so what Darren, you are really surprised that our leaders are suspicious of the West? The reality is that only a retarded blind man would put his faith in the West. The truth is that nations are ruled by self-interest, same as SA. Our self interest might converge with that of the West, e.g. when it comes to trade but to believe that SA will give the West some sort of free pass because of whatever nebulous reasons, I’m sure you’re keen to advance. Dude, stick to analyzing planes and leave geopolitics to real experts!!

No Kgalema, the reason for invading Iraq was weapons of mass destruction, striking at Al Qaeda bringing FREEDOM_TM and democracy to the Middle East especially Saudi Arabia!! Because your average US citizen really cares about the average Arab citizen.

Ha! there are no sarcasm tags.

Anyhoo, unfortunately Motlanthe and Jacob both appear beholden to the far left. Anyone else a little worried?

He’s a COSATU trade unionist? Greeeeat….

Biko, the concern is over two questions. One is whether after having had an AIDS dissident for a President who believed in the conspiracy theories surrounding the disease Motlanthe will offer a different take on that flawed reasoning in other areas, whether it be foreign policy.

If not then whether his actions and rational behind closed doors will match his populist announcements meant to play on ANC-cadre sentiment. Of course, it may be self-satisfying (and doesn’t hurt ones political career aspirations either) to lash out, play on old third world solidarity feelings with anti-west statements and rally the comrades. However the problem is when such statements verge on the paranoid and delusional it raises more worries about future legislation, policy and ultimately actions than about what the West thinks or does in ANC members eyes.

Biko, you’ve missed the point rather spectacularly. There are, I admit, legitimate reasons to distrust the motives of certain Western countries and there were certainly valid reasons to oppose the invasion of Iraq on rational grounds. Had Motlanthe made an argument on rational grounds or in terms of South Africa’s definable self-interest I would have respected that.

But arguing that South Africa was a target for an American invasion because of our mineral wealth is nothing less than insane and frighteningly ignorant. It’s the statement of a paranoid fool, not that of a man who is about to become our acting president. That you fail to grasp that makes me hope you weren’t including yourself in the ‘real experts’ you mentioned.

AndyMo, whether the American intentions were pure or not is really irrelevant here. It still doesn’t make Motlanthe’s statement any less idiotic. And yes, I am rather concerned with the Motlanthe and Zuma’s debts to the far left and I fear the implications for our economic and social policies. South Africa was far better off when the far left and far right were relegated to the fringes; giving either of them access to the levers of power is dangerous. I just hope we don’t pay too high a price for it.

A 4 year old quote probably taken out of context.

Mothlante is no Zuma and when I’ve heard him speak he seems pretty level-headed & rational. He’s had differing views to the crazy left wing loons a few times & anybody who pisses Malema off is a-ok in my book.

I don’t think we’re going to see any huge shifts in policy from him. He’s just keeping the seat warm.

I’m not sure to what extent that sort of comment could be taken out of context, nexxus. Nevertheless, I do remember the reporting around that demonstration at the time and the gist of Motlanthe’s comments are accurately portrayed in that single quote.

It is true that Motlanthe has worked hard in recent years to build up a reputation as a calm, level-headed & rational thinker and aside from the odd outburst like the quote above he’s been a lot more careful in his choice of words. But to be perfectly honest, Motlanthe looks good mostly because his colleagues are so awful; viewed in isolation from the Malemas and Zumas of the ANC he’s nothing special. And lest we forget, he was also the chief proponent of and believer in the hoax emails that were circulating around the ANC a couple of years ago, even after it became blatantly obvious that they were faked.

The point of my post is to highlight just what a pathetic dearth of quality leadership there is within the modern ANC. Even the seemingly moderate and sane compromise types like Motlanthe are not above the kind of idiocy that would get political figures in other countries fired. He may have rebuked the ANCYL once, but he has remained quiet and tolerant as the League has grown even more bold and threatening in their rhetoric.

I don’t deny that Motlanthe’s the best person in the Zuma camp to be appointed as a caretaker president. He’s ambitious, despite his public denials, but he’s smart and sane enough to not want to rock the boat and to focus on stability and on making preparations for Zuma’s ascension to the presidency. But he’s nothing special.