ETHIOPIA – USA ALLIANCE STRATEGY TO FIGHT FUNDAMENTALISM & TERRORISM
September 14, 2001
1. INTRODUCTION
- What happened to the American people on the Ethiopian New Year, September 11, 2001, has compelled me to write the following short analysis, which I believe could be used as a crude input for the Ethiopia and the USA government strategists.
- Fundamentalism & terrorism are a threat to humanity and to any peace-loving country.
- Hence, the effective & efficient way of neutralizing fundamentalism & fighting terrorism is through creation of global and regional alliances.
- Fundamentalists use terrorism as a military tool towards their objective of achieving political, ideological, and economic supremacy, globally. They use religion as a sweetener to facilitate expansion of their ideology and to justify and hide their hidden agenda.
- The determinant battle to defeat fundamentalists should be done in the mind of people, both at individual and society level.
- While post cold war African countries have been encouraged (at times coerced) by the Western countries to democratize, using IMF & World Bank pre-conditions, the prevailing fact in the Arab world is that undemocratic governments have been tolerated to stay lifetime, and even to inherit their throne to their children.
- The U.S.A. has been using a strategy of isolation of some rogue states. I do not believe that has been effective enough, for the following reasons:
• Isolated states have become unchecked fertile ground to ferment and expand fundamentalism.
• Helped fundamentalists to justify their ideology and terrorist actions. That means it gave them the moral ground for their propaganda.
• People of isolated countries develop hatred and mistrust towards the civilized world (generates more enemies).
• Promoted illegal international business (smuggling). This has benefited terrorists to get finance.
• E.t.c
- It was possible to defeat the communist ideology through the capitalist ideology and the battle was done in the peoples’ mind, without the need of nuclear armaments of the then superpowers (U.S.A. & USSR). Similarly, it is my strong belief that the fundamentalist ideology will be defeated through effective and efficient diffusion of secular and democratic ideology, to the Arab world.
- Therefore, the huge outstanding and over-due task for USA and the peace-loving world is to facilitate and intensify the rapid diffusion of secular and democratic ideology into the Arab world.
- However, as it is mentioned earlier, terrorism is the fundamentalists’ military strategy to achieve their objectives.
- Therefore, there is a need for a military strategy and actions at various levels to defeat fundamentalism at the physical battlefield.
The objective of this report is to analyze the significance of creating strategic alliance between Ethiopia and U.S.A. in the global battle against fundamentalist ideology and terrorism.
2. ANALYSIS
- Ethiopia is one of the origins of old civilizations with rich history. In fact Ethiopia is the first country in the world to declare Christianity as a state religion, in the 4th Cent ( AD). It also assisted the Mohammed during the persecution of his followers.
- The two main religions of the world, Christianity and Islam have been co-existing, in Ethiopia, peacefully for years. This can be used as a model for other countries (Africa/Arab-world/India, etc) to neutralize fundamentalism.
- Historically, Ethiopian people have been considering the civilized world as their alliance partners as they share similar life values. Even though, this was not understood and reciprocated by the civilized world, except in few cases.
- Ethiopians have a successful history of defending their country and independence against various invaders including colonialists and fundamentalists.
- Ethiopians are serious, cultured, disciplined, hard working and dependable which make them attractive for strategic alliance.
- Ethiopians value partnership based on mutual respect, mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence.
- Ethiopia has more than 60 million , growing and young population. About one person among seven black Africans is an Ethiopian. Over ½ million Ethiopians/Americans of Ethiopian origin also live in the USA.
- Ethiopia is currently a secular, democratized and federalized country, even though its democracy is at its infant stage. This can also be used as a model in other countries (Africa/Arab- world).
- Ethiopia has recently built a formidable and disciplined army which can utilize integrated infantry (including gorilla fighting), mechanized and airforce in a very difficult terrain. I believe the U.S.A. could learn from Ethiopian’s experience to fight terrorists at their hiding place.
- Ethiopia is the source of the Blue Nile that contributes about 85% of the water (by volume) to the River Nile. Egypt and Sudan’s life largely depends on the water from Nile. This has made Ethiopia a strategically important country to both Egypt and Sudan. History has revealed that both countries have been suspicious on Ethiopia and have been historically, direct or behind the scene, destabilizing factors of Ethiopia.
- Fundamentalists have been targeting Sudan & Egypt as their base for long time. There is a risk that they could get upper hand, any time in the future, in these countries.
- If fundamentalists control both Egypt and Sudan that will give them a strong strategic foothold to rapidly expand their ideology and terrorism to Africa and the rest of the world.
- Libya could also be an easy ally to fundamentalists and its growing role in Africa may facilitate expansion of fundamentalism.
- Fundamentalists have been trying to destabilize secular and democratized Ethiopia as they consider it their immediate barrier and enemy in their vision of globalizing their ideology and supremacy. They have been also trying to expand their ideology in Ethiopia through various means, especially exploiting economic problems in Ethiopia (poverty).
- The fundamentalists, if successful in destabilizing Ethiopia or control Ethiopia, will eliminate their historical major obstacle in Africa and Middle East. At the same time, they will secure 100% control of the Nile River to their future strategic foot- holds (Sudan & Egypt).
- Fundamentalism is a common threat for both U.S.A. & Ethiopia. Hence, both can establish a strong strategic alliance:
• To fight fundamentalist ideology in Africa and Middle East through joint promotion and facilitation of democratic and secular ideology.
• To fight terrorism in the battle field at its source.
- It is expected that Ethiopia and U.S.A. governments recognize the need for strategic alliance.
- Through the alliance U.S.A. can assist Ethiopia to advance economically, technologically and to build its military to counter-balance Egypt’s military strength.
- The U.S.A. could also support Ethiopia’s effort to utilize its water resources. Dams (reservoirs) can be built over the Nile River without jeopardizing the equitable share of Sudan & Egypt.
- The construction of dam over the Nile could be used as a psychological tool to control any threat of fundamentalists, both in Sudan and Egypt (including any threat on the Suez Canal). Ethiopia & U.S.A. could also leverage their negotiation power using the dam to facilitate rapid democratization and secularization of Egypt and Sudan.
- Apart from the psychological threat to Sudan & Egypt, both countries (Sudan & Egypt) will benefit from the construction of dams (reservoirs) along the Blue Nile, in the highlands of Ethiopia, for the following reasons:
• It will minimize/avoid risks of flooding in Sudan and Egypt.
• Assures continuous and constant flow of water to both countries, irrespective of irregularity of rainfall in Ethiopia.
• Prolongs the life of dams built in Sudan & Egypt as it reduces accumulation of silt.
- Ethiopia could also use the water:
• Towards its objective of securing self-sufficiency in food through irrigation.
• To generate huge amount of environmentally friendly and sustainable source of electrical energy. This power could be exported to parts of Africa (East, Central and North Africa), Middle East and Europe.
- The export of electrical power to North Africa and Middle East will further strengthen the economic interdependence of these countries with Ethiopia. This could facilitate the sustainable diffusion of secular and democratic ideology into those countries.
- U.S.A. companies could also be the main investors and beneficiaries of the huge potential for hydroelectric power industry in Ethiopia.
- If Ethiopia develops economically, its historical reputation in Africa and being the de-facto capital city of African Union will enable it to be a model for African democratization, federalization, and economic development. These will speed-up the integration of Africa into the world economy. This will create huge new market development opportunities for U.S.A. and other developed countries’ companies.
- An economically advanced Ethiopia will have a critical mass to stabilize the whole Horn of Africa and to play a determinant role, in the fight against the expansion of fundamentalism in Africa and in the Arab world. Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia could be attracted to be part of strong, democratized and federalized Ethiopia or Ethiopia could assist these countries to establish secularized and democratized governments.
3. CONCLUSION
- Fundamentalism and terrorism are main threats for Ethiopia and U.S.A.
- The need to rapidly diffuse secular and democratic ideology into the Arab world to effectively deal with fundamentalism and terrorism.
- Isolation of rogue states could be a fertile ground for the expansion of fundamentalism and terrorism.
- There is a synergy for strategic alliance between Ethiopia and U.S.A. to jointly neutralize the threats of fundamentalism.
• Ethiopia is a secularized, democratized, and federalized country which is located at the heart of the Arab world, which makes it ideal strategic partner to U.S.A. to rapidly diffuse secular and democratized ideology in the region.
• Ethiopia is a model of peaceful co-existence between Christianity and Islam (63% Christians & 37% Moslems).
• Ethiopia could be a model of economic development and stability in Africa and could facilitate the rapid transformation of Africa and its integration to the globalized world.
• If economic interdependence between Ethiopia and Sudan, Egypt, North Africa and Middle East is established through different means such as interdependence in the usage of water from the Blue Nile & hydroelectric energy, it could facilitate the rapid diffusion of secular and democratic ideologies to those countries/regions.
• Ethiopia’s military distinctive capability could also be used against terrorism and other threats of instability in the region.
- In general, the new post-cold war world order has made Ethiopia a determinant strategic ally for the U.S.A.
4. RECOMMENDATIONS
- Isolation of rogue states is not a proper strategy, instead liquidate rogue governments and neutralize fundamentalist ideologies through rapid diffusion of secular and democratic ideology.
- It is recommended that both governments initiate detailed research, on the possible strategic alliance between Ethiopia and U.S.A., to define clear objectives and strategies of the alliance.
- The post cold war New World order has made Ethiopia a determinant strategic ally for U.S.A. to fight fundamentalism. Hence, it is recommended that U.S.A recognize this for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
-
Axumezana
- Senior Member
- Posts: 13450
- Joined: 27 Jan 2020, 23:15
-
Axumezana
- Senior Member
- Posts: 13450
- Joined: 27 Jan 2020, 23:15
Re: 21 years old article that recommended the construction of dam on the Abay river to contain the threat of fundamental
Axumezana wrote: ↑24 Feb 2022, 02:05ETHIOPIA – USA ALLIANCE STRATEGY TO FIGHT FUNDAMENTALISM & TERRORISM
September 14, 2001
1. INTRODUCTION
- What happened to the American people on the Ethiopian New Year, September 11, 2001, has compelled me to write the following short analysis, which I believe could be used as a crude input for the Ethiopia and the USA government strategists.
- Fundamentalism & terrorism are a threat to humanity and to any peace-loving country.
- Hence, the effective & efficient way of neutralizing fundamentalism & fighting terrorism is through creation of global and regional alliances.
- Fundamentalists use terrorism as a military tool towards their objective of achieving political, ideological, and economic supremacy, globally. They use religion as a sweetener to facilitate expansion of their ideology and to justify and hide their hidden agenda.
- The determinant battle to defeat fundamentalists should be done in the mind of people, both at individual and society level.
- While post cold war African countries have been encouraged (at times coerced) by the Western countries to democratize, using IMF & World Bank pre-conditions, the prevailing fact in the Arab world is that undemocratic governments have been tolerated to stay lifetime, and even to inherit their throne to their children.
- The U.S.A. has been using a strategy of isolation of some rogue states. I do not believe that has been effective enough, for the following reasons:
• Isolated states have become unchecked fertile ground to ferment and expand fundamentalism.
• Helped fundamentalists to justify their ideology and terrorist actions. That means it gave them the moral ground for their propaganda.
• People of isolated countries develop hatred and mistrust towards the civilized world (generates more enemies).
• Promoted illegal international business (smuggling). This has benefited terrorists to get finance.
• E.t.c
- It was possible to defeat the communist ideology through the capitalist ideology and the battle was done in the peoples’ mind, without the need of nuclear armaments of the then superpowers (U.S.A. & USSR). Similarly, it is my strong belief that the fundamentalist ideology will be defeated through effective and efficient diffusion of secular and democratic ideology, to the Arab world.
- Therefore, the huge outstanding and over-due task for USA and the peace-loving world is to facilitate and intensify the rapid diffusion of secular and democratic ideology into the Arab world.
- However, as it is mentioned earlier, terrorism is the fundamentalists’ military strategy to achieve their objectives.
- Therefore, there is a need for a military strategy and actions at various levels to defeat fundamentalism at the physical battlefield.
The objective of this report is to analyze the significance of creating strategic alliance between Ethiopia and U.S.A. in the global battle against fundamentalist ideology and terrorism.
2. ANALYSIS
- Ethiopia is one of the origins of old civilizations with rich history. In fact Ethiopia is the first country in the world to declare Christianity as a state religion, in the 4th Cent ( AD). It also assisted the Mohammed during the persecution of his followers.
- The two main religions of the world, Christianity and Islam have been co-existing, in Ethiopia, peacefully for years. This can be used as a model for other countries (Africa/Arab-world/India, etc) to neutralize fundamentalism.
- Historically, Ethiopian people have been considering the civilized world as their alliance partners as they share similar life values. Even though, this was not understood and reciprocated by the civilized world, except in few cases.
- Ethiopians have a successful history of defending their country and independence against various invaders including colonialists and fundamentalists.
- Ethiopians are serious, cultured, disciplined, hard working and dependable which make them attractive for strategic alliance.
- Ethiopians value partnership based on mutual respect, mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence.
- Ethiopia has more than 60 million , growing and young population. About one person among seven black Africans is an Ethiopian. Over ½ million Ethiopians/Americans of Ethiopian origin also live in the USA.
- Ethiopia is currently a secular, democratized and federalized country, even though its democracy is at its infant stage. This can also be used as a model in other countries (Africa/Arab- world).
- Ethiopia has recently built a formidable and disciplined army which can utilize integrated infantry (including gorilla fighting), mechanized and airforce in a very difficult terrain. I believe the U.S.A. could learn from Ethiopian’s experience to fight terrorists at their hiding place.
- Ethiopia is the source of the Blue Nile that contributes about 85% of the water (by volume) to the River Nile. Egypt and Sudan’s life largely depends on the water from Nile. This has made Ethiopia a strategically important country to both Egypt and Sudan. History has revealed that both countries have been suspicious on Ethiopia and have been historically, direct or behind the scene, destabilizing factors of Ethiopia.
- Fundamentalists have been targeting Sudan & Egypt as their base for long time. There is a risk that they could get upper hand, any time in the future, in these countries.
- If fundamentalists control both Egypt and Sudan that will give them a strong strategic foothold to rapidly expand their ideology and terrorism to Africa and the rest of the world.
- Libya could also be an easy ally to fundamentalists and its growing role in Africa may facilitate expansion of fundamentalism.
- Fundamentalists have been trying to destabilize secular and democratized Ethiopia as they consider it their immediate barrier and enemy in their vision of globalizing their ideology and supremacy. They have been also trying to expand their ideology in Ethiopia through various means, especially exploiting economic problems in Ethiopia (poverty).
- The fundamentalists, if successful in destabilizing Ethiopia or control Ethiopia, will eliminate their historical major obstacle in Africa and Middle East. At the same time, they will secure 100% control of the Nile River to their future strategic foot- holds (Sudan & Egypt).
- Fundamentalism is a common threat for both U.S.A. & Ethiopia. Hence, both can establish a strong strategic alliance:
• To fight fundamentalist ideology in Africa and Middle East through joint promotion and facilitation of democratic and secular ideology.
• To fight terrorism in the battle field at its source.
- It is expected that Ethiopia and U.S.A. governments recognize the need for strategic alliance.
- Through the alliance U.S.A. can assist Ethiopia to advance economically, technologically and to build its military to counter-balance Egypt’s military strength.
- The U.S.A. could also support Ethiopia’s effort to utilize its water resources. Dams (reservoirs) can be built over the Nile River without jeopardizing the equitable share of Sudan & Egypt.
- The construction of dam over the Nile could be used as a psychological tool to control any threat of fundamentalists, both in Sudan and Egypt (including any threat on the Suez Canal). Ethiopia & U.S.A. could also leverage their negotiation power using the dam to facilitate rapid democratization and secularization of Egypt and Sudan.
- Apart from the psychological threat to Sudan & Egypt, both countries (Sudan & Egypt) will benefit from the construction of dams (reservoirs) along the Blue Nile, in the highlands of Ethiopia, for the following reasons:
• It will minimize/avoid risks of flooding in Sudan and Egypt.
• Assures continuous and constant flow of water to both countries, irrespective of irregularity of rainfall in Ethiopia.
• Prolongs the life of dams built in Sudan & Egypt as it reduces accumulation of silt.
- Ethiopia could also use the water:
• Towards its objective of securing self-sufficiency in food through irrigation.
• To generate huge amount of environmentally friendly and sustainable source of electrical energy. This power could be exported to parts of Africa (East, Central and North Africa), Middle East and Europe.
- The export of electrical power to North Africa and Middle East will further strengthen the economic interdependence of these countries with Ethiopia. This could facilitate the sustainable diffusion of secular and democratic ideology into those countries.
- U.S.A. companies could also be the main investors and beneficiaries of the huge potential for hydroelectric power industry in Ethiopia.
- If Ethiopia develops economically, its historical reputation in Africa and being the de-facto capital city of African Union will enable it to be a model for African democratization, federalization, and economic development. These will speed-up the integration of Africa into the world economy. This will create huge new market development opportunities for U.S.A. and other developed countries’ companies.
- An economically advanced Ethiopia will have a critical mass to stabilize the whole Horn of Africa and to play a determinant role, in the fight against the expansion of fundamentalism in Africa and in the Arab world. Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia could be attracted to be part of strong, democratized and federalized Ethiopia or Ethiopia could assist these countries to establish secularized and democratized governments.
3. CONCLUSION
- Fundamentalism and terrorism are main threats for Ethiopia and U.S.A.
- The need to rapidly diffuse secular and democratic ideology into the Arab world to effectively deal with fundamentalism and terrorism.
- Isolation of rogue states could be a fertile ground for the expansion of fundamentalism and terrorism.
- There is a synergy for strategic alliance between Ethiopia and U.S.A. to jointly neutralize the threats of fundamentalism.
• Ethiopia is a secularized, democratized, and federalized country which is located at the heart of the Arab world, which makes it ideal strategic partner to U.S.A. to rapidly diffuse secular and democratized ideology in the region.
• Ethiopia is a model of peaceful co-existence between Christianity and Islam (63% Christians & 37% Moslems).
• Ethiopia could be a model of economic development and stability in Africa and could facilitate the rapid transformation of Africa and its integration to the globalized world.
• If economic interdependence between Ethiopia and Sudan, Egypt, North Africa and Middle East is established through different means such as interdependence in the usage of water from the Blue Nile & hydroelectric energy, it could facilitate the rapid diffusion of secular and democratic ideologies to those countries/regions.
• Ethiopia’s military distinctive capability could also be used against terrorism and other threats of instability in the region.
- In general, the new post-cold war world order has made Ethiopia a determinant strategic ally for the U.S.A.
4. RECOMMENDATIONS
- Isolation of rogue states is not a proper strategy, instead liquidate rogue governments and neutralize fundamentalist ideologies through rapid diffusion of secular and democratic ideology.
- It is recommended that both governments initiate detailed research, on the possible strategic alliance between Ethiopia and U.S.A., to define clear objectives and strategies of the alliance.
- The post cold war New World order has made Ethiopia a determinant strategic ally for U.S.A. to fight fundamentalism. Hence, it is recommended that U.S.A recognize this for the mutual benefit of the two countries.