The Monitor has taken a break from its usual pseudo-economic analysis to present its readers with pseudo history of Ethiopia. In an article dated August 28, 1999, ("The Americans Continue To Thread On Our Toes") a certain Gabre Michael Paulos propagates the myth of Ethiopian military prowess and then goes on to accuse the US of stepping on the toes of Ethiopia and sounds the sirens of Pan-Africa to fight the evil of the US. It is not a good idea to complain about your toes being stepped on while you have your hands extended for alms but the strength of Ethiopian politics has never been its logic.
Let's look at the Monitor's version of history and contrast it with actual information derived from declassified East German documents:
THE MONITOR CLAIMS:
When Siad Barre of the Republic of Somalia, armed with Soviet weapons to the teeth, invaded Ethiopian territories, the military government which overthrew the Haile Sellasie Regime asked the U. S.A. to delivery weapons paid for by Ethiopia for defensive purposes. Strangely enough, the Carter administration refused to deliver the weapons. This means the Carter administration wanted to see Ethiopia destroyed, divided and weakened as a nation. The Ethiopian military government in the beginning had no idea of Marxism or socialism.
THE TRUE STORY:
When the 5,000-strong Front for the Liberation of Western Somalia engaged the 195,000-strong Ethiopian Armed Forces (consisting of 6 divisions of regular army, 8 divisions of the people's militia and police formations), the Somalis routed the Ethiopians-evacuating them from Dire Dawa, Harar, Jijiga---the entire Ogaden region. The new Ethiopian Government, the Dergue, cried for help. The United States turned a deaf ear because: (a) the Dergue had overthrown its staunchest ally in Africa, Haile Selassie; (b) the ideology of the Dergue was leaning towards Marxsim which was promptly reported to the United States by Ethiopia's "friend" and TPLF's "chief melodist", Paul Henze and (c) the new Carter Administration was, in diverging from traditional American policy, fashioning a foreign policy based on Human Rights record. And the Dergue's Human Rights record, even then, was abysmal.
THE MONITOR CLAIMS:
But when they were rebuffed and cornered by the American government, they had to go to the Soviet camp so that they can obtain the necessary weapons to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ethiopia. The Soviet leadership received Ethiopia's request in the twinkle of an eye and dropped Somalia like hot potato.
THE TRUE STORY:
The reason the Soviet Union "received Ethiopia's request in the twinkle of an eye and dropped Somalia like hot potato" was due to an influential--and wildly wrong--report given by Comrade Fidel Castro. In what has to be one of the most inaccurate psychological profiles of Mengistu, Mr. Castro reported that unlike Siad Barre (who was "above all a chauvinist"), Mengistu was a "quiet, serious, and sincere leader" and an "intellectual." Castro was also most impressed by "the very consequential decision" Mengistu took on February 3, 1977: he arrested and shot "rightists" members of the Revolutionary Council.
THE MONITOR CLAIMS:
The Ethiopians were then able to drive the invaders out of Ethiopian territories.
THE TRUE STORY:
In a language that should be familiar to all Eritreans, Ethiopia kept telling the world that "Ethiopia would teach Somalia a lesson which Somalia will never forget.") The Ethiopians, however, did no such thing. They were NOT able to drive "the invaders" out of any territory. It was Comrade Fidel Castro's "massive intervention" that turned the tide: "Cuban military personnel took part in the military actions, while Soviet military advisors participated in working out the plan of military operations[Cuba sent] its own tank operators, artillery specialists, pilots, and also sub-units of mechanized infantry.During the Ethiopian counter-attack, Cuban soldiers were used in the main lines of attack." Meanwhile, the Soviet Bloc nations "brought deliveries of combat material, weapons, and ammunition to Somalia to a halt." In addition, Yemen, Algeria and Libya "provided support to Ethiopia." Yemen actually sent "weapons and military personnel to Ethiopia." Did Somalia get any help from the anyone? No. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan and Egypt declined. Any help from the West and particularly the United States? No. Why? "Primarily, they did not want to decisively push Ethiopia away from them, counting on reestablishing their positions here in the future." Throughout, the Ethiopian press maintained "that Ethiopia is still fighting by itself." The Cuban Ambassador to Ethiopia, Comrade Pepe, was perplexed by this: he told the East Germans, "The reasons for this [is] unclear."
Now you know how "The Ethiopians were then able to drive the invaders out of Ethiopian territories." The de-classified documents also includes the following passage: "The Ethiopian positions could not well be presented as logical before world public opinion. At first Ethiopia declares that it would be willing to negotiate if Somalia withdraws its troops. Now that they [The Somalis] are willing to do so, the Ethiopians are retreating from their position." Sound familiar?
The rest of the Monitor's halewlew that the US favors Eritrea over Ethiopia is too outrageous to even merit a rebuttal. The US-Rwanda plan was hatched in the US Embassy in Addis. Other assertions are equally silly. If "Ethiopia has succeeded to drive Shabia out of Badme and has almost destroyed the military capability of Shabia" why won't Ethiopia declare victory and give the poor people of Eritrea and Ethiopia a well-deserved peace? If the OAU Modalities is a "bogus peace plan" drafted Antony [sic] Lake, Haile Menkorios, Susan Rice and Albright" why did the Ethiopian Prime Minister refer to it as "correct" and "principled" and why did Ethiopia accept it without "ifs and buts"? Those of us who advocate for a free press in Africa are always embarassed by media organs who continue to make outrageous, irresponsible and false statements. The Monitor heads the list of embarassments in Addis--which is no small feat. Dear Monitor: never mind your toes, examine your head.