US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has asked for “embarrassing” travel restrictions on Nelson Mandela and South African leaders to be lifted.
A bill has been introduced in the US Congress to remove from databases any reference to South Africa’s governing party and its leaders as terrorists.
The African National Congress (ANC) was designated as a terrorist organisation by South Africa’s old apartheid regime.
At present a waiver is needed for any ANC leaders to enter the country.
I look forward to the day when common sense prevails in the West and the leaders of Hamas, Hizbollah and even al-Qaeda are welcomed into the US for discussion.
Engagement doesn’t equal endorsement.
I’d be interested to know how many leaders of Hamas, Hizbollah or al-Qaeda actually want to go to America. It’s my understanding that they view the Americans with disdain hence why peace talks are usually held in Arab countries, such as recently in Egypt.