If it isn’t US retalliation, it soon could be

STAFF REPORTER

South Africans heard with shock and horror as Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies, addressed the media about the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) from Parliament last Thursday that the White House is seriously considering the country’s exclusion from certain Agoa concessions in the agricultural sector – such as macadamia nuts, fruit juices etc.

US foreign policy has been guided by the “Enemy of My Enemy” idea for over a century. It came into State Department use regarding US foreign policy during The Spanish-American War at the turn of the 19th century and has had America tangled up in impossibly complicated webs ever since – never more evident, however, than now in the Middle East.

The saying, generally attributed as being of Arab origin, actually seems to predate that by far. It seems it was first heard in India 2 400 years ago. It is believed to have originated in the 4th century BCE in India. Kautilya –  the “Indian Machiavelli” – wrote about the idea in the Sanskrit military book, the Arthashastra.

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Surely the ANC government cannot be so naïve as to think that these matters are not discussed between the US and Israel at all levels, possible even president to PM.

Of course the US decision, which could have massive implications for the SA economy, came as a shock to us all. But maybe, at least our diplomatic brains-trust, should have at least anticipated that our bad-neighbour behaviour could have led to this – or at least will in future, if we don’t stop joining “the leagues of thugs and terrorists”. 

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