Kevin J Kelley
23 September 2009
Several African leaders briefed President Barack Obama about their countries' needs at a luncheon on Tuesday from which Kenya was excluded. Prime Minister Raila Odinga was initially invited to attend the event at New York's posh Waldorf Astoria Hotel, but was subsequently disinvited by the US State Department.
The heads of State of two of Kenya's East African partners -- Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Paul Kagame of Rwanda -- led discussions at the private two-hour meeting attended by the leaders of two dozen countries.
An unnamed US policymaker told Allafrica.com that the reversal on Mr Odinga's attendance was due to "an embarrassing error by an overzealous official." Officials at the United States UN Mission in New York declined to give an explanation of what had happened.
It also appears that the Obama administration is deliberately keeping its distance from the PM and other Kenyan ministers. On Monday, US ambassador Michael Ranneberger warned that Washington intended to impose "smart sanctions" on Kenyan leaders.
Contrary to reports in some of the Kenyan media, Mr Obama was not scheduled to attend a Bill Clinton-sponsored dinner, which Mr Odinga attended. The US president and First Lady Michelle Obama were instead due to host a reception for the world leaders who were in New York for the opening sessions of the UN General Assembly.
At Tuesday's luncheon, many of the Africans extended "very lovely invitations" for Mr Obama to visit their respective countries, a White House official told reporters following the event.
"I'm sure he would be delighted to take them up on at some point. But there was no specific announcement of any next trip," said Michelle Gavin, the White House senior director for African affairs. She said that President Obama spoke "very briefly, emphasising that he wanted to take this opportunity to listen."
The Africans' presentations were initiated by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia. President Kagame, whose country was recently named the world's top reformer in a World Bank business report, then introduced a discussion on trade and investment in Africa.
President Kikwete led the final round of discussions. Participants also commented on Mr Obama's $3.5 billion food security initiative aimed at helping countries such as Kenya develop their farming sectors . In his opening remarks, Mr Obama "stressed the importance of addressing corruption head-on," Ms Gavin said at the Tuesday briefing.
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Why waste your time with America? Is it today that America is aware of Africa's problems? Africa's problems are largely caused by America's double standard policies. They preach democcracy but sponsor dictatorship on the African continent. Africa turn to China and listen to China and in twinkle of an eye you'll be the envy of the west.
I .BEWARE OF THE TOWER BUILDERS
A. THE TOWER BUILDERS ??? 1. Look at the story of Nimrod and his one world crew in Genesis 11: 1-8. Nimrod was a builder of cities and a mighty hunter . He was well-known for his feats and apparently could attract a lot of people to him. He must have been extremely- charismatic. Nimrod and the people acted completely as one body. There goal was to reach Heaven via building a tower; sort of like the space programs ( known & secret ). God delayed their goals by mixing up their language so they could not understand each other. Daniel 8:10 mentions what I believe to be a reference to the Nimrod of the last days (led by D-Evil) .This verse may also be referring to the space program as one of the Towers of Babel being used to attack the Kingdom of Heaven . 2. Beware o 3. 4. f any attempts by man to unite the world as one ; for the good of all. 5. 6. Here are two examples that come to mind : Simulcasting of the song We Are The World . I believe the actual tragedy of starving Ethiopians , coupled with our common love of music was used to get the world to thinking that we can save ourselves. This was followed by mini-movements like Hands-Across America and other movements ; which I believe were trying to get us to thinking like those people were thinking when Nimrod proposed that they build a Tower to Heaven. 3.
Beware The Tower Builders ! God is Our Refuge ! Our Tower !
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WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
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Shameless Mugabe decided anyway to travel to N. York in spite of the fact that Obama is disregarding his presence there!
Prem; here we go again! Do you really know yourself? My question is this; Isn't President Mogabe has black as you? If you hate your own race, that means you do not like yourself. How long should history repeat itself before you start realizing the realities? HOW LONG.........? Germany is part of EU, but Germany has already taking the first steps to practically do business with Zimbabwe; likewise in those days, they "Germans" will do whatever fits and necessary for them to do in our belove continent. If we "Africans" allow they Europeans to do whatever fit for them without our basic concerns, needs, developments, wants, roads etc in strong binder; they will physically, mentally and emotionally destroy Africa!!! With all the centuries go by; what good have the Europeans actually done in Africa??? Point incase, the incident that happen in Ivory Coast by one British Company; if Ivory Coast didn't have intelligent people to prove that devastating carneige, don't you think the Bristish and her company would have totally deniel it and let the Ivorians suffer to their deaths. Is this the way you want to see you people leave?? You ara a disgrace and a shame to all Africans!!!! That's why we "Africans" need to seize our future and build it for ourselves as they ways fit!!!! May God Bless Africa!! And, one more thing Prem, stop hating your people; work with them!!!
African countries should work more closely with Asian countries to build their economies than with the west. My reason is that western economies can't help African economies much better than Chinese or Indian economies. The Asian economic approach is so practical for Africa to copy than skipping rungs to learn from the west what can't be applicable on their continent. Even right now, western approaches are not completely successful in Asian economies which are topping the world today. The west is also learning from Asia. So Africa should cooperate economically more with China, India, Singapore and Malaysia. All the west can do is to throw a few dollars at African economic problems. They have no clue as to how to help Africa devise sustainable solutions to their economic problems. Their own own economies are freezing.
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Active Discussions: Obama Meets African Leaders in New York