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I received this from a friend of mine. Please read.
Oh and as to the question whats the real reason for the visit. Well its OIL. The US is trying to diversify who its gets its supply from the Middle East is not stable enough to continue to depend on them so much for the US supply esp with the threat of terriorism in that region so the Us must look to other countries and right now in West Africa their is a huge supply of OIL. and of course lets not forget about those diamonds. But Bush is a oil man through and through.

----- Original Message -----
From: codoubop
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 8:44 PM
Subject: Bush's visit to Senegal
Dearest friends,
As you probably know, this week George Bush is visiting Africa. Starting
with Senegal, he arrived this morning at 7.20 PM and left at 1.30 PM. This
visit has been such an ordeal that a petition is being circulated for this
Tuesday July 8th be named Dependency Day.
Let me share with you what we have been trough since last week.
1- Arrestations : more than 1,500 persons have been arrested and put
in jail between Thursday and Monday. Hopefully they will be released now
that the Big Man is gone
2- The US Army's planes flying day and nigh over Dakar. The noise they
make is so loud that one hardly sleeps at night
3- About 700 security people from the US for Bush's security in
Senegal, with their dogs, and their cars. Senegalese security forces were
not allowed to come near the US president
4- All trees in places where Bush will pass have been cut. Some of
them have more than 100 years
5- All roads going down town (were hospitals, businesses, schools are
located) were closed from Monday night to Tuesday at 3 PM. This means that
we could not go to our offices or schools. Sick people were also obliged to
stay at home.
6- National exams for high schools that started on Monday are
postponed until Wednesday.
Bush's visit to the Goree Island is another story. As you may know Goree is
a small Island facing Dakar where from the 15th to the 19th century, the
African slaves to be shipped to America were parked in special houses called
slave houses. One of these houses has become a Museum to remind humanity
about this dark period and has been visited by kings, queens, presidents.
Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, and before them, Nelson Mandela, the
Pope, and many other distinguished guests or ordinary tourists visited it
without bothering the islanders. But for "security reasons" this time, the
local population was chased out of their houses from 5 to 12 AM. They were
forced by the American security to leave their houses and leaves everything
open, including their wardrobes to be searched by special dogs brought from
the US.
The ferry that links the island to Dakar was stopped and offices and
businesses closed for the day.
According to an economist who was interviewed by a private radio, Senegal
that is a very poor country has lost huge amount of money in this visit,
because workers have been prevented from walking out of their homes.
In addition to us being prevented to go out, other humiliating things
happened also. Not only Bush brought did not want to be with Senegalese but
he did not want to use our things. He brought his own armchairs, and of
course his own cars, and meals and drinks. He came with his own journalists
and ours were forbidden inside the airport and in place he was visiting.
Our president was not allowed to make a speech. Only Bush spoke when he was
in Goree. He spoke about slavery. It seems that he needs the vote of the
African American to be elected in the next elections, and wanted to please
them. That's why he visited Goree.
Several protest marches against American politics have been organized
yesterday and even when Bush was here, but we think he does not care.
We have the feeling that everything has been done to convince us that we are
nothing, and that America can behave the way it wants, everywhere, even in
our country.
Believe me friends, it is a terrible feeling. But according to a Ugandan
friend of mine, I should not complain because it Uganda one of the country
he is going to visit, Bush does not intend to go out of the airport. He will
receive the Ugandan President in the airport lounge.
Nevertheless, I think I am lucky, because I have such wonderful American
friends. But there are now thousands of Senegalese who believe that for all
Americans the world is their territory.
Love to you all
Codou
--
Regional Programme Manager (Europe)
ABANTU for Development
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