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lizbeth: But, what'll you and Ray and Dax and I do when, and if, we do leave Iraq? What'll happen to our jobs?

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I don't know about Ray or anyone else, but I'll probably have a few beers to celebrate.

Since my job is not associated with the military except to comment on it here, I don't anticipate job loss. No matter who is in power there will be corruption, secrecy and incompetence. But as long as the neo-cons are not in power, such corruption, secrecy and incompetence will not cost American lives unless absolutely necessary, as oppposed to conditions today.

Back to topic: I don't think we can discuss "Africa" as an entity. Each country is different. Many African countries are led by Charles Taylor-like dictators, which is at least half their problem.

Aside from mineral resources (a pretty big "aside"), the U.S. interest in Africa would basically be to prevent our enemies, China and Russia, from gaining further influence in the region.

I fear that to help Africa, it will have to be done nation by nation. I am not suggesting invasion, although one would like to line the DeBeers people up against the wall and call the firing squad.

Dax:

Most of the time I can tell who the "house negros" are and who the good guys are,but I have to say that I cannot understand whats going on in Kenya,can someone please enlighten me as to whats going on.

An election was held in Kenya, between the current President, Mwai Kibaki , and his opponent, Raila Odinga. Kibaki won the election by a narrow margin.

The two candidates are from different tribes. Odinga's supporters declared election fraud. Kenya's government has refused calls for an investigation from the European Union and others. The EU, along with the Red Cross, has said that the election showed "clear evidence of fraud."

As a result, tribal warfare has broken out. According to the New York Times "Dozens of people seeking refuge in a church in Kenya were burned to death by a mob on Tuesday...in an escalation of ethnic violence that is threatening to plunge the country into chaos."

For "ethnic" I think we can read "tribal."

Mr. Kibaki is a member of the Kikuyu tribe, his opponent Mr. Odinga is a member of the Luo tribe. The Kikuyus are considered the privileged class in Kenya.

Gangs of Luo tribe members have been reported as blocking roads, stopping cars, demanding identification, and lynching those who were suspected of being Kikuyu.

In response, the government has ordered marauders shot on sight, installed a curfew, and stopped live television and radio broadcasts.

So essentially, we have tribal warfare inspired by a possibly fraudulent election.

The church burning, which has appeared all over American television, began when some Kikuyus took refuge from the marauding Luo mob in the church located in the town of Eldoret. The Luos then set the church on fire.

This is just an overview, but I think it gives the basics of what has happened in Kenya, formerly a stable and peaceful country.

--Sources: New York Times, Washington Post, AP, CNN, Fox News

There is very little that I can add to Dax's overview except for the following:

There are about 40 tribes in Kenya. The Kikuyu make up only 22% of the population, but are among the most prosperous. The combination of Luos and two allied tribes make up about 13% of the total population. The Kikuyu have shared their prosperity with other tribes, but the Luos claim discrimination against them by the Kikuyu.

Mr. Kibaki, who 'won' reelection, claims that the Kikuyu government, in power since 1963, brought a strong economy to Kenya which relies heavily on tourism. Mr. Odinga, who 'lost,' worked early on with Kibaki until a 'falling out' separated them. He's fought against the Kikuyu government ever since.

Although a lot of the violence is 'hooliganism,' some analysts are calling it an attempt at 'ethnic cleansing,' which has so often happened in Africa.

The biggest question seems to be whether or not the election was rigged. The European Union says yes, but Kibaki refuses a re-count. Odlinga refuses to do anything until Kibaki steps down.

And, until more is known, that's where it stands.

One is forced to ask the obvious question...maybe CassielA will help us with an answer.

What is it about Africa that motivates/allows/accepts/condones/engages in this sort of violence? For instance, while the Bush-Gore election was very tight and there was and still is a great deal of acrimony about that election, we did not see Americans rioting in the streets, burning buidings, looting stores, and murdering people over it. Why do we see this sort of behavior in Africa? What is the difference between Africans and Americans that accounts for the difference in response?