Zimbabwe Violence Bears British Counterinsurgency Stamp

June 23 (EIRNS)—An African military intelligence source told EIR today that the brutality and professional nature of the killings and violence during the period running up to the June 27 run-off election in Zimbabwe were just like the British special-forces counterinsurgency operations that were used against the freedom fighters in Zimbabwe before independence. That force in Zimbabwe, known as the Selous Scouts, during the independence struggle, was a more advanced form of what the British had deployed in Kenya, and Malaya (today, Malaysia) before that, in the respective fights of those two countries for independence from the British.

During the present Zimbabwe election period, the killings and violence have targetted members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) opposition, who then blame the government, and then the Anglo-Dutch controlled media raise a hue and cry about what they call the government's use of violence to influence the election. British-trained SAS special forces are still active in Africa. In the 1990s, EIR exposed the fact that this type of force was clandestinely operating out of the huge game reserves the British have set up in Africa, where these forces couldn't be observed because the reserves are restricted, ostensibly in the interest of protecting the wildlife from poaching.

Military observers, who suspect that such a force has been deployed into the Zimbabwe run-off election, are reminded of the role of the Selous Scouts in Rhodesia, during the final phase of the independence struggle in the 1970s. The most feared counterinsurgency operation on the African continent, the Scouts were named after Frederick Courtney Selous, a hunter/explorer, and friend of Cecil Rhodes.

The Scouts were created in 1974 under the direction of Reid Daly, a Rhodesian-born, ex-British SAS serviceman who fought in the Malayan conflict. Their mission was to infiltrate the local population and the liberation networks in then Rhodesia, and neighboring countries. Those who volunteered for the Scouts underwent such a severe selection process, that only 15% made it. Daly's intention was to completely break a man in order to build him up again from scratch, according to the needs of the Scouts. They wore Warsaw Pact uniforms to pass themselves off as freedom fighters, tracked the freedom fighters and their supporters, and were reportedly responsible for 68% of all freedom-fighter deaths during the independence war, even though they only numbered between 700-1,000 fighters. Some 80% of the Scouts were African, a necessary requirement to be able to infiltrate the local populations, and the freedom fighters.

EIR spokesman Larry Freeman, on a live interview with Iranian Presstv today, pointed out that a Selous Scouts-type operation is possibly behind the violence in Zimbabwe.

British Empire Out To Destroy the Nation of Zimbabwe

June 17 (EIRNS)—British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is leading the effort to physically destroy Zimbabwe and drive its population of 12 million further into misery, in the event that President Robert Mugabe wins the run-off election on June 27 against MDC opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai. Brown, on behalf of the Brutish Empire, is organizing for a total economic blockade against Zimbabwe, including trying to force the South Africa government to cease supplying Zimbabwe with electrical power, if Tsvangirai, their wholly owned-candidate, loses to Mugabe.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, according to the June 16 Times-online, is also drawing up a range of options in case Mugabe refuses to go. The British are hoping to persuade Zimbabwe's neighbors to create an economic blockade. Vital imports have to come through Mozambique and South Africa. One way or another, this Summer is likely to mark the endgame of Robert Mugabe, one diplomat said.

The British are hoping to use the growing electrical power deficit in South Africa to manipulate the government led by President Mbeki, who has consistently countered British attacks on Zimbabwe, to restrict or turn off electrical power to Zimbabwe. The newly elected head of the ruling ANC, Jacob Zuma, unlike Mbeki, is sympathetic to British plans to carry out genocide against Zimbabwe.

Sanctions may include, reports the Times-online:

* a complete trade embargo and ban on purchase of goods

* action against Western companies maintaining a presence in Zimbabwe

* freezing all aid

* increased pressure on neighboring states to suspend Zimbabwe from the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

* pressure on China to break off its relationship with Zimbabwe.

U.S. Presidential candidate Barack Obama issued a statement on June 13, which indicates that he is prepared to march in lockstep with the British, accusing Mugabe of jeopardizing the future of Zimbabwe's children, and using food as weapon against his own people. In fact, it is the Western nations, led by Great Britain, under Labourites Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, who have carried out a systematic destruction of Zimbabwe's economy, especially by denying any assistance to hundreds of thousands of new black farmers, after they received the farmland previously held by the Rhodesian/British landowners.

Obama's statement raises the question of why he has such hatred for Africans, and loves the British so much?

Chissano Blasts Europe, U.S., Over Zimbabwe Sanctions

June 19 (EIRNS)—In an interview published yesterday in the German daily Suddeutsche Zeitung, former Mozambiquan President Joaquim Chissano blasted Europe, the United States, and their allies, for being obsessed with attacking Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, while ignoring the fact that the Zimbabwean population is suffering because the economy has been crippled by eight years of illegal sanctions.

In the interview, he said that heaping pressure on Mugabe's government could be counterproductive. He said that whatever happens in the run-off election is not as important as the need to rescue Zimbabwe's economy, which has been destroyed by the sanctions. "Change that is brought about by pressure does not last. Whenever pressure has been exerted on Zimbabwe, the situation has worsened," he stated.

Chissano's approach stands in stark contrast to that of Kenyan Prime Minister Odinga, who was recently in the United States, and was heaped with praise and aid. Odinga is calling for a Bosnia-style international peacekeeping force be sent to Zimbabwe. He appealed for American PPP (public-private partnerships) investments, and groveled, espousing "transparency, accountability and good governance" as policies that Africa should adopt.

Pro-globalist Odinga attained his position in the government after two months of post-election violence, which resulted in the death of nearly 2,000 people. But no one is asking for an investigation of his role in that violence.

British Fund 'Save the Trees' for the Congo Basin

June 18 (EIRNS)—In order to place the forests in the Congo Basin region of Africa off-limits to any activities not deemed "sustainable," the Congo Basin Forest Fund was established in London on June 17, with the UK providing the seed-grant of over $100 million. The partnership also involves the African Development Bank, the 10-member states of the Central African Forests Commission, and Norway. The fund, which is part of the implementation of the Congo Basin initiative, will seek to prevent the more than 50 million people living in the rainforest from having livelihoods that are not consistent with forest conservation, or violate "sustainable" forest management. Instead, such lunacy as eco-tourism will be promoted. It has been estimated that the region has the potential to generate enough electricity for the Southern African states.

Shell Shuts Down 10% of Nigerian Oil Production

June 19 (EIRNS)—The Anglo-Dutch oligarchy's Royal Dutch Shell Oil shut down production at Nigeria's main offshore oilfield today, following a reported armed attack. The move by Shell cuts Nigeria's total output by 10%. Attacks on Nigerian inland production in recent years had already led to a reduction of 20%, or more. Such attacks are used by the Anglo-Dutch financial cartel as a pretext for jacking up the price of oil further, to siphon off more liquidity as it attempts to keep its bankrupt monetary system afloat.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has taken responsibility for the attack on the state-of-the-art Bonga oil platform, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) off the coast of the Niger Delta, indicating that not even offshore oil fields at that great distance are safe from rebel attack. An attack at that distance requires very sophisticated equipment, and can't be pulled off by disgruntled rebels operating on their own. The Niger Delta, and the area offshore from it, is the location of Nigeria's oil production. The MEND, ostensibly responsible for attacks on oil production, says it is campaigning for a greater share of the oil wealth to remain in the region.