However, the amazing thing is that Mugabe thought that he could come to those negotiations from a position of strength, when in fact, by using the innocent and agrieved section of the population as a battering ram, he has, and will now forever more, be viewed as a moral weakling in the eyes of the MDC, in the eyes of any African statemen who may help and participate in the talks, and in the eyes of the world in general.

Therefore, whatever the details of such negotiations, only the moral hero, not the moral coward, could be an acceptable leader. Although, I suppose, in a sort of twisted way, if Morgan is given the premiership with a degree of acceptable power, it probably (and I say this with a very bitter taste in my mouth), it probably wouldn’t be the end of the world if Mugabe were to retain his presidential status until he quietly expires to meet his maker.

http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,172413,00.html

Anyway, this is a hollow victory, because I know full well I cannot really see into the future. But without doubt I could predict horribly accurately how the AU ‘leaders’ would respond to something like Mugabe’s stolen election.

Why? How? Because their behaviour reinforces my sentiment over and over. They are childish, immature, gutless, dishonest underhand people who lick each other’s backsides. Try as I might, I cannot find it in my soul to respect them.

Who has the moral high-ground? Who should or should not be involved? Who has the rights to get stuck in there?

And I’ve formed the following opinion:-

Any country being asked to, or feeling as though they should be a donor for humanitarian reasons, in my mind has ABSOLUTE right to insist upon the methods of governance they require before providing aid to said country.

There-in lies the trick to peacekeeping forces, and who can legitimately send them.

For instance South Africa does not provide any free aid as far as I’m aware – so Mbeki’s sentiment counts for nothing. Nobody needs to seek his permission, or for that matter any other outspoken African nation.

Let them put their money where their mouths are. Meanwhile those nations capable of, and in fact already supplying aid – you are the countries who can ensure aid gets to the people who need it the most, and that Bob gets out the way, so that Zimbabwe can be re-started.

Perhaps we should start lobbying the Pope to speak out against Mugabe; maybe even excommunicate him? That would really sting, as he claims to be a devout Catholic..