Stopping the Killing in Darfur

dublin | anti-war / imperialism | opinion/analysis

Friday September 22, 2006 10:18

by John O'Shea - GOAL

Military force is needed to intervene to halt the genocide

The need for an international standing army to prevent horrendous massacres is no more clearly demonstrated than in the case of Sudan's cursed Darfur zone, which is in free fall.

The risk to civilians there is greater now than at any time since the conflict first erupted. The African Union peacekeepers' mandate expires at the end of this month, and Sudan has rejected entry of a UN peacekeeping force.

Aid agencies - the lifeline for 2.5 million people - are threatening to pull out as a result of the direct targeting of humanitarians, leaving the already devastated civilian population further exposed and at risk.

Sudan plans instead to send in a large number of its own troops. Given the government's record, it seems quite likely that - with international observers out of the way - Khartoum can get on with the business of completing the genocide that it already under way.

Having passed some 13 resolutions on Darfur, with the latest calling for the deployment of a 20,000-strong UN force to the region, the UN has clearly failed Darfur. The question remains: which standing organisation will fill this security vacuum to protect the people and keep aid channels open? There is none.

The UN does not employ a peacekeeping force of its own available for immediate deployment. Instead it must rely on force contributions from member nations under conditions set by the Security Council and acting under instructions that often do not provide for armed intervention. Under those conditions, and in the absence of the appropriate resources, enforcing Security Council resolutions is difficult at best.

With an independent force at their disposal, and no obligation to send in their own troops, the Security Council's often squabbling members would have less reason to drag out debates about when to intervene in crises.

Despite the pronouncement of "never again" in the wake of the Rwanda genocide, the massacres in Darfur have continued unabated for three-and-a-half years. It seems the international community has yet to learn the lessons of man-made tragedies which have traumatised large sections of the world's population over the past 30 years.

When will the lessons be learnt?

Comments (2 of 2)

Help? Or Outside Interference?

by Sean Crudden - impero

Sat Sep 23, 2006 12:48

Hi John.

Your worries about Africa and famine and genocide tug at the heart strings but like the mental health system trying to stem suicide conventional efforts to avert the crises that you are so aware of seem to amplify the problems rather than abate them. I know it is a counsel of despair but maybe it would be better in the long run if Africa were left to solve its own problems and let nature take its course. Like "who is inviting who in?" and "why?"

Forgive me for entering the debate because my understanding of the situation in Darfur is dim and I have no appreciation of the subtleties of the situation.

Iraq is planning to tap the small Ahdab oil field

by yesipostingthishere

Mon Sep 25, 2006 17:50

http://www.ameinfo.com/97262.html

Iraq is planning to tap the small Ahdab oil field, in central southern Iraq, with development work starting soon, reported TradeArabia. Initial output would be about 30,000 bpd, rising to 90,000 bpd within two years. The field had previously been awarded to the China National Petroleum Corporation and the Chinese arms manufacturer Norinco by Saddam Hussein but an Iraqi official said the contract could be renegotiated.