Deep Throat deep sixes Media Coverage of Mbeki’s Meeting with Bush

Washington is still abuzz with the revelation of the identity of Deep Throat. And, the idle chatter is not limited to the salons of Georgetown or the offices along K Street. After all, even TV and print journalists seem tethered to an obsessive exploration of this entirely inconsequential story.

Regrettably, now few people outside of Washington will ever know that yesterday President Bush held talks with South African President Thabo Mbeki on the grave matters of genocide, poverty and HIV/AIDS throughout the African continent. Because during their joint press conference, the cosmopolitan White House press corps committed a journalistic and diplomatic faux pas by focusing on Deep Throat whilst virtually ignoring these critical issues that were clearly uppermost on Mbeki’s agenda.

Nevertheless, a deep White House source familiar with their private talks shared a few consequential points that are worth mentioning:

It seems Bush had a few bones to pick with Mbeki. Because he started off by proclaiming that – notwithstanding his “compassion agenda” – he will not countenance giving US aid to countries in Africa that have not implemented democratic reforms and transparent accounting protocols to his satisfaction. He cited Zimbabwe as justification for this proclamation and dismissed Mbeki’s compassionate entreaties on behalf of his neighbours who are dying from hunger and starvation, and suffering horrific political oppression under the iron-fisted government of Robert Mugabe.

Bush also took the opportunity to remind Mbeki of his 9/11 pledge that “you are either with us or against us”. And, accordingly, expressed his disappointment over South Africa’s defiant and vituperative opposition to his war in Iraq, support of President Aristide’s continued rule in Haiti and acquiescence with North Korea’s use of South Africa as a forum to chastise the United States for not succumbing to its nuclear blackmail.

Bush listening to Mbeki and thinking: Being lectured to by that saintly Mandela is one thing, but I’ll be damned if I’m gonna be lectured to on democracy by this unrepentant African commie as well!

For his part, Mbeki responded by proclaiming that he stands for the proposition that African problems should be solved by Africans. He acknowledged the systemic corruption (abetted by US and other western governments and corporate agents) that has impeded the sustainable development of many countries on the continent. But he also cited the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) initiatives that African governments are implementing to institutionalize good governance and provide the transparency that are conditions precedent to stir Bush’s compassion and release US aid.

Nevertheless, he counseled Bush – ever so diplomatically – to appreciate that the problems in Africa are not exclusively African. And, that it behooves the US and other governments to render whatever technical, logistical and financial assistance they can before genocide, poverty and HIV/AIDS compel migration of these problems and desperate Africans to European and American boarders on a scale unprecedented in modern times: A prospect that invariably prompts defensive action in the rich capitals of the world.

Finally, concerning Bush’s edict that all democratic countries fall in line behind his war in Iraq, Mbeki politely reminded him of South Africa’s long struggle for independence and his preference for diplomacy over preemptive war no matter how tyrannical or odious his political foe.

Oh to have been present to see the vexed contortions on Bush’s face as Mbeki finessed his veiled threats against South Africa for failing to do his bidding into a lecture on the principles of national sovereignty and the unconditional demands of true human compassion…. Amen, brother!

(Query how much compassion Mbeki will show his terminally compromised VP Jacob Zuma whose financial dealings threaten to betray the integrity and tranparency of his own government. Stay tuned…)

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