I'm optimistic because I'm pragmatic: Neither of the two sides, the military government nor the Islamic front, is capable of winning. If they continue to fight, they will both bleed to death. Ahmed Ben Bella More Quotes by Ahmed Ben Bella More Quotes From Ahmed Ben Bella In the past, we spoke of poverty, misery only in the south. Now there is a lot of misery, a lot of bad that creates victims in the north as well. This has become manifest: the global system was not made to serve the good of all, but to serve multinational companies. Ahmed Ben Bella misery poverty past Let us all agree to die a little, or even completely so that African unity may not be a vain word Ahmed Ben Bella unity may littles Peace does not include a vendetta; there will be neither winners nor losers. Ahmed Ben Bella winner loser doe When I was engaged in the struggle for my country, I was very young. My horizons were open. Ahmed Ben Bella horizon struggle country Those who are leftists, once in power, are not different from other parties. Ahmed Ben Bella leftists party different The liberation movement which I led in Algeria, the organization that I created to fight the French army, was at first a small movement of nothing at all. We were but some tens of people throughout Algeria, a territory that is five times the size of France Ahmed Ben Bella army fighting organization It is obvious that taking the country from a state of war to being a lawful state won't be easy. Ahmed Ben Bella easy war country I accommodated practically all of the liberation movements, including those of Latin America. Ahmed Ben Bella movement latin america Everywhere that the struggle for national freedom has triumphed, once the authorities agreed, there were military coups d'etat that overthrew their leaders. That is the result time and time again. Ahmed Ben Bella leader military struggle I spent 24 and a half years in prison Ahmed Ben Bella prison half years Colonialism is an idea born in the West that drives Western countries - like France, Italy, Belgium, Great Britain - to occupy countries outside of Europe. Ahmed Ben Bella europe country ideas I am a Muslim Arab, in my actions oriented very to the left, in my convictions. Ahmed Ben Bella left conviction action These are the multinationals, like General Motors and Nestle; these are the big industrial groups that weigh, on the monetary scale, much more than big countries like Egypt. Ahmed Ben Bella egypt groups country I think that they participated in something that was not very proper and was very pitiful, not only for the Algerian people, but also for the other people who counted on our support. Ahmed Ben Bella support people thinking Yes, I am Algerian of Moroccan origin through my parents, but all my life is Algeria. I was born there. Ahmed Ben Bella algeria parent life-is Algeria was therefore only the beginning of something that was in development: this is why I say that it's the global capitalist system that finally reacted against us. Ahmed Ben Bella capitalist algeria development Yes, my life is a life of combat; I can say that this has never stopped for a single instant. It is a combat that started for me at the age of 16. I'm 90 years old now, and my motivation hasn't changed; it's the same fervour that drives me. Ahmed Ben Bella single-life motivation years I am not a Marxist, but I place myself resolutely at the left. Ahmed Ben Bella marxist left I can say now: all the combatants who participated in the fight for freedom in South America came to Algeria; it's from there that all those who fought left. We trained them, we arranged for the weapons to reach them, we created networks. Ahmed Ben Bella algeria fighting america Algeria is not breaking up. Ahmed Ben Bella breaking-promises algeria break-up
