You’re right about that, just like it’s not the neighbors job to pull you out of your burning house. Better wait for the fire department.
Seth Williams - 10:11pm on 11/30/2005
One thing a lot of people who make this argument tend to forget is that while America is the foremost proponent for good and justice in the world, we can’t do it alone.
If the UN weren’t an impotent and corrupt anachronism it might be useful in stopping some of this stuff.
Rob - 10:11pm on 11/30/2005
So in answer to the question of “why not Darfur”, I answer “why not indeed?”
Why not? Because it is not the job of the U.S. Government to improve the lives of Sudanese citizens.
Dave - 10:11pm on 11/30/2005
The African Union sent soldiers there, I don’t know if they are there in numbers big enough to make a difference but they are there. If I am not mistaken I think Powell did call it a genocide.
Africa is tough, there is a problem in nearly every country that deserves attention. I have read that in some areas of war torn African countries, they are starting to form tribal governments. Maybe they should incorporate some of these tribal leaders into governments rather than military leaders. The tribal governments seemed to get along fine before colonization.
GraemeA - 01:12am on 12/01/2005
[...] Why Not Darfur? By Seth Williams on December 1, 2005 at 1:42 am [...]
Say Anything - North Dakota’s Most Popular P - 01:12am on 12/01/2005
Damn… you’ve made me dig up one of the uglier pieces I’ve ever written. Why not Darfur? Here’s why.
J.
Jay Tea - 04:12am on 12/01/2005
I have advocated taking action in Africa since the ‘80s. The time to strike against these terrorist gangs was long ago, and we knew it when it passed. Dept. of State screwed the dog on the whole situation. So lets follow their brilliant leadership in Iraq. Oh. Thats right we did. Remember a happy little burg named Fallujah? Though apparently we can send shiploads of money, which does not appear to be working. Allowing the UN to run operations in Africa has really done the trick, maybe we should let them run everything. The die-off in Darfur has plateaued, the next major problem is going to be farther south and not centralized in Zimbabwe or eastern DRC. Geldof will have another concert, Angelina will cry for the cameras and nothing will be done again. Mary wept.
2Hotel9 - 05:12am on 12/01/2005
Mary wept indeed, if we can safely file this away as not a concern because the house burnings, rape, and killing has plateaued.
“Is it bad?”
“Sure, but it’s not getting worse...at least not on the TV it isn’t.”
Sad comentary on the state of human compassion, isn’t it 2H9?
Seth Williams - 06:12am on 12/01/2005
Indeed. The “plateau” position is the official one put forth by the UN. That den of compassion on Turtle Bay. They have lowered the priority level for Sudan. The government in Khartoum has assured all guilty parties have been punished. Seeing the thousands of unburied dead left to the carrion eaters in the western plains region, the Khartoum government has punished those they feel are guilty. African Union forces have interceded to stop the Sudanese government,in the guise of the Janjaweed and Islamic Brotherhood, from killing more. The UN and EU have thrown roadblocks in their path, and have begun legal proceedings to reduce the numbers and operational scope of AU forces. Again, human compassion, indeed.
2Hotel9 - 09:12am on 12/01/2005
I belong to a denomination of christianity that has a long history of pacifism. Our one denomination has split into three groups (roughly), and our group has really set aside pacifism as a personal decision, rather than an organized one. We have a relief organization that has sent many supplies to the darfur region. My Father-in-law pretty much summed it up after one of the reports by the organization at a recent conference. “Maybe we should send them M-16s and ammo instead of blankets” really struck home with me. I’m military myself, so I really thought it made sense to give them the means to fight back.
You’re right about that, just like it’s not the neighbors job to pull you out of your burning house. Better wait for the fire department.
One thing a lot of people who make this argument tend to forget is that while America is the foremost proponent for good and justice in the world, we can’t do it alone.
If the UN weren’t an impotent and corrupt anachronism it might be useful in stopping some of this stuff.
Why not? Because it is not the job of the U.S. Government to improve the lives of Sudanese citizens.
The African Union sent soldiers there, I don’t know if they are there in numbers big enough to make a difference but they are there. If I am not mistaken I think Powell did call it a genocide.
Africa is tough, there is a problem in nearly every country that deserves attention. I have read that in some areas of war torn African countries, they are starting to form tribal governments. Maybe they should incorporate some of these tribal leaders into governments rather than military leaders. The tribal governments seemed to get along fine before colonization.
[...] Why Not Darfur? By Seth Williams on December 1, 2005 at 1:42 am [...]
Damn… you’ve made me dig up one of the uglier pieces I’ve ever written. Why not Darfur? Here’s why.
J.
I have advocated taking action in Africa since the ‘80s. The time to strike against these terrorist gangs was long ago, and we knew it when it passed. Dept. of State screwed the dog on the whole situation. So lets follow their brilliant leadership in Iraq. Oh. Thats right we did. Remember a happy little burg named Fallujah? Though apparently we can send shiploads of money, which does not appear to be working. Allowing the UN to run operations in Africa has really done the trick, maybe we should let them run everything. The die-off in Darfur has plateaued, the next major problem is going to be farther south and not centralized in Zimbabwe or eastern DRC. Geldof will have another concert, Angelina will cry for the cameras and nothing will be done again. Mary wept.
Mary wept indeed, if we can safely file this away as not a concern because the house burnings, rape, and killing has plateaued.
“Is it bad?”
“Sure, but it’s not getting worse...at least not on the TV it isn’t.”
Sad comentary on the state of human compassion, isn’t it 2H9?
Indeed. The “plateau” position is the official one put forth by the UN. That den of compassion on Turtle Bay. They have lowered the priority level for Sudan. The government in Khartoum has assured all guilty parties have been punished. Seeing the thousands of unburied dead left to the carrion eaters in the western plains region, the Khartoum government has punished those they feel are guilty. African Union forces have interceded to stop the Sudanese government,in the guise of the Janjaweed and Islamic Brotherhood, from killing more. The UN and EU have thrown roadblocks in their path, and have begun legal proceedings to reduce the numbers and operational scope of AU forces. Again, human compassion, indeed.
I belong to a denomination of christianity that has a long history of pacifism. Our one denomination has split into three groups (roughly), and our group has really set aside pacifism as a personal decision, rather than an organized one. We have a relief organization that has sent many supplies to the darfur region. My Father-in-law pretty much summed it up after one of the reports by the organization at a recent conference. “Maybe we should send them M-16s and ammo instead of blankets” really struck home with me. I’m military myself, so I really thought it made sense to give them the means to fight back.