George W. Bush berated by Zambia's Michael Sata on Africa trip

[Ghost of Huey Long]

Mr Bush arrived in the southern African country last weekend with his wife Laura to promote the work of their cervical cancer prevention foundation, and paid a courtesy visit to the president at Lusaka's State House.There, Mr Sata, known as King Cobra for his sharp tongue and quick temper, told the 66-year-old Texan that his charitable efforts represented "payback time for colonialists".

Mr Sata, 75, also complained about "the young man" Mr Bush being late for their meeting, adding that were he not bringing money to Africa, he would not have waited.

When the Bushes arrived and the three sat down to tea, Mr Sata told him: "Previously there used to be four great countries: United States of America, United Kingdom, Russia and France.

"And you have all drifted away; you have abandoned Africa after taking all our raw commodities, our raw materials and built your cities. "I mean, as far as you are concerned, Africa doesn't exist. And when we have a former colonialist like you coming back to pay back what you took out of this country, we are grateful."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zambia/9381583/George-W.-Bush-berated-by-Zambias-Michael-Sata-on-Africa-trip.html

Why is helping Africa always about vaccinations anyway? I watch a lot of BBC documentaries and Africans want water, 'water is life' they say.
Why doesn't Bush, and Bill Gates, give them well drilling equipment and pipes? They would also love solar power generators and computers. There are small generators that can burn absolutely anything for power, including camel dung. There is no reason that Africa cannot quickly catch up with the rest of the world if we help them. There is so much we can do, why don't we ask them what they want? Instead we want to keep them in a position of powerlessness in order to continue taking their resources for our own purposes and profits.

[Enrique]

1. fascinating

"I mean, as far as you are concerned, Africa doesn't exist. And when we have a former colonialist like you coming back to pay back what you took out of this country, we are grateful."

Mr Bush reportedly interjected: "Mr President, I don't wanna be argumentative, but America was never a colonial nation. France might have been a colonial nation, Britain might have been a colonial nation, but not the United States of America."

Mr Sata fired back that the Americans' role in the slave industry made them equally culpable: "The Americans did not physically colonise us, but at the same time, the Americans still have scars of slavery," he said.

Amid nervous laughter from their assembled entourages, Mr Bush replied: "No question about it."

[Ghost of Huey Long]

2. I know, what honesty!

rare