinton...then you are correct.

The African National Congress was labled a terrorist group in the late 1970s. Mandella was released in 1990 and elected President in 1994. In between all that Reagan orchestrated a policy that isolated South Africa and brought down their racist government. So to recap, Carter labled him a terrorist and George Bush (41) didn't clear it up when he got out of jail and Clinton (42) deliberately chose to ignore the distinction when he was elected President (after all...the Clinton's would never want to see a black man in a high office).

Since President Bush has done so much for Africa, especially compared to the prior administration, I suspect that this situation can be easily corrected. In fact Condi seems to be on top of making sure that this has little or no effect on the free travel of South Africans to and from the United States.

H

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Originally posted by Fletch2:
In 1986 I signed a petition but I still haven't received my free Nelson Mandela...

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"This is a country with which we now have excellent relations, South Africa, but it's frankly a rather embarrassing matter that I still have to waive in my own counterpart, the foreign minister of South Africa, not to mention the great leader Nelson Mandela," Rice said .

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