America endorses Museveni. What should the opposition and civil society do?

On the surface of it, the statements by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnny Carson on July 27, 2010 --- in which he went back on his 2005 criticism of President Yoweri Museveni and virtually declared him the beacon of democracy --- are a major setback for Uganda's opposition.

The bomb blasts in Kampala on July 11, 2010 give Museveni a renewed relevance to the United States in its "war on terror".

The usual American blind eye can now be turned to his political repression at home and the heavy handed way his security forces are dealing with opposition leaders, party officials and peaceful demonstrations.

However, that is as far as it goes. The United States is rapidly on the decline. Closing in fast on it is China which is starting to overtake America in fields that were once creations of and symbols of national pride and power for the Americans --- the car industry, the Internet, manufacturing, global trade, currency reserves
.Read More