A chara, – Patrick Guinness (December 9th) would appear to believe that Ronald Reagan was instrumental in bringing an end to apartheid in South Africa. On the contrary, his policies almost certainly extended it.
The Reagan administration provided the South African government with diplomatic support, plus economic and military aid, as it engaged in increasingly oppressive actions domestically, alongside attacks against neighbouring Mozambique and Angola that contributed to approximately one and half million deaths and over $60 billion worth of damage, during Reagan’s tenure as president. When Congress finally imposed US sanctions against South Africa, Reagan attempted unsuccessfully to veto the bill. One could hardly blame Bishop Desmond Tutu for describing the former US president’s policy of “constructive engagement” as “immoral, evil and totally unChristian”. Mandela himself chose not to attend Reagan’s funeral. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN PATTERSON,
Lower Rathmines Road,
Dublin 6.