Introduction
2006 is proving to be a very strange and interesting year both inside and outside South Africa. Inside South Africa, the ANC’s internal struggles are leading this country down a path which could change the nature of politics here drastically. President Mbeki’s troubles seem to me to be increasing on most fronts.

I recently bought a book called “The Collapse of Globalism” (2005), written by a Canadian Intellectual. In it he talks about the current state of the world. He feels that we are in a “stormy vacuum”. At the moment, the world is caught in a position where Globalism seems to be failing, and Nationalism seems to be rising. There is no clear victor yet – so we are in an “inbetween phase” where neither side has the upper hand yet. He feels Globalism could end up being the loser in this fight.

I think South African politics in 2006 is in a similar state. We are in that “stormy vacuum” where neither Mbeki nor Zuma has yet won – but there is a storm of debate going on inside the ANC as to which way to go. Is the ANC really splitting apart, or is it merely beset with some hard choices which it needs to make? Has the ANC pandered to both the Left (Zuma/SACP) and the Centre (Mbeki/CIA/MI6) and now they are caught in a strange position where they cannot have it both ways – they must now make a clear decision and either way, they will alienate someone. You cannot be all things to all people, forever. At some point you have to decide what you really are, and what strategic direction you will take, and it appears to me the ANC is at such a point. There is a fight going on for the soul of the ANC. Who will win? My bets are still favouring Jacob Zuma and the Leftists.

In Zimbabwe, Mugabe tried to introduce a new currency. But it is doomed to failure. The country is in a terrible state. Zimbabwe strikes me as “the Land of No Hope”. The country is completely collapsing, but Mugabe still remains in power. The MDC opposition seem to be worthless. I don’t think the Western world has the stomach to get rid of Mugabe, and so they just prop the MDC up and hope that Mugabe and Zanu(PF) will crack and break. But I still don’t think it will be that easy.

In the world, there are lots of problems. We have seen a massive terrorist plot to create a 9/11 type scenario in the UK. This was averted. I think that not enough credit has been given to the CIA and to Western intelligence since 9/11 though. I think that through their excellent work, they have probably prevented hundreds of terrorist attacks since 9/11. I wonder if Americans and Europeans aren’t becoming too complacent about Muslim terrorism to the point of questioning whether terrorism even exists. I think they are making a big mistake. Terrorism is real, and for once I take my hat off to the CIA. But, the war is far from over, and it’s certainly not won. Holding the terrorists at bay is one thing – beating them is going to be much more difficult. I believe, the worst is still to come.

My CIA R&D is becoming ever more fascinating. There are many stories to tell about the CIA in Africa, and in the world and in future issues we will continue to investigate what the CIA has done and may be up to.

In this Issue:-