Washington's double standard

After the collapse of the despicable apartheid system, South Africa has emerged as an additional power in the Third World and a supporter of peace loving countries which seek freedom from all kinds of oppression.

After a long period of isolation brought about by an international boycott against the former apartheid regime that robbed the rights of the black majority, South Africa, with a great deal of prudent diplomacy and self-confidence, has started building bridges of friendship and brotherhood with nations around the globe.

The country recently signed an arms sales draft deal of US$641 million with Syria as part of mutual interest between two Third World countries and within the framework of international trade.

However, Washington is against such a deal between South Africa and Syria and has threatened South Africa with cutting American assistance if it proceeds with the arms deal.

Mandela, who reached the seat of rule after being a political prisoner for almost two decades, has responded by saying that if Syria is satisfied with the standard of South African technology, he would sell them the missiles they requested and would not be intimidated by any threat whatsoever.

Mandela described Washington's stance as a double standard as America never objected to a similar deal Syria signed with a western country.

Furthermore, there is no international decision banning Syria from obtaining arms from any source. And there is no international resolution banning South Africa from selling arms to any party not subjected to international sanctions. Why the American objection then?

Washington has flooded Israeli arsenals with the latest arms and continues to do so. Why then has this modest deal between two Third World countries triggered America's anger?

-- Al Ittihad, Abu Dhabi