Thursday, May 1, 2008

Mandela on U.S Terrorist watch List

I've seen many reports were The U.S Government put innocent on the U.S Terrorist list or the flight risk list database, some American, some with names close to an actual terrorist. But this is a new low, Nelson Mandela leader of the anti Apartheid in South Africa, fought for desegregation, human rights, equal rights for Blacks and Whites is on the actual terrorist list. I call this a diplomatic embarrassment, he's a Nobel Peace Prize winner for God's sake. Every time he wants to visit The U.S he needs the permission of Condoleeza Rice (Secretary of State).
The reason behind it is that back in the 70's The ANC party founded by Nelson Mandela was deemed as a terrorist group by the white government in charge in South Africa, so The U.S follow suit and qualified all members including Mandela as actual terrorists. It hasn't changed ever since, nobody bothered to remove the brilliant man from the "list".
They better prepare a public apology, but then again it's the Bush Administration they never admit their mistakes, the only way to rectify this is to pass a bill through Congress that will remove them from the watch list. I mean come on terrorist group like Hamas is on the same list. A former South African ambassador to The United States was denied a visa because she was on that list, she wanted to visit her dying cousin, when a waiver was issued it was too late, she never got the chance to say goodbye.
Make it Right people!

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