Africa: Zim warns US ambassador (Amb. Dell could face deportation for criticizing Mugabe "Gov't")

A few of the main things that came to my mind after reading this article:

When a very important diplomat such as the U.S. Ambassador runs into this sort of trouble in Zimbabwe merely because he dared to utter a couple of extremely obvious and basic truths,
    1. It illustrates how absolutely terrified the Mugabe regime is of the slightest hint of dissent.
    2. It reminds me of what an absolutely wonderful country the United States is, and how incredibly lucky I am to be living here instead of some third-world hellhole like Zimbabwe.
    3. It provides an insight into the level of misery that the Zimbabwean people must be living under....if the US Ambassador runs the risk of deportation for saying such mild and   obvious things, the average person there would likely risk torture or execution for saying or doing far less.
    4. It gives me cause to have tremendous respect for Ambassador Dell, because this is not by any means the first time that he has ruffled the feathers of Mugabe. In Zimbabwe, the average citizen would most likely be 'disappeared' or publicly 'necklaced' for saying far less, but Ambassador Dell shows great courage in confronting the Mugabe regime. I wish that all of our politicians had such dedication and fearlessness in the course of doing their jobs.

Dell, Christopher William

Bureau of Public Affairs > Electronic Information and Publications Office > Biographies > Biographies Listed Alphabetically by Last Name

BIOGRAPHY

Christopher William Dell
Ambassador, Republic of Zimbabwe
Term of Appointment: 08/14/2004 to present

Christopher William Dell was sworn in on August 11, 2004 by the Secretary of State Colin L Powell, as Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe. Prior to this appointment, Ambassador Dell served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Angola.

A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ambassador Dell also served as the Chief of Mission, U.S. Office, Pristina, Kosovo from 2000 to 2001. Prior to this post, he was the Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Sofia, Bulgaria from 1997 to 2000; Deputy Director, Office of Regional Political Affairs, Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs from 1994 to 1996; and Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Maputo, Mozambique from 1991 to 1994.

In addition, Ambassador Dell served as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for International Security Affairs from 1989 to 1991 and as Executive Assistant to the Special Negotiator for Greek Bases Agreement, Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs from 1987 to 1989. Ambassador Dell was also the Desk Officer for Spain and Portugal, Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs from 1986 to 1987; Staff Assistant, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs from 1985 to 1986; Political Officer, U.S. Embassy, Lisbon, Portugal from 1984 to 1985; Vice Consul, U.S. Consulate, Oporto, Portugal from 1983 to 1984; and Vice Consul, U.S. Consulate, Matamoros, Mexico from 1981 to 1983.

Ambassador Dell has received numerous awards, including the Order of the Madara Horseman, First Degree, Republic of Bulgaria in April 2000. He also received the Kellett Fellowship from Columbia University (for study at Oxford University) in 1978. Ambassador Dell is the author of "The Fork in the Road," Kosovo & Balkan Observer, March 2001.

Ambassador Dell graduated in 1980 from Balliol College, Oxford University, where he earned an M.S. He received his B.A. in 1978 from Columbia College, Columbia University. He is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and Bulgarian.

Good work Amb. Dell. If you are pissing them off that much you are doing something right for sure.