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There were two reasons why Mengistu and the others in the Derg wanted Soviet arms. First, they came to power as revolutionaries with a radical program. They regularly denounced imperialism, yet they remained dependent on the bulwark of what they called imperialism, the United States, for the most critical of all commodities, weaponry for their army. Could they be true revolutionaries and socialists and still have such a vital link to the United States? It was very embarrassing. But it was more than that. For the second and equally powerful motive that pushed them toward the Soviets was that they wanted a much bigger army than Ethiopia had at the outbreak of the revolution. The decision to go for a military solution in Eritrea made this absolutely essential, and there was also growing concern over the threat from Somalia. (it) |
