Opinions on events in Sudan?

[RichardRay]

It seems like the world is standing by and watching yet another genocide. It seems like another tragedy we'll all shake our heads over a year from now, wondering how it could ever have been allowed to happen. Information seems widely available from many sources that what is happening there is exactly what it seems to be - genocide supported by the government of Sudan.

Is there anything the world should be doing? Or is the national sovereignty of Sudan such that nothing should be done?

Richard Ray - Jackson Hole, WY

(edit for spelling)

[Solar]

1. This is where we should be

Along with helping in Haiti and Liberia. Instead we are tied up a needless war in Iraq.

[ret5hd]

5. i think haiti has had about enough of our "help". (nt)

[jeff30997]

2. This could become a second Rwanda.

[Killarney]

3. What I don't understand

is why NO ONE, not just us, is doing anything (correct me if I'm wrong).

I mean, I can see why Bush doesn't want to do anything... it would cost money and the only good that would come out of it is lives saved, no incentive for him. :eyes:

But is there no country out there that wants to help these people? Every country can't be ruled by selfish asshats like Bush, right?

[Bandit]

4. If ever a preventive attack was needed this is the place.

But they are Black folk there so don't hold your breath waiting for America the Great to offer a helping hand.

[havocmom]

7. OK, so some Americans won't help them because of color.

Get the word out to those bigots that the people being attacked are also
Christians. Seems a lot of our home-grown-haters are also quick to claim they are being persecuted for their Christian faith. Tell those folks that their Christian brethren in Sudan are bing raped and killed for their faith and put the questions to them: "Are you gonna stand by and do nothing? Is that what your faith means to you?"

I see no shame in turning a bigots' own arguments against them. One way or another, they will have to show their true 'color'. It is sorta like having enlistment papers in your back pocket to hand to chicken hawks all hot to battle Iraq, so long as they can do it from the safety of their sofas, watching FAUX news about the war.

[DrWeird]

9. "some Americans"

Unfortunately, those "some Americans" are Republicans and happen to be in control of the WH and congress.

As for them being christian, that really doesn't bother them. Just look at all the black churches they burnt down in the south.

[havocmom]

11. I know. That is the beauty of my questions for them

There is no real wiggle room and one way or another, they will show their true color, which in many cases, is belly of yellow. So hold their little feet of clay to the fire of questions. Do it in public. Make them either squirm publicly or take a stand publicly. Make them show their true colors and take away some of their defense ploys.

What does it hurt to put them on the spot? :shrug:

[havocmom]

6. Been going on for longer than just lately. We should already be shaking

"our heads, wondering how it could ever have been allowed to happen."

My daughter works with a young man who escaped the violence in Sudan
7 or 8 years ago! His father, a village leader, was killed. John and many other boys started the trek across the frontier to escape either being killed or made to join in the killing of their own people. Not all of them survived their 'escape'.

Goggle John Majok and get a little personal info on the hell going on. It has been long enough. The world needs to act NOW to stop it. Every day, hundreds more die. John would like our help to pressure world leaders to step in. He is profoundly grateful to the many who wrote to their congressional reps and to Sec. of State Powell to get the situation officially noticed by the US government.

Yes, THIS is the sort of situation where American might and American values can best be demonstrated. Instead, the criminal thugs in charge of the US at present endanger our troops and soil our honor in a war- profiteering (for the thugs) venture against the people of Iraq.

Clinton showed how sane forces can work to save a people whose very existence is threatened by such atrocities: The US can engage UN help and get the eyes of the international community looking at genocide and deciding, as a community, to stop it.

But the goons in charge won't do anything 'the Clinton way' and thus, their patrons stuff their pockets with $$ from the US treasury and people who are desperate and begging for help go unheard.

Someday, I hope my daughter's friend John can go home, like he wants to, and help his people rebuild their communities. I hope he has some people left.

[realFedUp]

8. kick

coz this issue is more important than most of
the threads at DU

[havocmom]

10. Thank you

:thumbsup:

Yeah, it is about life and death.

[RichardRay]

12. So what SHOULD we be doing?

Sudan is a member of the African Union. The AU offered to send in 2,000 troops to try to sort out the Janjaweed but the government of Sudan is unwilling to have any foreign troops on its soil. If the AU can't get in it seems really unlikely the UN can.

Should 1rst World nations be involved in this matter? In what way?

Richard Ray - Jackson Hole, WY

[realFedUp]

13. Janjaweed needs to be stopped

Doesn't seem that the Sudan government is
serious about stopping the Janjaweed.
If Janjaweed aren't terrorists, I don't know
what are.

[theboss]

14. Does anyone anywhere have any idea how to fix the problems in Africa?

That may be a rhetorical question.

Everytime an African country goes off the rails, the same debates happen and nothing ever seems to change. The solutions offered always seem to be temporary salves - UN involvement, peacekeepers from neighboring states, food aid, etc.

I think the underlying problem with Africa and one that is not easily solved is that few of these countries are "nations" in any historical sense. They are largely arbitrary lines on a map drawn by previous colonial occupiers. Basically, the state itself becomes an apparatus that one tribe can use to bash another as well as imposition to aid.

The case of The Sudan is a prime example of the second point: The AU can't offer aid without permission of the government, and the government doesn't want any aid to stop the slaughter. Sovereignty itself becomes an impediment to aid.

Personally, I think the only solutions to these sorts of problems in Africa in the long-term are either a) massive rethinking of the entire political structure of the continent (which is probably an idea best left to a graduate thesis) or b) serious and long-term Western intervention in the building of a modern economy (which conservatives will see as far too expensive and liberals will see as neo-colonialsim).