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Iran & Zimbabwe blame West for world food crisis

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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, two men not exactly known to be pro-West, have blamed western policies for the present food crisis.

Speaking at Tuesday's food summit in Rome, Ahmadinejad listed the decline of the dollar's value, global inflation and an increase in consumption, among other reasons, as factors behind current high food prices and suggested "the formation of an independent and powerful body, obeyed by all countries, to justly regulate the food market and organise all its related issues from production to consumption."

Mugabe was more forthright in this attack, singling out Britain as the cause of the Zimbabwean economic troubles back in his homeland, claiming that in "retaliation" for the land reforms (when Mugabe redistributed large farms that had been held by about 4,000 white landowners to formerly landless families), Britain had persuaded other Western powers to impose policies against Zimbabwe that "cripple" his country's economy and "thereby effect illegal regime change." He also accused Britain of "mobilising" European countries, North America and elsewhere to impose "illegal economic sanctions" against Zimbabwe and to cut off "all developmental assistance."

Britain's international development secretary, Douglas Alexander, said that Mugabe has "neither the credibility or the authority" to speak about food prices or food production and added, "I regard the attendance of Robert Mugabe at this summit as, quite frankly, obscene. This is a man who has impoverished his country."
richjm

34 responses // Iran & Zimbabwe blame West for world food crisis

  • It's absolutely outrageous that Mugabe, in particular, was allowed to attend this summit, legitimising as it does his regime. Nobody likes a gatecrasher! :(
    mischabarrett
  • The only reason I can possibly see that the UN (obviously this level of decision went to the top) supported Mugabe in appearing was for their own publicity, particularly in raising funds for the current work on their growing concern about food prices. Otherwise I just don't get it ...

    Although Saudi Arabi donated £250m to their appeal to cover the growing food crisis, which took them over the appeal request - so again ... not sure ...
    fernandez_is_go
  • It's a shame politicians can't just use normal swear words. I doubt 'neither credibility or the authority" would be David Alexander's first choice of words...
    rebbill
  • the words pot and kettle come to mind. How can he honestly stand there and blame us when he's screwed Zimbabwe so hard.
    subsequent
  • Why were these two despots even invited to this summit?
    96thdayofrage
  • BretByron
  • "This is a man who has impoverished his country."
    Shall we take a gander at who did that before him?
    _Hayko
    1 response to this
  • Not to be rude and aesthetically centred, but it's funny how they are both cross eyed in this picture!
    I'm sure if Mgabe concentrated on his own economy and stopped getting rid of farmers he may just have a bit more food.
    Suggestion - food shortages are due to lack of farmers and equipment at home.
    People are so quick to blame others for their own wrongdoings.
    wannabedoc
    2 responses to this
  • The food crisis and Zimbabwe's crippled economy, a country that was essentially the bread basket of Africa, is absolutely the direct effect of Mugabe's inept rule and he knows it. From the farming situation, his handling of the country's, now worthless money, and not to mention his wife's insatiable appetite for all things luxurious, he's been nothing but a cancer to the country. He should to be stripped naked, tarred and feathered and then off with his head!
    Neghie
  • Mugabe is the SOLE reason for Zimbabwe's lack of food. Mahmoud has no care for food either, since it has nothing to do with enriched U238.
    mrpibb19
  • i blame fat people and rich people also, they waste food.
    if we could have a fat person team up with a rich person we could end this food crisis
    fuckbush
  • Is that a doctored photo?
    joshuaheller
    2 responses to this
  • I personally find it outrageous that CNN begins this story by saying that Ahmadinejad used the platform to condemn western policies without including a single quote to back that up. I haven't read any other articles about this and it's possible that he had, but if he did, it wasn't included in this article. Worse, one of the bulleted "story highlights" at the top of the page, four bullets that are supposed to explain the entire story quickly, is "Ahmadinejad blames West for current food crisis."

    "Ahmadinejad listed the decline of the dollar's value, global inflation and an increase in consumption, among other reasons, as factors behind current high food prices and suggested 'the formation of an independent and powerful body, obeyed by all countries, to justly regulate the food market and organise all its related issues from production to consumption.'"

    As for the factors he listed as contributing to high food prices, he's right. I personally think the regulatory body is a good idea, although I have no idea how it could be implemented successfully. But I don't get what about this is supposedly so anti-west. This is just another example of the media taking a relatively truthful, non-condemnatory statement and twisting it to portray someone as anti-American and nothing else.

    It's ridiculous that we're supposed to be accepting the premise that our nation's enemies never utter a true sentence. It's insulting to our intelligence. I'm surprised none of the commenters have pointed this out yet - it seems that everyone on this thread is buying into the headline without so much as bothering to read what he actually said. I'm not saying he's not a bad man, but use your brains, people! Use a little scrutiny regarding what you eat up from the media!
    fountaingoats
    2 responses to this
  • I'm still astounded they even let him in, what he has been responsible for in Zimbabwe is going to take years to amend.

    They should have left him off the canteen guestlist...
    mattbrawn
  • All though I have no respect for either of these men, I will say this... We as people of Earth need to become more conscientious about or roll as beings on it. We need to stop being such heavy consumers of or natural resources, and protect our global food supply. If we dont then one day it will all be gone.
    mc_droptop
  • A lot of mixed feelings with this article.
    cerealforeal
  • http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/photos/uncategorized/20...
    Why wont you give me nuclear ?
    Purdey
  • Oil prices are why food prices skyrocket. America is trying to use greener crap so they use corn. Corn, in turn, is needed to feed not only hungry people, but farm animals. The use of corn in go green time makes the price rise and therefore makes it more expensive for the farmers to feed their fat animals and the poor people to feed their families.

    Therefore if Oil wasn't so expensive then this wouldn't occur or need to occur.

    Sure the dollar is weakening, but that's to be blamed on a whole 'nother group of people.
    J_Jammer
  • 3 Decades of tyranny and Mugabe decides to blame the west for his failings and the state of his nation. Poor people, yet another crime against humanity committed by corrupt despot.
    Purdey
  • "If there is an opinion, facts will be found to support it." -- Judy Sproles.

    Must be careful who one believes is right and what one should do to correct a problem, if there is one to correct.
    J_Jammer
  • Oil doesn't have that much to do with the food crisis. I'd speculate that European and American agricultural subsidies are the main reasons, because they forced poorer countries to grow cash crops instead of subsistence crops. Food Aid, as well.
    dgold0101
  • I only go on what smaller countries have screamed about and the mainly blame corn being used for Ethanol.
    J_Jammer
  • Here we have two dictators that oppress their countries and then blame other countries for their mismanagement. That is what all dictators do, promote hate and fix nothing, they just want to stay in power. With all the aid they get, especially Mugawe, what do they have to show for it? I cannot trust what comes out of these two dictators.
    lucky2bme
  • fuckbush & fountaingoats,
    Even the people who live in Iran and Zimbabwe know better than you two.
    mjsmith11
  • Rhodesia used to be a great country with a future until the fighting that resulted in Mugabe destroyed that country. Mugabes' land policies and his mismanagement are to blame for the hunger in his country not the West.
    Ahmadinejad is just an idiot. The US has never failed to help, with dollars, food or material, any country that needs it and allows it in.
    They do look sorta crosseyed. Perhaps that is why thay made that statement. Looks like someone knocked thier heads together. Couldn't hurt.
    Paratus
  • Ahmadinejad is right. Mugabe is an idiot.
    Vierotchka
  • Am I missing something? Is this why Mugabe evacuated all HUMANITARIAN AID out of Zimbabwe-because he's mad that we're starving them out???...I'm Confused....how exactly are we supposed to take this, really?
    OneLuv
  • I don't know about Ahmadinejad, but Mugabe is insane.
    However, I actually agree with them. I think the West, the US in particular, does have alot to do with global food prices and the US recession has dragged the rest of the world down. I don't know about the whole Britain thing, and I think that's inaccurate, but I do believe the West has at least contributed to the crisis.
    lemonsun12

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