Ethiopia Breaks an all time Record in Stupidity
Hidaat G. Ephrem
May 23, 2000
They came in droves, donkeys and all, 133,000 Ethiopian soldiers to overwhelm the Eritrean defense lines by throwing themselves in wave after wave of human and animal minesweepers. They called such barbaric and backward crime of atrocity begotten by the sheer numbers alone that was fed to the inferno in total disregard for human life, a victory as the world watched in horror at the magnitude of the human carnage. Never mind that it is an aggression under the cover of territorial dispute, which Badme, by Ethiopia's own account was under their administration, not within their territory, even though it shifted too many times on their map, casual observers remain confused as to where Badme might be in the real map. All this sacrifice and human tragedy to what amounts of Eritrea's forcefully claim of her territory, Badme in 1988, after repeated Ethiopian encroachment on the ground and in newly issued Ethiopian map of 1997, says much about Ethiopia's own poor self-image, and the minority leadership's void sense of self-importance within the Ethiopian society. It is a "stupid" war, the world have screamed time and again, solve it diplomatically, through legal and peaceful means. But, invasion under the cover of stupidity knows no reason or peaceful negotiation. So, Ethiopia for the last two years overwhelmed the international community's effort by shifting and changing issues and means to solve them, because invading Eritrea was the sole objective of its futile and dark undertakings.

Ethiopia's rampage in sovereign Eritrean territory has gone unchecked for the last ten days. Nearly one million Eritreans have been displaced as they flee the advancing donkeys and mercilessly murderous Ethiopian soldiers. The horrific human tragedy that is taking place inside sovereign Eritrean soil is, according to Ethiopia, to liberate its occupied land. Yet, Ethiopia is actively and savagely invading Eritrea, and have not liberated any of its claimed occupied land. When the European Union, the Libyan and the OAU envoys rushed to Asmara and Addis Ababa today to secure a return to the peaceful negotiation, as if drunk by the blood he is spilling, Meles Zenawi said NO to the return of peaceful mediation. He further said, enjoying the pain he is inflicting upon the people of Eritrea and its soil, he could conduct the war and peace talks at the same time. He further asserted his reason for Ethiopia's rampage in Eritrean soil as "using a stick for someone who can't understand peaceful resolution of conflicts". The Prime Minister seems to have matters reversed, as always claiming that Ethiopia and only Ethiopia knows the truth, justice as it might suit Ethiopia's agenda. But, the world has come to know Ethiopia to be one heck bowl of stupidity, a donkey riding invader with a stick, that have exhausted the time and energy of the international community. And, today Ethiopia broke an all time record in stupidity when it claimed that Ethiopia can conduct peace and war at the same time.

Of course, all the bravado and the actual crime that is being committed by Ethiopia is with the consent of the United Nations who have failed to take a stand on Ethiopia's invasion of a sovereign nation, and the backhanded support of the United States who pulled its diplomats from Asmara in an effort to accommodate further aggression by the invading army. If for one moment Ethiopia believed that the United Nations Security Council can impose a strong punitive economic and trade embargo, and deploy international force to enforce a cease-fire, Ethiopia would not, and could not afford the play of stupidity cards. If for one moment Ethiopia believed that the United States of America would take away the generous one third of all African aid package going to her, Ethiopia would not, and could not afford the play of stupidity cards.

But, Ethiopia knows none of these things will happen, so the ugliest and most sinister plans of reversing Eritrean sovereignty is advancing fast and loose with Nazi Germany like cruelty of committing genocide in Eritrea. However, stupidity, generous US support, and unchecked UN consent aside, Eritrea will prevail because truth and justice have a way of making a surprising entrance in the grand scheme of things. That is what happened in 1991 when Eritrea finally won the ugly 30 year war for independence. Menghistu Hailemariam, the black stallion of Africa who played the stupidity card to the maximum, was in fact made stupid in the real sense of the word. He has not recovered, undoubtedly, will never recover.

Indeed, the game of twisted facts, vague objectives, and shifting issues of the stupidity cards do add time to the survival of a regime. Nonetheless, the final card of the stupidity game is costly, exposing the player as an all time record breaker in stupidity. In keeping with the game, the Prime Minster of Ethiopia told the world today that Eritrea needs the stick. Of course, for an invading madman on a donkey, you know the stick is important. It is the story of Ethiopia through its successive regime. However, Eritrea has the energy to wait out the game as well.