The American Spectator : Eritrea Doubly Evil

Ret. Marine| 4.2.10 @ 7:06AM

Read this story again trools before you begin to berate those of us, the Patriotic American types, for our love of liberty and laws.
This story, if left unchecked, could be yours to experience. Lets take it to another level. If you fear those of us who believe in our duty and maybe in some cases our deaths, as a measure of your acceptence in and around our lives, as the ultimate last word of our faith in the American experience, you lose. Take this story and ask yourself, if all the people who you claim to be neanderthals, nazi's, disgustingas it is even teabaggers, uneducated or what ever moniker you wish to place upon us, are gone from the scene, who then will be left to protect you against a government that is this story, that is becoming known day by day, this current rouge anti-american administration, the admirers of marxist revolutionaries and Moa mumblers. Do you really think this could not happen here, right here in these United States. Think again, it very well could. The premise of this story and the resemblence of this current administration are not that far apart. You could say it can happen here but, to admit this, you would have to acknowledge there is evil in this world, and evilness in the minds of our supposed leaders. If you refuse to acknowledge this evil, it will appear and gladly enter into agreement with you, you may then realize the consequences of your vote, the theft of the American family traditions, the failed, and downright theft of the average productive lives you so loath and the inherent spirit that is an American you continue to steal from, and call it your "right". I am stunned to read at times the attitude of your intentions, name calling the belittleing of your fellow man, thinking that you somehow have a "right' to even spew your lazy mind games you like to play from time to time, and even more so, down right angry to see the clear message this story represents, and somehow you don't get it.

Steven| 4.2.10 @ 5:51PM

This story is just a story and not the truth.

Unpatriotic American, when you acknowledge that the US Government and US Military Massmurdered ONE Million IRAQIs and Continues to Murder Afghanis and Pakistanis. Then we can talk otherwise take your UNPATRIOTIC American mouth and shut it.

I grew up in New York City and when I saw those Towers fall, I knew America had fallen into the Hands of the Neoconservatives of which Hillary Clinton, Obama belong to as well as Bush, B.Clinton etc. When we PATRIOTIC Americans take back our Country from the Neocon/NWO then we will be free. As it is now, we in America don't have any freedoms, America is a POlice State. More prisoners in this country than any other "democratic". 2 Stolen Elections, the Bank bailouts.
Ret. Marine, you are no Patriotic American, you are only a soldier of imperialism and imperialism and AMerican ideals don't go together.

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.2.10 @ 7:02PM

Steven,
You are the worst kind of lunatic. You are an ignorant lunatic.
IROTFL at you.

Steven| 4.2.10 @ 7:40PM

Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.

Fabricating stories, politically economically and militarily attacking countries that are NO Threat to America and American people and expecting a different result of "no blowback" is INSANITY.

Ken (Old Texican)..maybe in the old days when America invaded Vietnam, Korea there was a thinking that "Oh we defeated the Nazi Germans, anyone we invade militarily will welcome us"...Well Ken, welcome to the New world Situation ie Iraq, Afghanistan, Taliban, Binladen (CIA operative) all of it called Blowback.

Blowback is what is a natural phenomena which is backed by Newton's laws of physics. For every action and equal but opposite reaction (you probably know the rest).

The US Government and US Military work together to do more harm to the American people than any other forces in the world.
Trust me when the Empire is done with taking over the world it will come back to completely enslave the American people. Old Texican, maybe you still think those people in Capitol Hill, in CIA, in the Pentagon care about American people, You are too old to realise this because you've been brainwashed by 50 years of the Department of Defense (DODs) War propaganda in this Military Industrial complex.

I am no lunatic by any stretch of the imagination, the lunatic is the one who burys their head in the sand and only stick it out to make meaningless grunts like Ryan and this Doug Bandow have done here.

Human rights protection should start in the US First because America has not paid the price for the human rights violations it has done on its own citizens. It is a nation that has NO MORAL Authority to back up its media attacks on countries like Eritrea. But wait, your an Old Texican, your okay with them Colored Folks not getting their rights respected by the Government or yourself.

The US Invasion and Occupation of IRAQ is illegal by any stretch of International and US NATIONAL Laws.
One million + Iraqi WOMEN, CHILDREn and Innocent Civilians were mass murdered by US Military soldiers/navy/airforce. All those soldiers who pushed those buttons that killed all those people will have to face God one day. If they have any belief in heaven or hell, they will face that to. This Military Industrial complex needs to Be Stopped and it Will!

Human| 4.2.10 @ 8:11PM

So many errors on this article I don’t now were to start ... but if you think these LIES will fly then good luck explaining yourself when you get Expose for your George bush politics

I may be a student but on this subject i can say I’m more researched and knowledgeable about the subject matter of Eritrea than your childish reporting

Doing Less Could Help More in Somalia

The Rumi Forum presented "Doing Less Could Help More in Somalia" with Bronwyn Bruton.

http://rumiforum.org/lucheons/doing.html

the above web link proves your whole argument is fradutlent in the highest degree

Shame on the @ author for misinforming people i would FIRE you if i wanted to know the truth

sammy| 4.10.10 @ 8:43AM

To:
H.E. Ms Angela Merkel,
The Federal Chancellor of Germany,
Bundeskanzler Amt, Berlin

To:
H.E. Mr. Guido Westerwelle,
The Foreign Office, Federal Germany,
Auswärtiges Amt, AA,
Werderscher Markt 1, 10117, Berlin 22 March, 2010

Dear Excellencies,

I, the undersigned chairman of an Eritrean opposition party in exile struggling for change and democratization in our country, am taking the liberty of addressing your esteemed Offices, and through your good Offices to all concerned governmental and non-governmental German institutions, to express our deep regret that some of your authorities have innocently allowed the so-called Young-PFDJs (named after the repressive People’s Front for Democracy and Justice of the Eritrean president, Isaias Afeworki) to hold a jamboree in Berlin between 1 and 5 April 2010. This group, known to many Eritreans as the “Isaias Youth”, is an embryonic copy of the awesome Hitler Jugend of the last century. We appeal to you that this Eritrean version of an ugly history in Germany, and an emerging tool of the hated regime in Asmara that is under targeted sanctions by the international community for its multiple abuses against the peace, security and best interests of all peoples in the Red Sea basin, should not be encouraged to grow in Europe.

Dear Madame, Dear Sir,

As you very well know, Eritrea is turned into a big prison of its own people. Over 300,000 young men and women are kept in war-trenches and other tens of thousands of Eritrean youth are subjected to brain washing at concentration camps like the infamous Sawa, which are euphemistically called “schools”. The organization called Young-PFDJs, which is now due to gather young Eritreans in Berlin from all over Europe is nothing but a dangerous propaganda tool of the dictatorial regime in our country.

It may interest you to know how these Young-PFDJs are coming to Berlin. The parents and relatives of young persons are subjected by Eritrean embassy staff and their messengers in Germany to acts of intimidation, psychological pressure and threats of vengeance against their relatives in Eritrea if their sons and daughters ever dare fail to appear at the Berlin jamboree. No young Eritrean and his/her parents will be given visas to Eritrea anytime, and their properties in Eritrea will be in danger if the young ones do not take part in the event. Similar campaign through harassment of relatives is going on in all parts of Europe to make the show in Berlin a “success”.

You could already have noticed that the demonstrations the Eritrean regime organized in Geneva and other places last February against the targeted UN sanctions imposed on the regime were arranged in a similar manner of wicked intimidations and threats to life and property – brutal acts that could not be imagined to have occurred in Europe of the 21st century.

Dear Madame, Dear Sir,

We, members of the EPDP and other Eritreans opposed to the regime in Asmara, trust you will agree that this unwarranted act of intimidation against civilian Eritreans living in Germany and the rest of Europe is unacceptable under all circumstances. Therefore, we strongly call upon you and your esteemed governmental institutions to investigate these intimidations and threats and take appropriate action against the agents of the Eritrean regime in Germany. By copy of this message, we shall request similar action in many European countries in which Eritreans live in great numbers.

We remain at your disposal to provide any information required to justify our claims against the abuses of the Eritrean embassy staff and their agents in Germany and other countries in Europe against innocent civilians holding European and/or Eritrean passports.
With kind regards,

Woldeyesus Ammar,
Chairman,

Ryan| 4.3.10 @ 3:24AM

http://i598.photobucket.com/al.....1248689925

Here is one of our puppet overseers in Ethiopia giving me an Oral dissertation on how he is managing the affairs of the Ethiopian people and the Ethiopian nation-state.

He offered a service in exchange for a favorable (less damning) report during our US State Department Human Rights Report meetings where we discuss countries and their human rights issues.

We lessened Ethiopia's human rights violations namely we didn't label the genocide in the Ogaden as a genocide.

Well because Meles Zenawi was willing to do some work on our staffs! http://i598.photobucket.com/al.....1248689925

Netsnet| 4.6.10 @ 7:34PM

The people of Eri, let us rise and demolish the mafia PFDJ and devil isyas. We shouldn’t allow these thugs to suffocate our people to death. Our mothers, brothers, sisters, and fathers are dying of hunger and suffer crying day and day out. Our people are dying from starvation, the youth is fleeing Eritrea, dying by the hand of this devil dictator and cruel Arabs (Egyptians and Libyans). The youth is denied education since PFDJ shut down the only University in the country. PFDJ said a couple of community colleges for engineering and nursing are better than having a full fledge University for all science majors. Simply, dictator isayas don’t want Eritreans to be educated. Because, he knows he cann't easily manipulate an educated population. Even Mengistu didn’t close the university. Only Italians did what isyas is doing now, he don't want people to be educated beyond forth grade. PFDJ want to limit education to a community college level. Merchants can’t import or export goods, farmers can’t keep the crops they cultivated. Basically 5 million Eritreans are turned in to PFDJ slaves. PFDJ think having our youngsters building bridges and roads is better then educating them. What do we expect from leaders who are not educated themselves? These are bunch of illiterate mafia thugs, they have to be eliminated once and for all. This is not a religion or a region issue. Isayas doesn’t discriminate by region, or by religion, he have suffocated 5 million Eritreans. He has to be removed by hook or by crook.

Debunker | 4.2.10 @ 7:44AM

Historically, as Eritreans, we have seen a level of unparalleled hostility directed at our desire for self-determination, especially, emanating from those exceptionally hostile elements within Langley and Foggy Bottom neighborhoods, as well as, Kremlin. Be that as it may, the aim of this piece is not to rehash the all too well know facts of military and political supports rendered by the Imperial Centers of the time, Moscow and Washington, to eliminate the aspiration of the Eritrean people and their struggle movements for self-determination. The aim here is to look at - in view of current US-Eritrea relations - the literary work of one of the world’s renowned authors, Thomas Keneally, the author of ‘To Asmara’ and ‘Schindler’s List’.
In his book ‘To Asmara’, Thomas Keneally, makes observations of the West’s hostile stand toward Eritrea’s struggle for independence. In, yet again, another era of unbridled hostility directed at Eritrea from the Imperial Center, Washington, it forces one to wonder if Keneally was stating simply hard facts or providing prophetic warnings in view of Eritrea’s many successes at the time? With this question in mind it helps to look at some of the remarks and the recurring theme; that the West will never forgive the Eritreans for their “folly” of being “brave” and “cleaver”. A theme which finds an outlet in the exasperations of Keneally’s “Ugly American” character, Henry:
“You know what I think? They are brave to the point of folly and they’re clever to the point of being dumb. No one absolutely no one, from Washington to Moscow, wants them to succeed. No one. … God’s even taken the rain away from them, for Christ’s sake. Even he thinks they’re wrong-headed. The sin of pride … the sin of being sharp when no one wants them to be. Their presumption, that organization can save them. That … that won’t easily be forgiven.”
The theme is, the West, and the world for that matter, will not allow the Eritrean struggle to succeed: not only political, military powers and human folly but also nature as well is colluding against the Eritreans. Given their limited resources and the hostile environment they inhabit, the Eritrean case is a hopeless one is a recurring theme that finds an expression in the many outbursts of the American, Henry, which at times is quite crude, however, honest:
“Do you know what the emergency really is? You want to hear about the really big emergency? The emergency is that if you guys succeed, you’ll be an embarrassment to Africa. Who wants a setup like yours? There aren’t many governments on this continent that do. There aren’t many governments in Europe. Colored folk who can look after themselves? It isn’t viable. It upsets the world picture. Don’t you know the West has to believe famine’s an act of God? If they believe that, they only have to make a donation. But if they believe it’s an act of bloody politics, they have to really do something, and that’s too, too complicated. So what is the story? The story is you guys will fall on your own f-ucking swords, because you’ve got this crazy idea that the world will allow you to be perfect!”
The notion that “the world will [not] allow” Eritrea to succeed is of course not always enunciated in anger, even for Henry. Seeing the Eritreans at work Herny admiringly marvel at the industriousness of the Eritreans points out:
“These guys are astounding! Running all this. And you know what? The world hates ‘em for it! The world hooked into the idea of ‘the helpless Africans!’”
The outlook that Eritrea’s case was hopeless because of its limited resources and the hostile environment it inhabits, as well as, because of the superiority of its enemies was resoundingly defeated in 1991. However, given current development in Eritrea, especially Eritrea’s aspiration to reject dependence on foreign aid and NGO, and thus choosing to survive solely through its own ingenuity and toil has generated an all too familiar hostility from the usual quarters of power and the NGOs beholden to them. Maybe the Eritrean plan “upsets the world picture” a bit too much? Perhaps it is true that no one wants to see “Colored folk who can look after themselves?” It may as well not be a coincidence that we are told that this plan “is not viable” over and again. All things considered it is understandable that such aspirations of self-reliance, that disturb the view of the “world hooked into the idea of ‘the helpless Africans!’”, to generate hostility. And to be viewed as “sin of pride” or, more properly, “the sin of being sharp when no one wants [you] to be.” In such world view, the fact that Eritrea is succeeding in this endeavor, through meticulous organization and toil, is a double sin “that won’t easily be forgiven.”
Paradoxically, this observations that “the world will not allow” the picture of the “the helpless Africans” to be disturbed, or that no Eritrean or any African can be allowed to succeed the way Eritrea aspires to is not always a result of emotional outbursts of an overbearing American, the more somber characters, the narrator and the ‘British Lady’ character, also make much the same observation:
“Saudi agents and even the CIA were said to hang round Kassala, the Sudanese border oasis and city, encouraging the ELF to attack the EPLF. For it was a matter of surprise…that no one seemed to want the Eritreans to win. Neither the Americans nor the Saudis … nor the Russians, who supplied military advice and arms. No one wanted an independent Eritrea republic along the stretch of Red Sea shore.”
Keneally’s characters were of course wrong in one account and absolutely correct in another. Eritrea’s success was not predicated on others “want” - for Eritrea to “succeed” or not. It was solely dependent on Eritreans determination to succeed – same goes today. Even though life and the struggle was made more complicated for Eritreans’ “sin of being sharp when no one wants them to be”, it nevertheless “succeeded”, NOT to be “an embarrassment to Africa”, but to be the pride of a good example of what Africans can accomplish when they stand for their interest in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Whether “the world hooked into the idea of “the helpless Africans”, appreciates the Eritrean experience or not, Eritrea is here to stay. It has succeeded in wining its independence despite all the hostility directed at it from the quarters of power. Still, one will have to appreciate Keneally’s prophetic observations that Eritrea’s success “won’t easily be forgiven” or his more dramatic pronouncement: “The world hates ‘em for it!” In that sense his observation resonates with current events, as exemplified by former US President Carter diatribe against Eritrea or by the more recent hostilities coming from US State Department.
It is evident that in the psyche of some Eritrea needs permission from the West to succeed or forgiveness to move on. There may be some truth in that the psyche of the colonized and oppressed to want to remake itself in the image of its masters, or to need acceptance from its masters or former masters. A phenomenon that is sometimes associated with what is commonly described as “colonial mentality”. However, what the Eritrean experience exemplifies is the kicking off of such mentality and the development of confidence in ones own resource and ingenuity. In short the Eritrean is what Nkrumah at the dawn of decolonization described as the “New African”. The New Eritrean, who is the result and has deep roots in his independence struggle, is strong, confident, conscientious and patriotic. This New Eritrean does not live for or look for acceptance from the “rulers of the universe”. Nor does the New Eritrean hate the colonizer and/or the oppressor, nor want to be like them. All the Eritrean wants to be is Eritrean in all its substantive forms. This New Eritrean requires not any forgiveness, permission or acceptance from anyone.
Whether the world, more appropriately its Imperial centers, decides to forgive or not, sooner or later it will have to accept that, as Keneally put it, “Eritrea was not the present. It was the future in terms of theories – military and revolutionary – which hung in its fiery air.”
“No one wanted an independent Eritrea republic along the stretch of Red Sea shore.” And yet it is here. And here to stay! If anyone has a problem, super power or not, with accepting the strong, confident, conscientious and patriotic Eritrean, The New Eritrean, or the “New African” for that matter, it has to be told to “go fly a kite”. And yes! We ought to be “brave to the point of folly” and “clever to the point of being dumb.” The result of this “sin of pride” was our liberation. It worked just fine for us then and it will again and again! Confidence in our ability and Pride in being Eritreans is a formula that works.

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 8:29AM

In that case, let your people be free to choose their own religion, lives, to speak freely, assemble freely, and have honest and open elections. Eritrea will NOT succeed unless it does these things - and it's not that we won't let you unless you do, it's that the matter is repressive regimes do NOT last long, do NOT enrich its populace, and do NOT join the table as an equal with the rest of the world.

You DON'T have to have the West's approval, but we've gotten past a lot of internal squabbles where we kill and imprison each other over mere politics and religion.

wedikeshi| 4.2.10 @ 9:52PM

Aren't the Chinese winning with out election?
Is not election only for the rich and connected in the U.S.? If election was a solution, why not countries like south africa, nigeria, ethiopia, kenya etc. are not winning. Just leave Eritrea alone.

Alex| 4.3.10 @ 12:35PM

All the countries mentioned above - Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, China and Kenya have joined the rest of the civilized world to punish Eritrea's pitiful village tyrant Isayas and his henchmen for murdering innocent men and women in Somalia and Eritrea. These reckless criminal despots will not be left alone. The UN sanctions are only the beginning. There is enough evidence to indict them leading for their capture by any foreign authority for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Eritreans will not be left alone. They will be liberated

Eritrawi| 4.4.10 @ 3:15AM

That is because they are nothing but puppets of the hegemon, U.S.A. and thus do what they are told.

Eris| 4.6.10 @ 1:31AM

Please, you get to creat alience and go head and do any size military attack on this little but the powerful land, then there you are going to see the finishing job by the galant Shaebia fighters. you accept it or not, the shaebia strecgth is at its highst condition that enable Eritrea to repeat the 1991 meracle history, I know the damp Weyane knws this reality deeper. The bottom point to the world body is that there is no any means to punish or to win on Eritrea as Eritrea is coming through a tremendouse challenging experience. The string on Weyane neck is getting tigher and tigher and in time of the wise manner of weyane, it will be made a disition to leave the Eritrean territory with out any precondition.

Alex| 4.3.10 @ 12:35PM

All the countries mentioned above - Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, China and Kenya have joined the rest of the civilized world to punish Eritrea's pitiful village tyrant Isayas and his henchmen for murdering innocent men and women in Somalia and Eritrea. These reckless criminal despots will not be left alone. The UN sanctions are only the beginning. There is enough evidence to indict them leading for their capture by any foreign authority for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Eritreans will not be left alone. They will be liberated

samira| 4.5.10 @ 5:52PM

Alex- Where did you get this lies that Eritrea killed somalis. No single somali will tell you that. No single somali will support your rubish talk. You are Ethiopian and Only an Ethiopian will say Eritrea went to Somalia. Eritrea never ever went militarily or in any form physically to somalia. Are mistakenly saying Ethiopia killed Somalis.So stop your faul talk. you do not even have a single reference to quote . america and Britian did not say eritrea killed people in somali. You are the first one I have ever heard saying this. did you sit in your dream or you fabricated it in your day dream . If that is the case then you must be sychci.

yonas yohannes| 4.2.10 @ 8:09AM

Mr Bandow,
Your article consists of one sided, biased and hearsay stories.
It is very poorly researched and written. Most of the writing is copied and pasted word by word from other "independent" writers.
Mr Bandow, In your article, you have quoted the State Department numerous times. And in fact you sounded that you worship and believe every word of the State Department says. However, history tells us that other wise.
CDE

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 8:29AM

So where is your evidence to the contrary?

Ned| 4.2.10 @ 10:26AM

Evidence to the contrary? Hell, what's your point?

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 11:30AM

Mostly calling these third-world tyrants to account.

observer| 4.2.10 @ 5:16PM

Ryan, why don't you call out the CIA for the crimes against humanity it commits in Africa? Why don't you call out the US Government and Military for Killing ONE MILLION Iraqis with its Bombs? America has and STILL CONTINUES to COMMIT GENOCIDE all over the WORLD!
Bush is a War Criminal, Clinton is a War Criminal, Obama will become a War Criminal. The US Government and Military are WAR CRIMINALS!

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 8:24AM

It didn't take long for the internal Eritrean apologists to show up, as often happens in the case of the worst human rights abusers in Africa - they monitor websites and try to dispell their crimes by pointing the blame at the West.

observer| 4.2.10 @ 5:20PM

The WEST IS TO BLAME!

OBAMA Sent 40 TONNES of WEAPONS to the CORRUPT TFG in Somalia.
YOu are a hypocrite . You are an apologist for the WAR CRIMES of the WEST (US, UK).

Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen...BOMBING CIVILIANS and then General Petrayus giving a Half-hearted speech on "civilian casualties".

Take the LOG out of YOUR EYE before you POINT the SPECK in MINE.

HYPOCRISY is the STANDARD of Western IMPERIALIST THINKING of WHICH Ryan is INFECTED with! Get CURED!

Eris| 4.6.10 @ 4:11PM

Ryan, you do not have an aware of the Eritrea stand to ward the international issues. guess what, Eritrea is doing great no matter what is the respond and interst of the wests, Eritrea is ready to work with in metual benefiet relation. A person like you with a little knowledge in your too narrow mind regarding human right, I do not want to give you any mental worth to ward your comments.

Eritrean| 4.2.10 @ 8:46AM

The article written by the author is false only in the sense that it did not fully describe the insanity in Eritrea. The nation is really a prison and the people are really only slaves. There is one citizen "the President" and everyone else serves him hand and foot.

As an Eritrean, I am ashamed of what my nation has become and ashamed of the robots who defend this system while they enjoy freedom in the greatest nation in the world "USA"!!!! These same Eritreans have more rights and liberty in America and support a regime in Asmara who will not afford the same rights to their own mothers. They are a shameful bunch!

Thank you America for giving us a sanctuary!

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 8:48AM

Interesting - we don't hear much from the good guys when these third-world articles arise - usually the attempts to defend the tyrants.

berhane| 4.2.10 @ 2:05PM

pseudo eritrean, you are a lier. Do not interfer re-eritrean issue. you are Agame

Eritrean| 4.2.10 @ 9:44AM

Ryan,

They (defenders of evil) will come in droves and they will play their victim games.

FYI. In Eritrea there is a system called RIST. Basically it is a system that allows one to inherit land providing they have lineage. Otherwise you are unable to claim any inheritance from any village in Eritrea.

In short, most of the regime including Isiass falls in this category (The Eritrean President is Ethiopian by both parents). The Eritreans who are most likely to support the regime mostly originate from Tigray and an area called Gojjam in Ethiopia. In other words they have no RIST to inherit. In short they have no real claim on being an original Eritrean. That by itself is not a bad thing after all many folks become citizens of nations other than their own mother land. However this bunch including Isaiass fear that they will be marginalized once real Eritreans are empowered. They fear that they may become second class citizens and lose their prominence.

That is why you will see them act more catholic than the pope and more Eritrean than the average Eritrean. Trust me Ryan that these folks work very hard at being nationalistic because of the underlying fear they have that their Ethiopian Origin will exclude them from the privileges they now enjoy. To a certain extent this will happen as it is natural for those who are the majority will dominate but they are only prolonging the inevitable.

I hope this sheds light on who these defenders of the regime are and why they do the things they do.

Proud Eritrean| 4.5.10 @ 11:41AM

You can't spell Isaias and you can't even say Risty in Tigrigna. You an Ethiopian know nothing about Eritrea, and you can't shed light on the Eritreans.

Dan| 4.2.10 @ 10:14AM

Ahhh..... I see, the lobbyist money meant for the starving poor of Ethiopia has trickled its way to the "American Spectator".

Fundamentalists have a better chance in Nigeria than Eritrea to peddle their trade. No more holly books in one hand and selling guns on the other, while preaching democracy. We have 60 years of experience of that type of sadism.

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 11:15AM

As with most third world countries, the aid that was targeted for Ethiopia - which there was PLENTY of - often made its way to the ruling elite instead of the people it was intended to help.

If you want aid, have free and open and honest elections, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. Open the prisons and free the political prisoners.

henok| 4.2.10 @ 11:31AM

Ryan,
Do not wide oen your mouth about topics for which you do not have an iota of evidence.

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 11:54AM

I'm talking generally about the regimes in Africa - of which Ethiopia has somewhat cleaned up its act - and the tendancy of third world nation tyrants to steal aid when it is delivered. Read the rest of my posts and you'll see whose side I am on.

observer| 4.2.10 @ 5:28PM

NO IT HASN"T CLeaned up its act.

Again you are LYING just the like the US State Dept does about Eritrea.

Anyone can see you have an interest in Defending Ethiopia and DEFAMING ERitrea!

MELES ZENAWI (WAR CRIMINAL/Genocider) has blocked the Voice of America (VOA) from broadcasting in Ethiopia. He is getting ready to Steal the ELECTION again like he did in 2005 in which Violence in the streets of Addis Ababa was USED by his Tigrayan-ethnic Troops on the civilians several people were Killed. There is EVIDENCE for that. But like a typical HyPOCRITE who has some interest in promoting his agenda which is NOT Based on human rights.

You are NOT a defender of Liberty, Rights, freedom or any of that. You are a spreader of DISINFORMAITON, LIES and INSULTS.

Like the TYPICAL WESTERN IMPERIALIST, you DO NOT WISH to SEE an AFRICAN COUNTRY that DEVELOPED ITSELF ON ITS OWN! NOt through AID or whatever tools of imperialism that you wish it to be. Wishful thinking.

The US is a TWO-PARTY DICTATORSHIP! TWO-PARTY (SAME COIN)...thats a DICTATORSHIP and a TYRANNY!

You are on the SIDE of IMPERIALISM and RACISM! Stay in your Western COuntry and Don't Mention AFricans or ERITREANS SPECIFICALLY!
And the author of this stupid editorial, Worked for REAGAN, give me a break if there wasn't a corrupt and unethical immoral (arming factionst o topple governments) politician like him.

You NEOCONS are SICK and DEMENTED and YOU WILL FAIL~!

rebel| 4.2.10 @ 7:20PM

You are avery sick dude,need medical help now.

observer| 4.2.10 @ 7:51PM

You are a sick douchebag and you need to be cured of your hatred for ERITREANS!

Stop Hating on Eritreans and Eritrea. "rebel".

What exxactly are you a rebel against?

You obviously don't rebel against the Meles Zenawi dictatorship/tyrannical regime which Ryan DEFENDS even with all the evidence. However Ryan wants to Defame and Attack Eritrea ...with absolutely NO EVIDENCE backing his statements only other sick people like yourself rebel and Doug Bandow.

SALIH| 4.3.10 @ 2:25AM

Mr.Observer, don't mix up things, leave Ethiopia alone, let the Ethiopians bother on their own problems, and deal with your own internal problems. Don't try to divert the topic or the agenda out of the normal discussion. It is totally true that Eritrea is going towards the colaps of its government like its counter part in Somalia. Look at your young people drowning in the oceans and buried in the sands of the Sahara desert, look at the camps in Ethiopia and the Sudan full of young Eritrean children and women looking for food, look at your national foot ball team which defected in kenya not solitarily but as a team which is shame !!!! . These all are the results of the rules of a dictator, Isaias!!

Ryan| 4.3.10 @ 3:28AM

Well dictator PM Meles Zenawi just offered to give us an oral presentation to which we at the US State Department Human Rights office lessened his human rights violations.

Meles was very vocal (http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/MelesNawi/Melace.jpg?t=1248689925)

and very willing to engage our STAFFs! http://i598.photobucket.com/al.....1248689925

Eris| 4.6.10 @ 4:29PM

Salih, Eritrea is exterimly ready to act in crushing any aggrestion from out side either from weyane or some country else. Do not accept it, the American inteligence knows this very well and they trys to see if the sanction works to weaken Eritrea. However, at the end, they already reached to the conculision of that Eritrean Army comes trhough vast challenging experiences that makes the army undefetable. Salih, the USA and weyane are at the understanding point that the mighty Shaebian fighter are going to luanch beyond self defend that defenetly change to ash the weyane pupet regim if they are going to start any war aginst the mighty Shaebian fighters. Salih, as some rumer indicated from Tigray Regional Government, they are on discussion matter how they can resolve the border issuies and they finally rised an ajenda to leave the Eritrean territory.

MAMET| 4.3.10 @ 2:12AM

It is better for you to accept that these facts are there in Eritrea and then criticize other countries acting the same. But you can not use the US's inhuman acts as excuses for the acts of your countries tyrant leader.

TED| 4.3.10 @ 3:30AM

Wow, Ryan is right..I looked at what Meles Zenawi was willing to do to minimize the damning human rights report the US State Department was going to issue against his regime.

He apparently provided this service : http://i598.photobucket.com/al.....1248689925

in exchange for the Ogaden and Oromia Genocides to be labelled as something other than genocide!

Henok Zeremariam| 4.4.10 @ 8:40AM

All the shit is part of a game that is meant to overwhelm and undermine Eritrea. Well there may be real issues that Eritreans need to address by themselves for themselves. apart from that it is all part of a scheme that will not be allowed to work!
and about ethiopia somewhat 'cleaning up' its act, well if ethiopia chose to make some superficial polishes and pose for a photo and appear 'great' - good for it. as to Eritrea, it will not succumb to that cheap posture!!

Hellen| 4.3.10 @ 4:50AM

this is about Eritrea not Ethiopia. please dont change the subject.

dan| 4.2.10 @ 10:16AM

Ryan,

I wonder where this could be,
http://www.asmera.nl/asmara-churches.htm
Where every one has tolerated each other for over 1600 years.

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 11:30AM

Except for the registration needed for non-recognized faiths. Can someone not in the Orthodox, Catholic, or Lutheran church worship freely and openly?

Where is the freedom of the press?
Where is the freedom of religion?
Where is the real proof that debunks the claims of just about every foreign agency?

henok| 4.2.10 @ 11:37AM

Ryan,
How much money did Isayas promise to pay you for the propoganda servitude to him and his malicious henchmen around him. You cannot preach any good in Eitrea these days. The beast has changed that country into a big prison. The world knows this and do not toil invain to tell us anything positive in that country which is not on the ground.

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 11:52AM

Ummm...learn some English? I'm trying to call Isayas to account here, not promote him. Read my posts.

eretrawi| 4.4.10 @ 1:13AM

A true eritrean does not need to be paid to tell the truth about his country and his people, but people like you who are getting paid to spread these stupid lies are always readily available to sell their soul for a quick dollar.

moses| 4.2.10 @ 10:42AM

Eritrean goverment you need to say first, and if you do not know that is the way to start with then do not waste peoples time go and learn first, secondely the most dangerouse nation and government and most hated in the world is USA. You know this is not a secret and you all know about it long time ago, dont be hepocrates you americans. God one day will panish you for what you have been doing and still doing. You know what Russia, China and Iran will also give you a big lesson, although they have already started, watch your back you ***************************.

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 11:13AM

We're not talking about the USA.

We're talking about Eritrea and its human rights abuses.

Pointing at another's faults does NOT justify your own.

There are legitimate claims of human rights abuses in your own country. Either defend or debunk those claims.

observer| 4.2.10 @ 5:31PM

Well the writer of this editorial is AMERICAN, and he worked for an AMERICAN President. And He quotes the US State Dept.

"Pointing at another's faults does NOT justify your own. " , You AMERICANS should take your own advice. ONE Million + IRAQI CIVILIANS are DEAD because of AMERICAN PResident Bush's (NEOCONS) War on the IRAQI People.

The US is the WORST GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATER in HISTORY. IT HAS KILLED MORE PEOPLE THAN ANY OTHER EMPIRE!
Those claims are DEBUNKED!

sala| 4.2.10 @ 11:10AM

BLACMAILING to find SCAPEGOET

You are only a stranger that you dont have any know how about Eritrea. We had been tired by such allegations, such kins of lies misguiding and parody sentiment. Eritrea's image is better than you describe. If some one does not even visit this nation and meet its people how can trying to justify its opinion. We have good tradition and say do not witnessing when you are absent from that issue. Learn about this nation and come with construct engagement, other wise Let alone Eritrea of its affairs.

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 11:15AM

Where is your proof?

Eritrean| 4.2.10 @ 11:28AM

Sala,

I am Eritrean and know that country well. Having been born in Eritrea and living 20 years in that country, I can tell you that Eritrea is worse than the author described. Eritrean Citizens get shot in the back because they want to go to another country. You are insane to state that this does not happen.

Beraki| 4.2.10 @ 4:11PM

It is widely known near Ertirean border areas that youngsters found thinking or attempting to escape are arrested and then shot from behind while in detention. The story is then told officially to family members and the public that the victims were shot and killed while trying to evade arest. People have not been detered by these killings and are still crossing the border in earch of food and freedom.

Karina| 4.2.10 @ 11:31AM

Eritrean regime has long abused his people. The sad thing is, all his excusses for this abuses blames it to the US. Eritrea is a big prison not a country. The only way we can stop this dictatorships is by blocking the funds they get from their followers abroad. Who this funds are being funded for terrorism.

Pingback| 4.2.10 @ 11:53AM

The American Spectator : Eritrea Doubly Evil « Somali Jewish links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Great Britain after World War II, and then federated with Ethiopia in 1951. An independence movement soon became active. After three decades of war Eritrea became a separate nation The American Spectator : Eritrea Doubly Evil -Read more - Blogged with the Flock Browser This entry was posted on Friday, April 2nd, 2010 at 3:53 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the…

Pingback| 4.2.10 @ 12:01PM

The American Spectator : Eritrea Doubly Evil « links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Great Britain after World War II, and then federated with Ethiopia in 1951. An independence movement soon became active. After three decades of war Eritrea became a separate nation. The American Spectator : Eritrea Doubly Evil -Read more - Blogged with the Flock Browser Possibly related posts: (automatically generated) American Chronicle | HRW World Report 2010 Introduction Proves African Unio… Somalia | Human…

eritrean| 4.2.10 @ 12:17PM

we eritrean support our government 100%
don't waste your time.
viva eritrea

I can't say| 4.2.10 @ 12:18PM

I am eritrean and I couldn't agree more. The article states the fact and anyone who argues otherwise should talk anyone in Eritrea.

Hop Off!| 4.30.11 @ 2:49PM

Listen FOOL , I dont know WHO you are speakin for but you need to speak for YOURSELF !!! Alright ?! OBVIOUSLY you dont live in Eritrea so shut your mouth ?! People in Eritrea have NO problems so I reccomend you pause you mouth and REWIND back to when you read this and make a better choice about what you said FOOL !
I hope this is gettin through your THICK , BROWN , FORHEAD !!!
Sincerley,
The person who know better than you....You are a SHAME

samuel | 4.2.10 @ 12:20PM

eritrea is develponing faster than any african country.
why don't you write genocidal governmnt.
eritrean government is supported by its people.
eritrean government is a grass root
viva eritrea

Salina-- Dont Get It Twisted| 4.30.11 @ 2:50PM

PREACH TO 'EM BROTHER !!

Orotta| 4.2.10 @ 12:50PM

Dear Bandow, with all your respect ''mind Your own buissness'' are You hired by the so called SPECIAL INTREST GROUPS, aka bilderburg group, aka New world order, may be you became a tool of those people with out knowing, We eritreans aware of every steps they are doing.
Eritrea is indipendent country, We don't accept The so called NEOCON, And for your information We Eritreans don't have time for this kind of rubbish Game.

VICTORY FOR THE MASS.

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 2:22PM

Ah, so you admit to the human rights abuses and just don't care?

observer| 4.2.10 @ 5:34PM

You are an idiot. He didn't say anything that you said here. Go learn to read English..you Stupid AMERICAN!

TED| 4.3.10 @ 2:40AM

Why are you angry observer? this is the behaviour that we usually observe from your tyrant commrade Isaias during interviews with foreign media. Try to convince your audience by presenting facts and reliable evidences.

Eritrean| 4.2.10 @ 12:54PM

You said it all on behalf of the voiceless Eritrean people.
Thanks

Salina The Eritrean| 4.30.11 @ 2:53PM

What is WRONG with you ?! Dont call yourself Eritrean if you just gonna talk NONSENSE ...Okay !? Gosh DANG, You are so irritating....!!! We ARE NOT voiceless so I don't know what your talking about!!! Let me give you a tip: YOU SHOULD BECOME VOICELESS (:

Orotta| 4.2.10 @ 12:56PM

OH, sorry I forgot something, My message refers to RYAN too, Coz He is the same person, means He is bandow.

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 2:22PM

Wrong again.

Ransome| 4.2.10 @ 1:07PM

Here we go again, Eritrea the hope of Africa, the good example is on the spot light. Why? Because kicked the white neo-colonialists who came under the name of NGO´s and Religions. It might hurt you but what the heck can you teach us about religions, that was practised in Eritrea before you discovered it. We are the one´s who can teach you! What the heck are you going to say by calling the fake name "Human Rights" on your vocabulary? My answer is, clean your own blood tainted hands before you even mention these words. We Eritreans don´t need any new religions since there is no new God or bible is located. While you dance with Ethiopian murderer like you once danced with Sadam, we will march through our or own path and you´ll still be there on the shame corner. The real evil, not only double but many times with only blood on their hands is America. So please don´t hit your own face again and again, we already saw it and are fed up of you.

Mark| 4.2.10 @ 1:12PM

Very interesting commentary especially by 'Debunker' as he put Eritrean and African history into perspective and hopefully foreigners to Eritrea can understand Eritrea a bit better. We as Americans have a tendency to think we know when in actuality have no clue. Ultimately, I believe the leaders in Eritrea have good intentions for their people. As evidence we can see improvements in areas as water access, increases in education levels, roads and increased infrastructure, etc. They have been able to weed out the toxic people to the nation which people do in everyday life. If your parent finds out that you're hanging out with people that smoke and drink everyday they will tell you to get away from those toxic people. It's the same relationship. People can berate the government but ultimately the government is there to protect against those who wish to taint the system, those who wish for corruption and those who aspire for another friendly African puppet leader to the West. The leadership is not perfect but they are protectors of the state from foreigners and even from corrupt Eritrean counterparts.

Moreover, I find it comical as such that the West claims 1.human rights abuses 2. religious persecution, etc. in Eritrea. While the Eritrean government is not perfect as no man or woman is, this is what we call "political play" and its a repeat of history. It's a way to divide the people and to shift their thinking away from the real cause for all this interest in Eritrea which is power and influence given Eritrea's strategic Red Sea location. The West could care less about Africa's development or true democracy as long as there is someone in power that can do as they want.

For example, history has taught us that the U.S. has engaged in several covert operations (Guatemala, Iran, Cuba, Congo, etc) following World War II to destroy nationalist leaders in newly de-colonized nations. From these cases it is clear that the U.S. had no interest in working with newly independent states who wanted self-sufficiency and self-determination. The goal was to work with and aid the corrupt so called "democratic leaders" against the nationalist so called "communist" leaders. The nationalist leaders who were not necessarily communist (Patrice Lumumba) were "evil" and a threat to the west. In the end Lumuba's so called
"democratic" enemies killed him and dug the country into havoc when all he wanted to do was build the nation. His thinking was dangerous as no Western nation was interested in tolerating such independent thinking from a black man and from a black nation. So in essence what I'm trying to say is don't try to act like you really want freedoms and democracy. It's a cover up when you fear the strong mindedness of the leadership, the true meaning of freedom, the development of the country, and the upward mobility of the people. If you honestly do care about these issues, then let's talk. Otherwise step aside and keep quiet.

Ryan| 4.2.10 @ 2:19PM

A few arguments.

First, Eritria isn't the Congo. Nothing to do with the Cold War and Lumumba.

Second, the conclusion of human rights abuses is pretty unanimous against the regime in Eritria. Saying "no it isn't" and "you don't understand" without providing solid evidence to the contrary doesn't prove your case.

"Weed out the toxic people" sounds suspiciously like "political/religious prisoners." They should have freedom of assembly, expression, press, religion, etc, that they are not granted by the current Eritrian government.

observer| 4.2.10 @ 5:42PM

He already told you the repetitive use of "human rights" to defame a country like Eritrea is a Strategy of the US/UK (AngloAmerican White Supremacist) Imperialists that has been used on several other countries.
He used teh Congo as an example which History shows.

Ryan, why don't you try to get Free from the Federal Reserve Bank in the US?

America jails more people than AnY COUNTRY in the World. America has teh Death Penalty. America still VIOLATES the HUMAN RIGHTS of BLACK Americans, Mexicans, Latinos, Native Americans (Indians) to this DAY.

They keep the AMerican Indians in Concentration camps called RESERVATIONS where they are fed Poisons like LYSOL.

the US is the Worst VIOLATER of HUMAN RIGHTS in the HUMAN HISTORY.

IT Has MASSMURDERED MORE PEOPLE in the WORLD than ANY EMPIRE.

In History, AMerica's WAR on the WORLD will be REMEMBERED as the HOLOCAUST of the WORLD!

Salina| 4.30.11 @ 2:58PM

We don't need to give you any type of evidence....Saying, "No it isn't" and "You don't understand" is ENOUGH for us to say to you !! You need to go another LYING article because this one, right here doesn't concern YOU buddy !!! Just go read an article about America or something...You don't care about Eritrea so you can BOUNCE off of this page .

observer| 4.2.10 @ 5:43PM

GOOD ANALYSIS of America's past, present and Main Foreign Policy which is have no Truly Free Governments.

The US Does Not like Governments that are Free from it's control. The US Empire will FALL just Like EVERY OTher EMPIRE in HISTORY!

Aman| 4.2.10 @ 2:12PM

I can't understand how any human being with a healthy mind support a government that kills the powerless and vitimizes children and elderly. These so called "Supporters of GOE" must have some mental issues.
How can any government (even any person for that matter) justify charging money (Nakfa 30,000 per child) to a 70 year old parent for the escape of their children (who are >18 years old; in most cases >35 yrs old ) from the hell that the government and its supporters have created? This is unheard of.
They are living and enjoying their democratic rights in the West which they consider "Evil". Why do they stay in an "Evil" country? Because they know that human rights are fullly respected. Their actions even speak volumes about who the Evil is. They thhemselves are Evil.
They go out to the streets of DC and Europe and demonstrate against actions taken by the international community against the Eritrean government, and yet they fully accept the denial of the Eritrean people's rights to a peaceful demonstration in their country. Where is the shame and decensy?
I hope the US and other western coutnries monitor the flow of Money from these people as they are equaly responsible for the suffering of the Eritrean people.
This article is to the point. It didn't realy explain the pain of the Eritrean people very well but tried its best.

samira| 4.5.10 @ 5:34PM

aman arer you saying the suffering of Ethioppians, the Anauk masakar, the imprisonment of Birtukan, the death of the thousands of The ormomo, the Ogaden, the somalis by the creuel Ethiopian government. Just go home and clean your home. and Eritreans are very well able to do their business.
I can see how the tegarus are angry at Eritrea for becoming self sufficient. Not begging, not selling its souls for dollar.
There is no country like Eritrea in Africa. and it is sad to be a neighbour to Ethiopia. How nice it is to be neighbour to Sudan but not to Ethiopia, particulalry to the tigray. They are the TuKan.

Fool| 4.2.10 @ 2:30PM

you are wasting your time bad stuff about eritrea
who are you trying to fool NEOCON
we eritran love our country & our government.
http://www.eastafro.com/EriTV1/

Merhawie | 4.2.10 @ 2:45PM

Let's go point by point to ensure that this article gets the free treatment it deserves.

Paragraph 1: Independent Eritrea is just shy of two decades old however has existed in its current form for over a century and has had a long history stretching back long before the days of Christ. To be a source of something implies that it flows from that source. Repression cannot flow and thus the characterization is fundamentally inaccurate. Contrary to the claim that it is a source of instability, I would argue that it is a source for stability. Consider that the number of peace agreements signed in its capital by warring militants in nearby countries is growing while its capacity to mediate those conflicts, whether internal (Sudanese rebels against the Government of Sudan) or external (between the Governments of Chad and Sudan) is growing. As far as I can tell, from conversations there and research in the United States, the "religious persecution" that is discussed in this article is done within a legal framework and thus should be argued on that as opposed to the religious argument because Eritrea has been a uniquely peaceful place for relations between Islam and Christianity.

Paragraph 2: This cursory look at recent Eritrean history does a disservice to the reader because it trivializes what many Eritreans see as a consistent bias against the land and its people. Emblematic of this is the following quote by John Foster Dulles, one time secretary of State of the US: "From the point of view of justice, the opinions of the Eritrean people must receive consideration. Nevertheless, the strategic interests of the United States in the Red Sea Basin and considerations of security and world peace make it necessary that the country [Eritrea] be linked with our ally, Ethiopia." This policy continued through many US presidents even as the Ethiopian Emperor dismantled the Eritrean government at gunpoint, assassinated its political leaders and tried to cleave the society on religious boundaries. Throughout all of this we (Americans) continued to support him, after his assassination we continued to funnel money to the communist government via our client states in the middle east. Eritreans suffered from war crimes while the world watched silently ("Night and Silence", http://mediaburn.org/Video-Pre.....l?uid=5623)

Paragraph 3: Eritrea's conflict with Yemen concluded with a resounding defeat of Yemen on the battlefield (the combat lasted for but weeks) and then Eritrea agreed that violence was not the answer and suggested arbitration at the Hague. As a result of the legal proceedings Eritrea was asked to leave the Hanish Islands while it was able to maintain sovereignty over fishing waters. Eritrea abided by this agreement strictly. This is actually awfully important when considering the Ethiopia conflict because similarly Eritrea was forced into a border conflict when Ethiopia redrew its maps to include parts of Eritrea. After bloody battles for three years seeing some of the largest land battles since World War II Eritrea was eventually occupied. When this conflict too went to the Hague to be ultimately decided, Eritrea's territorial claims were upheld and it was expected that Ethiopia would leave the territories under occupation. Nearly a decade later they have not, Eritrea's most fertile agricultural areas remain under occupation by Ethiopian soldiers. Further, under the Bush Administration Ethiopia was seen as a central ally with billions funneled into Ethiopia for arms and military training and general government support. In Eritrea this is seen as complicity as the United States has made only one overture to Ethiopia to leave Eritrean territories. Even more insidious though is another well-regarded former US Ambassador to the UN suggesting that the United States attempted to reverse the Hague Court decision. ("Surrender Is Not an Option: Defending America at the United Nations", John Bolton)

Paragraph 4: Contrary to the State Department document referenced, the United Nations suggests that our (America's) patrons in the region are the primary sources of arms in the region via "Ethiopia, Yemen ... " and Djibouti (UN Committee 751). Ironically Eritrea, two years ago, called for a peace conference of Somalia, including every facet of society. Although the Conference itself was very successful, the effort was ultimately unsuccessful in consolidating all the forces in Somalia, at the very least however it did not add to the military dispositions in Somalia as did Ethiopia's invasion in 2006 which we supported. Similarly to complain that Eritrea's effect on its neighbors is much poorer than theirs on it is inaccurate, particularly when you consider that Islamic terrorists have moved from the Sudan where they were expelled to the Ethiopian capital in an attempt to gain help in turning Eritrea into an Islamic state.

I will skip the paragraphs dealing with domestic religious laws as I would argue they are outside my scope. I would argue that Eritrea's human rights situation should be viewed in a context that makes it objective. To this end I would use the HDI to rate its improvements. This indicator I feel gives an accurate presentation of what should be expected of any developing country. By this indicator we see a consistent growth in Eritrea's situation, that has significantly improved access to communications technology (internet, mobile phones, etc.), education (primary school, secondary school and 6 new colleges, etc.) and one of the most significant human rights in my opinion is the right to health care and Eritrea has made great strides in its provision of care.
Of course no government and country is perfect and Eritrea has plenty of space for improvement but with some time, peace, and maybe a little luck, Eritrea will overcome the challenges before it and succeed!

Kubrom Mehari| 4.2.10 @ 3:09PM

The Evil followers always protect the brutal dictactor.People from Ortodox relgion who defied te orders of notorous Junta when they travel are asked intorgated by the Junta Jestapo. We have A lot of Spies in the west we are exposing the here in the land of the free they cannot hide and work for the devil we have the list of spies we presented it to Attorney General

semira| 4.5.10 @ 5:36PM

kubrom mehari Agame you do not know how to spell your name and just shut up . Go home and clean your home which is full of sins and humandung

Isaias Agame Afwerki| 4.2.10 @ 4:23PM

Might any of you be tax collectors for what some of the posts on this site suggest is the peaceful, pro-human-rights nation of Eritrea? Any suggestions as to how I might obtain a list of all of its tax collectors who live in the United States? Names, addresses, and phone numbers would all be of interest. I'm sure lots of people would like to know how they can send in donations to support everything Comrade Afwerki is doing. Also, when is Comrade Afwerki running for reelection so that people can know when to send him campaign contributions? Why call him "President" when "Comrade" sounds so much friendlier?

Salina| 4.30.11 @ 3:01PM

OKAY FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE CALLING ISAIAS AN AGAME!!
SECOND OF ALL YOU NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE WITH YOUR LIES !!
DONT EVER COME AT ERITREA OR OUR PRESIDENT LIKE THAT

Dawit K.| 4.2.10 @ 5:24PM

The rticle sounds quaruply evil.

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.2.10 @ 5:31PM

I've never been to Eritria.

One not so funny anecdote though. While building a rather huge project in Saudi, we always had some of the finest young men in the world from there working with us.
They would always come into our work "compound" at night....all shot up and chopped up.
We would doctor them up the best we could, and put them to work. As soon as they got enough money for bullets and beans, they would come by the pay shack and grin, and tell us they would see us again when they ran out of bullets back home.

(The young men were Christians, and they had heard I was.)
Fascinatingly enough, the Saudis just looked the other way.
God bless those young men.

Awet'N'Hafesh| 4.2.10 @ 5:44PM

I love how people talk so tough on the internet. When you meet them face-to-face, it's a whole different story... What a shame.

Anywazes, Mr. Ryan, how do you expect us to prove a negative. You are the one making the accusations. Anyone that knows anything about Eritrea knows it is one of the most religiously diverse country on the continent and world.

Maybe it was unimportant to you, but Eritrea is at least 50% muslim (I don't even think the confused Eritreans on here (I will get to them later) will dispute that). Islam and Christianity co-exist seemsly in Eritrea. Both mosque and church operate just blocks from one another in the capital and throughout the country. I have seen it first hand. Have you?

I know Christian and Muslims aren't suppose co-exist freely in your evangelical-crusader-American-born-religious philosophy. By the way, when was your religion created? 50 years ago? 100 years ago? 200 years ago? In america? In England? Christianity and Islam have co-existed for over 1500 years in Eritrea. Instead of judging Eritrea, you may want to humble yourself and ask how it is possible for such a phenomenon to exist.

But evangelicals don't care about Islam and Christianity co-existing. Might is right. You must convert all non-evengalicals, right? You must sell your religion like McDonalds? That is why Eritrea is so dangerous. That is why you say we are the worst. That we are intolerant. The most effective attack on your enemy is always attacking their strength. I understand why we are the worst to you. We are the worst threat of a good example. That is why people like you come in with your extremist form of Christianity. To foment violence like the British.

The only major conflict between Islam and Christianity over the last couple centuries occurred when the British tried to foment violence in the 1950s during the British Administration. It was designed to divide the country between Muslim Sudan and "Christian" Ethiopia. It was done by evangelicals like you. You even admit that Orthodox, Catholics, and Protestants can worship in Eritrea. Penti's and other right wing western religions were tightly regulated for a number of reasons including the fact that they refuse to serve in the military (even during the most devastating war in African since WWII). The penti's ignorantly worship the US even though the US is trying to destroy their own country.

The so called opposition on here that claim the Eritrean leadership want to get rid of archaic resti land policy to better themselves are just full of it. If they wanted to enrich themselves they would have done it a long time ago. You cannot advocate for modern ideas of human rights and than promote 19th century forms of land ownership.

In regards to democracy. I ask Ryan to point to an election in the horn, Africa, or the middle that you would have Eritrea emulate. They all lead to near civil war and don't bring about change. Even the elections here are big jokes. True democracy starts at the grass roots. They are defined as elections. The issues in Eritrea are very non controversial, they include DEFENSE, clean water, medical care, education, food security, and basic developments.

And, btw, Eritrea DOES have elections. Just today there was a story about one. HERE'S YOUR EVIDENCE.

http://shabait.com/news/local-.....h-sub-zone

We will have national elections when we are ready.

I could go on, but I know you have probably tuned out by now. I would love to hear your response, though, by now, I'm sure you are starting to regret much of what you wrote... If want me or my brethren on here to elaborate, on any point, we will oblige.

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.2.10 @ 6:59PM

Awet, heh,
You dont want to get in Mr. Ryan's face in person.
Do you know the old Texas saying about old men?

"He won't fight you...he will just shoot you."

Ryan has spoken straight up to the squirrels in the most powerful government the world has ever known.
He has never backed up one inch.
YAWEH AKBAR!

Steven| 4.2.10 @ 8:01PM

Ryan is a violent person talking about human rights, lol, the irony.

Old Texican, you don't fight or shoot anyone that can fight or shoot back at you. You are proud of being a bully with a gun (Is that Americanism?") if so that is pathetic

Awet'N'Hafash| 4.2.10 @ 10:17PM

We also have a saying in Eritrea: "Eritreans only kneel on two accusations: when they pray and when they shoot."

The average Eritrean has been through battles that would make the Alamo look like a cake walk. Old Texan, go follow your bible thumping crusader President to hell in Iraq. (I'm sure Mr. Ryan puts on kid gloves for his Christian Bush.) I dare the U.S. to invade Eritrea, a country armed to the teeth (f**k the sanctions) and where everyone is militarily trained.

I have never read any of Mr. Ryan's work before I am almost certain he has never criticized this "most powerful government the world has ever known." Indeed, I'm sure he worships that power. If he has, WHERE IS THE PROOF!

Mr. Ryan's Crusader President was shamefully crippled by Arab teenagers in Iraq. Can you imagine what would happen in Eritrea.

I would also love to see some PROOF of Mr. Ryan criticizing this Country for throwing away every constitutional right in the book when its sovereignty was threatened by terrorists. I'm sure he was writing a storm. Mr. Ryan solely concentrate on Eritrea in isolation in order to cover his own misgivings. Stop relying on State Department reports on Somalia. The Somalia Monitoring group, published just weeks ago, found ZERO evidence of Eritrea providing military support.

All Eritrea asks for is evidence. Who is really fomenting violence in the region? Who is arming the Somalia insurgents? Who is occupying whose land? For every question Mr. Ryan would assert Eritrea is the violator, when the opposite is so obviously true.

I have a challenge for you Mr. Ryan. Absolutely debunk any of the assertions you have raised, in regards to Eritrea has become a regional spoiler, with overwhelming concrete evidence and common sense. Just pick an issue (i.e. Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti).

Salina| 4.30.11 @ 3:06PM

Ken,
Nobody is trying to shoot nobody so learn how to read buddy !! Just because someone proved you WRONG, doesn't mean you have to show off what you think is brains but what is STUPIDITY !!! Hop Off hun (:

Debunker | 4.2.10 @ 7:22PM

As far as Eritreans are concerned, anything written by westerners who do not have the best interest of the black continent , are immaterial. So many junk has been written over the years by NGOs, Religious institutions, Western Media demonizing Eritreans. But as the Eritrean saying goes " the dogs bark and the camel keeps marching" You will read many more negative articles from the likes of Doug Bandow about Eritrea as long as Eritreans continue to defy the west and their dirty neo-colonial games.

What could be the reason for this double standard? Could it be because the other countries have already knelt down and submitted their necks to the stiff collar of aid-dependency and Eritrea has not done so? Or could it be Eritrea's struggle to attain a just and long-lasting democratic system one that is based on our own experience, tailor-cut to fit the needs of our people and not simply roughly modeled and based on western double standards poses a threat to their hypocrisy?

Why do most African states have to import political ideologies instead of developing homegrown ideologies? For instance, Marxist socialism is a Europeanized version of African collectivism that removes the communal-spiritual aspect and adds emphasis to materialism. Had Africans formulated political doctrines in harmony with their own respective cultures, the continent wouldn't be facing the problems it faces today. I'm not saying recreate the wheel, but why not have the confidence in your own ideas?

Perhaps, Eritreans are a bad example that could, if left unchecked, show other developing countries that life exists outside the IMF and World Bank walls! Gone are the days of colonialism and when the western world thought others can not survive without them. Thanks to its visionary, incorruptible leadership Eritrea is an oasis of stability in the middle of unrelenting turmoil

Anyone who would care to look into President Issias Afewerki's record would find the following undeniable and self-evidently vivid facts:

* a leader who is fiercely committed and devoted to the betterment of his people;
* a visionary leader who espouses a practical, sensible and non-bankrupting approach to nation building --
* fairly balanced and universal sharing of work and responsibility,
* prudent management of resources,
* minimum resort to borrowed assistance (prevents mortgaging the country's future to creditors),
* the exercise of appropriate frugality in all areas of endeavor;
* a leader who is a true 'people's leader' ---
* one who is not affected by any elitist aspirations or leanings (Just a plain, honest-to-God, 'President of the people', who can actually see, feel and sense the people's pains, troubles and aches -- sounds exactly like what the good 'doctor' ordered for Eritrea's hard-done-by masses!);
* a leader who is bold, decisive and honest --- honest enough to call a spade a spade to anyone's face (some people attempt to pontificate and attach all sorts of imagined stigmas to possessing this rare virtue.

The truth is: honesty is honesty, is honesty, any day, any place! When you get down to the real nitty-gritty of things, honesty is the only thing that will count);

* a leader who is untouched by corruption and who works hard, even at the risk of being accused of subverting justice, to banish this ruinous scourge from government and society;
* a leader, who, above all, has a tremendous self-confidence -- one who is neither intimidated by the enormous challenges and sacrifices that face our nation, nor distracted by the various, sinister saboteurs and obstructionists, from doggedly pursuing his ultimate national call as Eritrea's leader, of putting Eritrea on the right track of progress and better future;
* a leader who, by setting the right example, inspires confidence and trust in his people, barring a few misguided promoters of defeatism and negativity, who lead relatively comfortable lives in their cocooned existence in the Diaspora and know nothing better than to attempt to sabotage and obstruct our government's genuine efforts to ameliorate the conditions of our people.
* And on and on.

Democracy has a special meaning for Eritreans. Democracy has to be sustainable, and vital institutions to sustain democracy need to be in place. A hungry man going to a ballot box is not how we, Eritreans, define a democracy. Democracy is a guarantee for equality and Freedom. Providing clean drinking water, efforts to achieve food security, providing electricity, creating a an environment for equality to all. We cannot consider a nation with only 2% of the population controlling the entire national wealth while 98% are destitute but who could vote, as seen in third world countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia...etc.

The apartheid Woyane regime in Ethiopia with embedded Europeans in its institutions to run the country's affairs, with foreign governments calling the shots, with British, American and French personnel embedded in the mercenary regime as advisors, and thousands of their NGOs and affiliates permanently established and operating all over Ethiopia, enriching themselves off the "aid" flowing into Ethiopia, is in fact, a de facto colonized state. The only difference is that, as opposed to other African countries that were under one or two colonial powers, its colonizers are many !!

On the other hand, Eritrea has become a threat - “a threat of a good example”, a beacon of hope in a continent filled with misery and despair, and where Africans, despite their abundant resources, because of corruption and greed, and most of all because of economic programs prescribed by self-serving external forces, have been relegated to live on handouts from the “generous” west.

God Bless Eritrea.

Kebreab| 4.2.10 @ 7:33PM

Debunker is Denkero he can hide and try to fool innocent people he failed.A poodle cannot hide from the west and spew his venom .We are tracking these dictactors and despots errand boys wiring money illegal activities.If these pretenders are convicted they will be deported and will live to face Iseyas iron fist.

Germano| 4.2.10 @ 7:40PM

HIGDEF ISAYA poodles are daily attacking the West and unaited states.These fools what are they doing here enjoying western democracy id Eritrea is good place to live. The country got independence 20 years ago i never seen people even the hardcore Isyas worshipers leave US to live with their great leaders. The fact is elderly young middle age are living the country in thousands,They love to blame and live in this great country and demonize it.I hope peace loving Eritreans who live in this blessed country are reporting these cowards like debunker and Iseyas minions.

Human| 4.2.10 @ 8:05PM

So many errors on this article I don’t now were to start ... but if you think these LIES will fly then good luck explaining yourself when you get Expose for your George bush politics

I may be a student but on this subject i can say I’m more researched and knowledgeable about the subject matter of Eritrea than your childish reporting

Doing Less Could Help More in Somalia

The Rumi Forum presented "Doing Less Could Help More in Somalia" with Bronwyn Bruton.

http://rumiforum.org/lucheons/doing.html

shame on the aurthor for miinforming people i would FIRE you if i wanted to now the truth

Netssa.com | 4.2.10 @ 8:21PM

Eritrea with the access to Read Sea has great potential for tourism,
country is similar to Cuba, but Cuba open up for truism in 1990, now Cuba attracts over 2 millions visitors a year, despite huge competition from other Caribbean islands.

Eritrea must open for tourism as Cuba: no entry visa, not travel restrictions and not police harassment. Eritrea offer: perfect coral reefs, clean and warm sea, beautiful beaches, exotic culture, and is the most peaceful and secure country in East Africa.

Look at Cuba: www.Netssa.com is a unique guide dedicated to Cuba.

ciaspotter| 4.2.10 @ 8:23PM

There are Woyane(EPRDF) agents on here who are posing as Eritreans.

Also some who work for the US State Dept. are posing as Eritreans on here.

Stop this sickness and deception US State Department, your PuppetMan (PM) Meles Zenawi is misbehaving, cut his allowance and give him a spanking.

MARON| 4.3.10 @ 2:57AM

If you have a concrete evidence, just try to convince. Otherwise what is the problem if who so ever posts on this issue, if it is a fact.

Filmon| 4.2.10 @ 8:29PM

Zero Freedom in Eritrea; the people are living in absolute tyranny. The dictatorial regime of Isaias Afwerki is one of the worst of a kind seen in history. The worst tyranny in the world is happening right now in Eritrea.

ob| 4.2.10 @ 9:24PM

LIAR. HAAAM"D BELAAAH

smartEri | 4.2.10 @ 8:35PM

Eritrea dictatorial regime PFDJ is responsible for the endless suffering of my country and people.
No Freedom at all in Eritrea.

ob| 4.2.10 @ 9:31PM

LIAR You will suffer from the lies you spread here!

BAHRE| 4.3.10 @ 3:00AM

This person, Mr.Ob (Observer) is I think the tyrant Isaias himself coz he uses this words frequently during his interview.

Ryan| 4.3.10 @ 3:21AM

http://i598.photobucket.com/al.....1248689925

Meles giving me a payment for giving him a good review at our US State Department Human Reports meetings in 2009. Meles is very willing to please his masters: http://i598.photobucket.com/al.....1248689925

sal| 4.29.10 @ 5:35AM

so your trying to say theres no freedom in eritrea is ther poverty too.

sal| 4.29.10 @ 5:35AM

so your trying to say theres no freedom in eritrea is ther poverty too.

Erigul| 4.2.10 @ 8:38PM

God help Eritrea

Oxygenator | 4.2.10 @ 8:42PM

God can not "help Eritrea" because there is no such thing called "God". If you want to help your people then it is up to you to actively do something about it. prove it.

sal | 6.10.10 @ 7:05AM

help your self

Cat| 4.2.10 @ 8:45PM

What a rubish article? The road to a complete Imperial Fall is gradual and slow ... It is hard for someone within the belly to capture it ... But it is happening to America. It is going down by the day morally, ethically, and polictically.
It is a shame for an Impire to focus of a nation of 5 million and with an economic state of a develiping country with such a great deal. But that is one of the systems of hysteria and maddness ... and a sign of a gradual fall. Empires at this stage tend to pick a fight with anyone big, small, rich, poor ... a gradual loss of sanity. God save America from its evil deeds and a downward spiral .... Amen!

Eritrean-American| 4.2.10 @ 8:45PM

Mr. Bandow,

I think you got it very wrong about Eritrea. I suggest you visit Eritrea for a reality check; and you would find how honest, hospitable, FREE, clean, hard-working & lovely country it is. The daily success stories in that country far-outweigh the negatives and half-truths.

Eritreans love their country and their president to death. So you'd have to do something evil like kill their president and destroy their country in order for Eritreans to cease from making you feel you have been "doubly eviled."

Ethiopian| 4.2.10 @ 9:21PM

I live in Washington DC and I have noticed something. There are many Black, African, Carribbean people there however we are not in charge of America?
They put a "black" face in the White House, but the policy of the US is still pro-White Racist Policy.
I WILL STAND WITH ERITREANS and ERITREA as a FELLOW AFRICAN and NEIGHBOR and tell Doug Bandow to EAT A BRICK! Because Doug Bandow is a BANDA and Piece of Shit who writes IDIOTIC Articles like this one.

As far as AFRICANS are concerned, DOUG BANDOW is an IDIOT and NOT WELCOME in AFRICA!

Doug next time you are in Ethiopia, I will make sure that you stay longer than you planned! :)

AC from RS1 | 4.2.10 @ 9:37PM

It's not secret that the people who are masquerading as "opposition" to the people, nation and government of Eritrea happen to be the inferiority complex inflicted Tigreans from the Northern part of Ethiopia.

Stuck between a rock and hard place, facing miserable fate in the hands of the heroic Ethiopian people who view them as foreign occupation force, these Tigrean maggots are looking desperately for someone to blame for their nasty predicament of their own making. The ignorant that they are, they foolishly believe scapegoating Eritrea for their crimes against humanity would absolve them from their responsibilities, hence they falsely assume an "Eritrean opposition" character to tarnish the good image of their neighboring nation of Eritrea. But we all know you can pile shit on shit, but it's still a heap of shit.

It goes without saying that the end of the brutal apartheid regime in Ethiopia has come. As the phony election date draws closer and there is no sign the regime will get any support anywhere in the country, driven by its fears it is now reduced to violent campaign in condemning to death key politicians in a futile attempt to halt the ever swelling avalanche of mass unrest and uprising tightening the noose around the neck of the dictatorship. These Tigrean maggots are rattling because they know their days are numbered. The vigorous efforts being made by Ethiopian resistance movements to unite under one front to fight a common foe is scaring them silly! 2010 will be a year where we will see the emergence of a formidable new united Ethiopian resistance front ready to topple the weakened apartheid regime in Ethiopia.

It was only a few weeks ago that the genocidal dictator Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia was all over Ethiopian media expressing his fears of the U.S. media brodcast in Ethiopia, accusing them of "inciting violence", and ordered the jamming of the Voice of America radio (VOA) equating it to that of the Rwandan Radio Mille Collines, the radio whose broadcasts are believed to have sparked the Rwanda genocide.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "no one can make you feel inferior without your consent," and these consenting inferior beings from Tigray once responded, "because they call us agame" when asked why they invaded Eritrea in 1998. "Agame" is a derogatory term commonly used to refer to the minority-led genocidal regime in Ethiopia and its inferiority complex laden foot-soldiers who are parroting on this site posing as "opposition" to Eritrea.

DougBandowisNOTcredible| 4.2.10 @ 9:43PM

Doug Bandow is NOT a CRedible writer. His history as a writer shows that He is a PAID-apologist or demonizer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Bandow

"Abramoff scandal

Bandow resigned from Cato on December 15, 2005, after admitting he accepted payments from Abramoff — in return for publishing articles favorable to Abramoff's clients over a period of approximately ten years. He has referred to these activities as "a lapse of judgment," saying that he accepted payments for "between 12 and 24 articles" over a period of years. He stepped down after BusinessWeek Online contacted the Cato Institute to probe news of possible payments. He typically received on the order of $2,000 per article.[3]"

So Doug , who is Paying you to DEMONIZE Eritrea?

A. EPRDF (MELES ZENAWI/Woyane) of Ethiopia?

B. US State Department Johnnie Carson?

C. US State Department Susan Rice?

D. ALL of the ABOVE

DougBandowPAIDtoDEMONIZE| 4.2.10 @ 9:47PM

http://www.businessweek.com/bw....._db016.htm

Op-Eds for Sale
A columnist from a libertarian think tank admits accepting payments to promote an indicted lobbyist's clients. Will more examples follow?

A senior fellow at the Cato Institute resigned from the libertarian think tank on Dec. 15 after admitting that he had accepted payments from indicted Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff for writing op-ed articles favorable to the positions of some of Abramoff's clients. Doug Bandow, who writes a syndicated column for Copley News Service, told BusinessWeek Online that he had accepted money from Abramoff for writing between 12 and 24 articles over a period of years, beginning in the mid '90s.

"It was a lapse of judgment on my part, and I take full responsibility for it," Bandow said from a California hospital, where he's recovering from recent knee surgery.

After receiving BusinessWeek Online's inquiries about the possibility of payments, Cato Communications Director Jamie Dettmer said the think-tank determined that Bandow "engaged in what we consider to be inappropriate behavior and he considers to be a lapse in judgment" and accepted his resignation. "Cato has an excellent reputation for integrity, and we're zealous in guarding that," Dettmer said.

Bandow has written more than 150 editorials and columns over the past five years, each identifying his Cato affiliation. His syndicated column for Copley News Service is featured in several hundred newspapers across the country. Bandow's biography on the Cato Institute Web site says he has also appeared as a commentator on all the major television broadcast networks and the cable news channels.

MULTIPLE TRAVAILS. A former Abramoff associate says Bandow and at least one other think-tank expert were typically paid $2,000 per column to address specific topics of interest to Abramoff's clients. Bandow's standing as a columnist and think-tank analyst provided a seemingly independent validation of the arguments the Abramoff team were using to try to sway Congressional action.

Bandow confirms that he received $2,000 for some pieces, but says it was "usually less than that amount." He says he wrote all the pieces himself, though with topics and information provided by Abramoff. He adds that he wouldn't write about subjects that didn't interest him.

Abramoff was indicted in Florida in August on wire-fraud charges in relation to his purchase of a Florida casino-boat company. He faces trial in January in that case.

Separately, a Senate committee and a Justice Dept. task force are investigating allegations that Abramoff defrauded some of his clients -- a handful of American Indian tribes that had gotten wealth from running casino-gaming operations on their reservations. Abramoff's business partner, Michael Scanlon, pleaded guilty in November to conspiring to corrupt public officials with gifts, including political contributions, and defrauding clients, and is cooperating with the ongoing probe.

ATTITUDE SWING. A review of Bandow's columns and other written work shows that he wrote favorably about Abramoff's Indian tribal clients -- as well as another Abramoff client, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands -- as far back as 1997. One column, syndicated by the Copley News Service, saluted one Abramoff client tribe, the Mississippi Choctaws, for their entrepreneurial spirit, hard work, and commitment to free enterprise. "The Choctaws offer a model for other tribes," Bandow wrote.

Bandow wrote a column earlier this year -- well after the disclosure that Abramoff was under federal investigation -- saying that wealthy Indian tribes had become yet another "well-funded special interest seeking political favors." In response to BusinessWeek Online's inquiry, Bandow said his views of Indian gambling have shifted over the years. "It's gone well beyond what it once was," he said.

In none of Bandow's op-eds were any Abramoff payments disclosed, however -- nor were they disclosed to the Cato Institute. On Dec. 16, Copley News Service announced it is suspending Bandow pending its own review. In a statement, Glenda Winders, Copley News Service editor and vice-president, said: "We want to make sure we have all the facts before we take final action. But it had never been our policy to distribute work paid for by third parties whose role is not disclosed by the columnist."

For years, rumors have swirled of an underground opinion "pay-for-play" industry in Washington in which think-tank employees and pundits trade their ability to shape public perception for cash.

"NAIVE PURITY STANDARD." Bandow isn't the only think-tanker to have received payments from Abramoff for writing articles. Peter Ferrara, a senior policy adviser at the conservative Institute for Policy Innovation, says he, too, took money from Abramoff to write op-ed pieces boosting the lobbyist's clients. "I do that all the time," Ferrara says. "I've done that in the past, and I'll do it in the future."

Ferrara, who has been an influential conservative voice on Social Security reform, among other issues, says he doesn't see a conflict of interest in taking undisclosed money to write op-ed pieces because his columns never violated his ideological principles.

"It's a matter of general support," Ferrara says. "These are my views, and if you want to support them, then that's good." But he adds that at some point over the years, Abramoff stopped working with him: "Jack lost interest in me and felt he had other writers who were writing in more prominent publications," Ferrara says.

"SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS." Ferrara's boss has a very different take on the Abramoff op-ed writing than did his peers at Cato. "If somebody pinned me down and said, 'Do you think this is wrong or unethical?' I'd say no," says Tom Giovanetti, president of the Institute for Policy Innovation. Giovanetti says critics are applying a "naive purity standard" to the op-ed business. "I have a sense that there are a lot of people at think tanks who have similar arrangements."

Ferrara began working at the Institute for Policy Innovation after the period during which he wrote the op-ed pieces for Abramoff. Earlier, he worked at the activist anti-tax organization Americans for Tax Reform.

Ferrara wouldn't say which publications have published pieces for which Abramoff paid him. But a review of his work shows that he wrote articles for The Washington Times that were favorable to the Choctaw Indians and the Mariana Islands. He also wrote a 1998 book called The Choctaw Revolution: Lessons for Federal Indian Policy. Ferrara says the tribe paid him directly for his work on the book, which was published by the Americans for Tax Reform Foundation and is still available for sale on Amazon.com (AMZN ).

Tesfom| 4.2.10 @ 11:20PM

The cruel Junta followers are getting irritated with this factual reporting.Who are they trying to decieve? they are attacking US the West Obama.According these diaspora higdefites Eritrea is in good hands . I dont have to get facts from western news media i call my people who are suffering in this cruel regime grip.They deny deny facts blame blame others the fact the ball is in their court.Their evil ways is coming and speeding their demise.The blood of innocent people is cursing them.

TesfomShaytaan| 4.2.10 @ 11:47PM

LIAR!

All your lies will come back to HURT YOU! Tesfom!

Norman| 4.3.10 @ 12:02AM

Eritrea is not evil. Getting paid to lie about Eritrea is.

Money is the root of all evil.

ThanksNorman| 4.3.10 @ 12:25AM

Getting paid to lie about a whole country.

Americans must understand that Doug Bandow and people like him are what got 4500 American Soldiers to lose their lives because of false articles they write in order to demonize a Nation that a majority of Americans can't even locate on a map.

Mezlal T| 4.3.10 @ 12:12AM

The current Eritrean leadership reminds me of the man who killed both his parents and begs the court for mercy based on the fact that he is an orphan. Blame everybody else and when accused point the finger at the U.S. , Ethiopia, Meles, Tigray, etc etc. Can anyone answer the question why thousands of Eritreans are risking lives to get out of the country. Are you following the latest news of young men lost in the desert, drowned in the seas, shot and killed crossing borders? If you are in denial about this you will probably point out to the CIA or some imaginary enemy. Wake up and try to suggest helpful solutions rather than name calling.

MezlalLIAR| 4.3.10 @ 12:29AM

The Egyptian soldiers on the Egyptian/Israeli border SHOOT and KILL people crossing into Israel.
The US is to blame for providing FREE ARMS to Egypt to continue doing that. SO Yes the US is To BLAME for anyone getting killed on the border with Israel.

Meles Zenawi is to blame for Occupying Eritrean Territory in TOTAL VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL BINDING AGREEMENTS signed at the HAGUE!

Imaginary..Hey..Your attempt at distracting the issue here is realistic but your attempt fails because its based on Imaginary Thinking.

Blaming "Eritrea" or the "ERitrean GOVERNMENT" will NOT ABSOLVE NOR FORGIVE the US/ETHIOPIA(MELES ZENAWI)" For the CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY that they are DOING IN THE HORN OF AFRICA!

Mezlala..YOU have BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS! AND every LIE you try to say against ERITREA will come back to HAUNT YOU PERSONALLY!

Mezlal T| 4.3.10 @ 1:08AM

Why are the Eritreans in the Israeli/ Egyptian border? What are they doing there? How did they get there? Answers please.....

KidaneG| 4.3.10 @ 3:14AM

Because your breath stinks...go wash the semen out of your mouth prostitute!

TED| 4.3.10 @ 3:20AM

The Egyptians are killing people crossing their border to isreal because the US is supplying them free arms??? hahaha... But why are your people fleeing their country to Isreal or other outries risking their lives? ... may be for a picnic !!!

Ryan| 4.3.10 @ 3:34AM

Because the Dictator Meles Zenawi forces everyone in Ethiopia to watch him perform this service on the US State Department Male STAFFS!
http://i598.photobucket.com/al.....1248689925

Mezlal T| 4.3.10 @ 12:38AM

Exactly my point. Instead of answering the question of why thousands of Eritreans are escaping their country, you digress to totally unrelated issues of U.S. providing arms to Egypt to kill Eritreans. (It would be funny if it were not sad and tragic) I know you will keep supporting the government until one of your relative runs away and desperately calls for help. Mark my words. You seem to be one of those who say as long as it doesn't happen to me personally everything is OK. Please just answer the question, don't go into other topics. Thousands of Eritreans are either running away or attempting to run away as you write at this very moment.... Sad but true

Mezlal| 4.3.10 @ 12:54AM

You have a loaded question. Loaded questions don't deserve an answer, the person (YOURSELF) who asked deserves to be ridiculed and reminded of that the idiocy of their failed attempt.

"Why are they running?"

Does your ignorant brain ask, why do Ethiopians leave Ethiopia to cross the Sahara and try to enter into Israel via Egypt and call themselves Eritreans? DO you ask that? I doubt you will because you are a US State Department sponsored Woyane Agent who is posting here.

That right there destroys your legitimacy in asking a aquesion about Eritrea because you have NO RIGHT to Question ERITREA and ERITREA's NATIONAL INTERESTS!

BECAUSE ERITREA'S NATIONAL INTERESTS OVERRIDE ANY OTHER COUNTRIES NATIONAL INTERESTS INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA).

ERITREA is MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU MezlalLIAR! Remember that!..And if you think your stupid question deserves an answer than remember you deserve more than what will come to you for POSTING LIES on the internet!

What you throw out will come back to HURT YOU!

Mezlal T| 4.3.10 @ 1:05AM

O how the truth hurts. Instead of answering the simple question of why so many thousands of Eritreans are running away, you go on name calling. Thousands of Ethiopians, Nigerians and Mexicans may also be running away. But that is a side issue. Just answer the question. How is a simple questions a loaded question? If I were to ask you what day is it today, would you say that it is a loaded question too? Let me help you answer that: just say I am too embarrassed to go into the details to answer that question. For a change stand up for something.

Mezlalthe Lying Prostitute| 4.3.10 @ 1:15AM

Hey just because you have HIV/AIDS from selling your stinking pussy to Herpes infected American diplomats doesn't mean you have a right to speak about Eritrea!

Stick to what you know about Addis Ababa and your former Prostitution. And your current verbal Prostitution.

Oh yeah..please do go ahead and Continue SUCKING DICKS.

YOU FUCKING WHORE..BITCH SLUT..SUCK A DICK AND DIE BITCH!

SUCK A DICK AND DIE BITCH!

CHOKE ON A DICK...PROSTITUTE!

YOU WILL DIE FROM AIDS YOU WOYANE !BITCH!

Kidane G| 4.3.10 @ 1:32AM

Wow man, you need help. Please breathe slowly and check into some kind of rehab. I feel you man. No need to go into a tirade. Just answer the lady's question. Why so much anger.. Love ya, dude.

Selam| 4.3.10 @ 12:56AM

Good job Doug,
Those people who are suffering in the hand of the dictator don't have an access to an internet. Either they in a prison or struggling in sahara to make their way to the West to experience friend. They are in unlimited national service and forced labor work or luck education to read and write. On behalf of all these victims of repression and oppression I would like to say thank you.
Those who are denying the abuses and suffering of my people are either benefiting from the system or they have lost their mind. I know for fact some of these people work for the government and they get salary. It is their job and no one expects them to admit that their boss is committing all this crimes. I would like to remind them though no regime holds power forever and you guys will be brought to justices.
For those who say that democracy and elections are somehow alien to the Eritrean people read or ask Eritrean history. Our people, even during Hailesalassie and Derge, always held democratic election to elect their chiefs and judges based on their traditional constitution. Isaias and his followers destroyed our tradition and dismatled our institutions. Thanks again

YouareaSharmuuta| 4.3.10 @ 1:11AM

Haam'd BELEEE anti SHERMUUTA!

Aitinaded Zahlay| 4.3.10 @ 3:27AM

When you are told the truth you become mad like your drunken leader and become irritated.

Ryan| 4.3.10 @ 3:36AM

You should see what your Ethiopian leader is willing to do not to get elected out of the prime ministership:
http://i598.photobucket.com/al.....1248689925

Talk about dedication to being a dictator, no morals or ground to stand on.

Aitinaded, how do you feel about your Dictator Meles Zenawi doing that?

Salu Gual Eritrea| 1.8.11 @ 11:49PM

Listen up Bud...
You are really gonna say Thank you to this man because "Your Country" lost to the war and supposedly "suffered"?! Ok...Im going to try and make this easy for you so it can get through your THICK forhead honey!! Eritreans suffered because of Ethiopeans and we wanted our freedom and started war...we won and we left yall to be right?! Now dont even say another lie...Just because you are ashamed of your country doent mean you have to try and make me ashamed of mine !
Get it?! Got it?! Good!
Dang...wassup up with you people man?! Do the young people gotta be doing all the work to make you understand that you just ashamed
Well GoodBye Hater! :)

VIV ERITREA KIKED IMF AGENT | 4.3.10 @ 1:09AM

You have no clue what Eritrea is about, it’s not your playground, IMF agent like you lost Eritrean account. You are upset trying to get even with Eritreans too bad you lost before and now you trying to be a new Masaya like you did in Iraqi. NO NGO-NO NEW MASAYA-NO UN CRUB-NO HITMAN, in Eritrea. You knew this very clear you have no money making scam over there, please do not get upset with people of Eritrea, just learn what they are doing and teach other how they should do it.

DougthePAIDLIAR| 4.3.10 @ 1:10AM