UN and Sudan

[Jimbo]

It's been very interesting to see the UN's response to what's going on in Sudan. If you missed it, the government of Sudan is Arab, and they have backed militias that have basically been slaughtering black Muslims throughout the country for the last 18 months. It's an offshoot of a 20+ year civil war that has seen millions of citizens killed, and many more sold into slavery.

So where's the precious UN when the Sudanese need it most? Basically, nowhere. The Security Council finally passed some meaningless resolution. Intentionally meaningless, because France and China do a lot of business in Sudan and don't want to jeopardize those interests. Sound familiar?

And no Arab nation would dare criticize another Arab nation. Even Saddam gassing hundreds of thousands of Kurds didn't get a rise out of them. Sudan is a member of the Arab League of States, so there's no help there. Those guys are extremely worked up over Abu Ghraib (and rightfully so), yet that place is a Four Seasons resort compared to what's going on in Sudan. The hypocrisy is blatant.

And that's the main reason that I can't take the UN seriously. The myth is that nations are joined together to make the world a better place. In reality, each nation looks out for its own best interests. If that makes the world a better place, it's incidental. But if you need something done, don't look to the UN.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I know. It's terrible. Every time I see pictures of Sudan on tv I just want to go over there myself, hug all those beautiful Sudanese children and adopt them all. I wish I could. really wish I could.

 

[Jimbo]

Bumping this up since all of the UN supporters must have missed it.

 

[Eeyore1954]

I don't think the UN supporters missed it ... they are probably too embarassed by this debacle to comment on it. This simply proves how impotent the UN is and how utterly ineffective they are as a world organization. Why the U.S. remains a member is beyond me.

 

[AirForceRocks]

What surprises me more than the fact that the UN is doing nothing is that so far, I've not heard anyone screaming that the U.S. should be stepping in to do something...

 

[wvrevy]

Originally posted by AirForceRocks
What surprises me more than the fact that the UN is doing nothing is that so far, I've not heard anyone screaming that the U.S. should be stepping in to do something...

1) I think it's disgraceful that the UN hasn't done more than give it a mild pass.

2) I would support the use of our troops to stop an ongoing genocide in the Sudan, just as I would have supported them a decade ago in stopping genocidal actions in Iraq. Timing, however, is everything...

Besides, we don't have the troops available to do anything about this right now, now do we ? Seems they're tied up elsewhere.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Giving a mild pass is the modus operandi of the U.N. Write a meaningless resolution, pass it around the Security Council to get it watered down to less than meaningless, and then pass it. Then debate the issue to death but commit to nothing. A lot of hot air is generated but precious little effective work is accomplished. The status quo remains and everyone involved can feel superior for having "spoken out" on this terrible issue. Tsk, tsk, tsk... it's really, really bad what they are doing. They really should stop. OK, what;s next on the agenda?

As for the U.S., of course we should get involved in the Sudan. Just like we need to get involved in every human rights crisis around the globe. Problem is ... someone has to make the tough choices about who comes first. What makes the Sudanese any more worthy of help than some other country?

I am all for helping them and stopping the genocide. But it takes more that sitting back in an armchair saying tsk, tsk, tsk... we should do something.

 

[AirForceRocks]

2) I would support the use of our troops to stop an ongoing genocide in the Sudan, just as I would have supported them a decade ago in stopping genocidal actions in Iraq. Timing, however, is everything...

I wasn't aware that Saddam Hussein had halted his genocidal actions in Iraq a decade ago.

But that aside, unless U.S. security or interests are at stake, I see no reason to involve U.S. troops in any way. We certainly shouldn't stand in the way of anyone else that wants to go help (yeah, THAT'S going to happen), but I see no reason for us to get involved.