Mandela taken off US terror list

[spacemanc]

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Mandela taken off US terror list

US President George W Bush has signed a bill removing Nelson Mandela and South African leaders from the US terror watch list, officials say.

Mr Mandela and ANC party members will now be able to visit the US without a waiver from the secretary of state.

The African National Congress (ANC) was designated as a terrorist organisation by South Africa's old apartheid regime.

A US senator said the new legislation was a step towards removing the "shame of dishonouring this great leader".

'Rather embarrassing'

Under the legislation, members of the ANC could travel to the United Nations headquarters in New York but not to Washington DC or other parts of the United States.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had called the restrictions a "rather embarrassing matter that I still have to waive in my own counterpart, the foreign minister of South Africa, not to mention the great leader Nelson Mandela."

South Africa's apartheid government banned the ANC in 1960, imprisoning or forcing into exile its leaders.

Mr Mandela, who turns 90 this month, was released in 1990 after spending 27 years in prison.

He then became the country's first post-apartheid-era president, before retiring after serving one term in office.

Edit: This section is about the facts people not about other forum users, keep it at that.

[georgehu2007]

took the US Government long enough. A 90-year-old fighter for equality on the Terror List ...fail

[[R-MOD]Bob_Marley]

The point is he, and many of South Africa's current leadership were terrorists. People seem to forget that he was sentenced to life in prison because he did go around blowing people up.

[spacemanc]

Originally Posted by [R-MOD]Bob_Marley

The point is he, and many of South Africa's current leadership were terrorists. People seem to forget that he was sentenced to life in prison because he did go around blowing people up.

"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die"

Thats what mandela had to say when he was sentenced in 1964 ( he was arrested after a "helpful" tip off from the CIA)
The ANC were certainly not angels ( especailly in the 80's when they targetted civilians ), but neither was the regime they were fighting against.
The French Resistance "terrorists" blew people up, Churchill and Truman blew people up ( I chose them for the targetting of civilians ) Bush and Blair arranged for a fair few people to be blown up quite recently. Terrorists?

One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter as they say.

Edited to keep the thread going the right way.

[Begbie]

I suppose in the name of consistency the members of the apartheid regime were placed on that list too? I mean they only waged wars that killed, what 1,5 million people in neighboring countries. They werent? They were passionatly supported? Shocking..

[ArmedDrunk&Angry]

Tissues and tranquilizers are free for everyone.

Big deal.

Was it ?

Did Mandela have a tough time visiting his favorite American tourist attractions ?

Yeah, obviously he should have been taken off the list when the apartheid regime fell ( I wonder how that happened ? Must have been some enlightened people who helped it fall ), but I doubt if he has had any real problem in the US because of it.

It just makes the front page so we can hear those lovely words " one mans' terrorist ....blah blah blah ".

It is a non-event.

[Dr2B Rudd]

What a nice birthday present

One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter as they say.

I hate that quote cuz its so inconveniently true.

Mandela imo was special because of his reconciliatory ability
but tbh, Steve Biko is a bigger hero to me.

[Defiyur]

Originally Posted by Dr2B Rudd

I hate that quote cuz its so inconveniently true.

What about "war is terrorism with a bigger budget"? (purely defensive conflicts excluded of course)

[Hotrod525]

Originally Posted by Dr2B Rudd

I hate that quote cuz its so inconveniently true.

Well terrorist are people who fight for a cause, whitout any respect of the rules set, but, they still freedom fighter for some people on earth, just go seen Facebook group like "if i was an iraqi i would be insurgent" "i dont support troops" for those people terrorist are the "soldier of liberty".

Originally Posted by Defiyur

What about "war is terrorism with a bigger budget"?

Well, War itself is surely one of the most terrorizing thing you can ever live but, except for World War & Genocide ( both due to there extreme violence ) i dont think War is terrorism, since the war is not intended to terroriz innocent people, no ?

Anyway, Mandala may have be a terrorist a day, but he deserve respect. Atleast now he try to "do some good" for humanity & peace.

[gclark03]

If fire fighters fight fire, and crime fighters fight crime, what do freedom fighters fight?

The line between freedom fighter and terrorists is very blurry indeed, but that has little to do with the fact that Mandela has done far, far more for the sake of humanity than take innocent lives.