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- Birtukan's Sista Soljah Moment
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- Questions on Professor Mesfin’s Interview
- Ogaden Cries
- Here is Professor Mesfin's interview on the VOA. I...
- When Professor Mesfin Speaks, I listen
- Enset on the Future of Kinijit
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- Dagmawi's defense of HR 2003
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- David Blair on the Ogaden
- It is people-powered politics
- H.R.2003: Make your Voices Heard in the Media!
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- KInijit's delegation to meet the chairman
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- Can it go this low?
- Russ Feingold -the Name We Want to Know
- HR 2003
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- HR2003....The Real Final Push
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October
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17 comments:
I have never ever read for the last 10 years such simple, well written and summerised assessment of Ethiopian poltics reality. Wow what a wonderfull analysis. Welldone Dagmawi
Dagmawi is the Guru of Ethiopian bloggsphere. The message is very pwerful and well written. I live it when is is to the point.
EZ,
I think you have the eye for timely write-ups and pertinent observations. I concur with the above comments as well. Simple but effective analysis. Good job Dagmawi!
The main reason why the Ethiopian government and most peole don't like this bill and neither you nor Dagmawi fail to point out is 'who is behind this bill'. How is the progress going to be guaged? Donald Pain has shown time and again that he is not going to sleep before he overthrows Meles from power. So the question is, Who is the prosecuter, judge and jury? We are not going to succemb to outside forces.
If democracy was the motive, they would have introduced it to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and all these allies. If their excuse is that they give us aide, then how about these countries... who are getting billions and billions.
They can have their money but we keep our pride. Opposing Meles Zenawi is one thing but selling our soul is another.
One thing I admire Dagmawi is his ability to attract his audience. He attacked Elais Kifle (The cheif hate mongerer of all time) one day to attract people and posted his view on the next day. I have seen his pattern for several months now.
What a slick individual.
Please note: I admire his analysis and even though I don't agree with some of his points, He is still by far better.
anon 11:46AM
Very simple:
Saudi Arabia - Oil, AL Q
Egypt - Israel treaty, Al Q
Pakistan - Nuclear B, Taliban
Ethiopia - Meles is trying hard to be a anti -terrorist, but hard luck; the people of Ethiopia are friends with the US, so no interest.
Annon Woyane 11:46,
The problem you are unwilling to accept and which will haunt Woyane for ever is that Woyane does not and will not succeed (even with its PDOs) to genuinly represent 95 percent of the Ethiopian population. As a result everything it does will always go against the wishes of the rest of Ethiopians. People will continue either by force or peacefully to fight Woyane since democracy can never be achieved under this regime. The best thing is for Woyane to go and be replaced by a government of the majority as reflected in free and fair elections, an item that Woyane can never be able to deliver by its very nature, or eventually through violence, which as you may notice is creeping from all directions as each day passes.
anon 11:46AM
Why the government doesn’t like this bill is obvious, but you are making a sweeping statement when you say most people don’t like the bill because of the people behind it. Speaking of which, it is interesting to note that in 2003 Donald Payne was the principal sponsor of HR 2760: a bill that sought to impose sanctions on Ethiopia and Eritrea if either fails to implement the Algiers agreement. The inclusion of Eritrea was really a cloak to make it appear that the bill was fair. At any rate, Payne was vilified at the time for being in the pockets of the Eritrean lobby. A year or so later he was invited to Ethiopia and came back somewhat sympathetic to EPRDF. Supporters of EPRDF were jubilant to have Payne, but of course he was attacked by others as a Woyanne sympathizer. Now he has championed the cause of democracy in HR 2003. This shows his support is not blind for which he deserves a lot of credit. The author of the bill, Chris Smith has hardly any Ethiopian constituency in his district. But as a member and once chair of the Sub Committee on Africa, the man is on top of his duty. Now it would be practical for this republican to cow-tow the party line and fight the bill on the ground that it hurts US national security interest in the Horn, but he sees the Meles’ spin machine for what it is. I think it is a breath of fresh air to see some members of congress practice the principle of democracy and freedom we hear ad-nauseam about in America. Thus if people are against the bill, I doubt it has anything to do with those principled individuals, but everything to do with unmasking Meles in the court of public opinion for what he really is. A modern Ethiopian tyrant wanna-be democrat . . . And it is driving Aiga CRRazy.
God bless you Dagmawi. Oh How I wish god has given a slice of your brain to Meles & co.
I have so much respect for Dagmawi.
He does not write as often but when he writes it like a gem. He is very analytical, logical and self assured.
I have learned a lot from Dagmawi's writings. Thank you
Dagmawi is one of the few bloggers I respect. He is sincere and has the courage to take on both the Ethiopian government and some of extreme elements in the Dispora.
However, his piece on HR 2003, while well-articulated, overlooked a key consideration. It is ill-timed.
I believe that HR 2003 is ill-timed by the mere fact that Congress was pushed to pass this motion soon after the government released the leaders of the opposition and other 17,000 prisoners. When we campaigned to end the unjust imprisonment of the opposition leaders, we should also recognize their release (and many others)as a positive step. We can't act as if there has not been any development in the last few months.
The actions of the supporters of this motion shows that many of the leaders of the diaspora are not interesting in finding a solution to the political impasse in Ethiopia. By snubbing the government's gesture (however belated it is) they have chosen to resume and possibly escalate the political crisis that has engulfed Ethiopia in the past two years. It takes courage to sit down with your enemy and find a way of out an impasse. It takes wisdom to take advantage of a political opening.
If Ethiopians are to get out of the mess they are in, the government and the opposition have to talk to each other. The theatrics around HR 2003 only strengthens the extremists in both the government and the opposition.
anon 6:26pm
What many people don't understand is that how does one appreciate being liberated by one that should have never imprisoned you in the first place. I imprison you when I like is not a nice game. Hopefully the future will be more productive. At the end, a transparent democracy hopefully will prevail. There is far less that separates the people, if not the political leaders.
I agree with fellow commentators that Dagmawi’s analyses of TPLF/EPRDF reaction to HR 2003 is well written and factually true.
I agree with Dagmawi in his “Evolutionary Anthropological Perspective” that chimpanzees behave to maximize, like selfish economists rather than as social reciprocators (Chimpanzee are rational maximizers in an ultimatum game, Science, October 5, 2007).
However, I think Dagmawi had made an error of reasoning of hasty generalization. He assumed that since human are animals then they are rational maximizers like the chimpanzees.
Premise 1: Chimpanzees are rational maximizers and animal
Premise 2: Humans are animal
Erroneous Conclusion: Humans are rational maximizer
I believe, unlike chimpanzees humans do show a willingness to make fair offers and rejects unfair ones. Humans generally placed a huge emphasis on equity in deal brokering.
I think by not giving the Ethiopian people fair offers and placed no emphasis on equity TPLF/EPRDF behaved like a chimpanzees.
It is natural that the Ethiopia people rejected TPLF’s unfair offers. Humans are uniquely sensitive to unfair offers and are willing to pay a cost to punish someone who is unfair.
swdu
Dear Dagmawi, my hat is off for your wonderful views and analysis. You have made your point and touched my heart. Thank you for stating the facts that help me understand HR2003 better. This settles the dust created by Ambassador Samuel and Benyam Kebede (Ben) of 'Ethiopia first' better known as "Woyane first". I want to see Democracy and freedom taking root in my country and I whole heartedly believe HR2003 is the best gift America has ever given to Ethiopia. I pray God help President Bush to prove his stance for freedom and democracy by approving this bill. 70 million Ethiopians support this bill.
Thank you Dagmawi for the well written article. Furthermore, the "silent majority" is speaking and speaking loud. Again, thank you for voicing out this thoughtful article.
Torontonian
Dagmawi,
Thank you for speaking my mind!
I had made the same arguments but lacked the pen that you have!
Well articulated!
What Dagmawi wrote is the truth and nothing but the truth. I am over satisfied with the way Dagmawi put it. The light prevails over the darkness. Darkness can not with stand the light. Keep shading light. I want to copy and distribute your article with HR2003 to the people around me. At home we will have to do it underground for obvious reasons. Thank you Dagmawi and so many others who have been vocal on this issue.
Dagmawi hits the nail on the head as usual. I wish you (Dagm) were the Ethipian ambassador in DC.
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