800,000 people die in 100 days and not one Cabinet meeting called in Washington. The Rwanda genocide was the FASTEST slaughter ever in this century, while the policymakers debated and debated, debated even prevented UN involvement......while HutuMachetemen cleanup dem Tutsi breddadem..
ANOTHER MISTAKE???? Who will keep the DREAMS of the slain alive??
WARNING: Read the article in small doses after you have completed a fast an cleanse yuh system.
1) In reality the United States did much more than fail to send troops. It led a successful effort to remove most of the UN peacekeepers who were already in Rwanda. It aggressively worked to block the subsequent authorization of UN reinforcements. It refused to use its technology to jam radio broadcasts that were a crucial instrument in the coordination and perpetuation of the genocide. And even as, on average, 8,000 Rwandans were being butchered each day, U.S. officials shunned the term "genocide," for fear of being obliged to act. The United States in fact did virtually nothing "to try to limit what occurred." Indeed, staying out of Rwanda was an explicit U.S. policy objective.
2) "The Human Reality of Realpolitik," he and a colleague analyzed the process whereby American policymakers with moral sensibilities could have waged a war of such immoral consequence as the one in Vietnam. They wrote, The answer to that question begins with a basic intellectual approach which views foreign policy as a lifeless, bloodless set of abstractions. "Nations," "interests," "influence," "prestige"—all are disembodied and dehumanized terms which encourage easy inattention to the real people whose lives our decisions affect or even end. Policy analysis excluded discussion of human consequences. "It simply is not done," the authors wrote. "Policy—good, steady policy—is made by the 'tough-minded.' To talk of suffering is to lose 'effectiveness,' almost to lose one's grip. It is seen as a sign that one's 'rational' arguments are weak."
3)Every aspect of the UN Assistance Mission in Rwanda was run on a shoestring. UNAMIR (the acronym by which it was known) was equipped with hand-me-down vehicles from the UN's Cambodia mission, and only eighty of the 300 that turned up were usable. When the medical supplies ran out, in March of 1994, New York said there was no cash for resupply. Very little could be procured locally, given that Rwanda was one of Africa's poorest nations. Replacement spare parts, batteries, and even ammunition could rarely be found. Dallaire spent some 70 percent of his time battling UN logistics.
Yuh want more....read the clip
[This message has been edited by Guidance (edited 08-24-2001).]
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What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history
American soldiers dragged in the streets in 1992 in Somalia (wasn't a good sight to many Americans) I think played a part in the Clinton Administration not sending troops to Rwanda, or getting involved in any way.
[This message has been edited by MikeU (edited 08-24-2001).]
Originally posted by MikeU: [B]........the Clinton Administration not sending troops to Rwanda, or getting involved in any way. B]
Hmmm, would they have ACTED if 1/100,000 of the slaughtered in Rwanda were Israelis stoned down or suicide bombed by Palestinians. Rather it is more HOW they would have ACTED.......the media would label it 'The worst tradedy since Hitler's days'
NO tears/intervention for Rwandans Tears/intervention only for select Allies
[This message has been edited by Guidance (edited 08-24-2001).]
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What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history
Originally posted by Guidance: Hmmm, would they have ACTED if 1/100,000 of the slaughtered in Rwanda were Israelis stoned down or suicide bombed by Palestinians. Rather it is more HOW they would have ACTED.......the media would label it 'The worst tradedy since Hitler's days'
NO tears/intervention for Rwandans Tears/intervention only for select Allies
[This message has been edited by Guidance (edited 08-24-2001).]
Palestinians and Israelis are killing each other currently and what are the Americans doing?
Originally posted by MikeU: Palestinians and Israelis are killing each other currently and what are the Americans doing?
Standing by 'guilty for the act of omission' on the one hand. And for shipping bullets that maim for life 'guilty for the act of commission'. And for the other crimes,can we trust you to apply the sentences......
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What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history
With all due respect Guidance, I think the OAU, other African nations and African peoples in general need to be more active in addressing and solving Africa's problems. I am not at all seurprised that the US does not lift a finger to help. It is no secret that the US only lifts it's finger or commit troops in the interest of the US. There should be no mistaking or confusing this with anything altruistic. Thus if the US had sent any troops or intervened in any way you should start looking at oil companies, diamond mines etc. for the US connection and start buying up their stocks.
There is a vision of Africa that must be realized if Africa and Africans are solve the problems that Africa/Africans/Black people face in this world. That is the vision of Marcus Mosiah Garvey.
I have a vision about Marcus Mosiah Garvey. -Burnin Spear.
Penetrating thought D, but with a man like Mandela fading in the background who in Africa can step up and Unite the African Massive?
Libya and Iraq are attempting to unite the Muslim & African people on or near to the continent but the French and the US are poised to split up Africa anyway they want to. Poor Colin Powell got 'demoted' recently when Condi Rice was given the Foreign Policy plate. Judged too soft from morning to carry out the HARSH policies against his OWN. We need a Mandela 20 years younger who could form a coalition against these developers whose ONLY interest is REAL ESTATE
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What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history
I done know seh Powel soft from a long time but I start to read more into this. I don't think he enjoys the puppet bit too much. I am changing my opinion of him from being saaaaaf to being "slow". I think now he is catching on to the role they want him to play he is stepping aside. If that is the case then much respect to Powel.
Mandella can still do much. He is quite old now but he can can still speak up the vision of the PanAfricanists; at least get a dialogue going regarding a union of African states. It is quite a challenge but for so many Africans everyday is a challenge.
Kofi Annan seems quite the statesman. I need to do some research on him to determine his politics. He seems quite the enigma. One day he looks like the "koffior boy" of the west then the next day he is a MAN.
Where have all the African states men gone? long time passes. Where have all the visionaries gone? long time ago. Oh how I long for the days of NKrumah, Toure, Fannon, Lumumba, Garvey, Diop, Rodney, Cabral. There are many up and coming African visionaries but for some reason they are drownded out by the silence, the wars and the rumours of war.
Registered: 02/08/01
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Why is it that everyone expects the US to solve their problems? The US has enough problems of its own to be worying about every little nation in the world who has soverignity (sp) and don't know what to do with it.
What happen to the carribean, african and european nations? why single out the us? America is only interested in thier own interests as with all countries, if they had gone in they would've been scrutinized in the same manner. It's a no win situation but bottomline they shouldn't be expected to solve the world's problems especially when they're dealing with different cultures and regilions that's the UN's job.
Yes Ddread Powell may soon be back on the lecture circuit. Can you recall ever a WhiteHouse spokesperson announcing that Albright not going to such an such conference as they are doing for Colin(Re: Racism Conf. in Geneva). Nobody spoke for her. The man has been muzzled, muzzled...
Mandela still has the influence but he would need the Power of the State in His Hands to get things rolling, otherwise he is just an influential ambassador
US has Kofi on a short lease
Quote:
Originally posted by terminator: It's a no win situation but bottomline they shouldn't be expected to solve the world's problems especially when they're dealing with different cultures and regilions that's the UN's job.
Anti-American Sentiments-Forum, Part II; Not interested, however jus FYI....
I see your point Termi', but who RUNS DI SHOW at UN???????????????????? THE UN IS RUN BY STATE DEPT. or whoever is running Yankee foreign poliseas........ (Example in Albright's days she told the US Ambassador to UN what to tell Kofi to do or NOT to do....and give him a likkle slack to give him a likkle credibility)
No sweat for Bush, Condi Rice is a good attack dog and more disciplined than Albright
Listen up, it would be HELPful to peruse Samantha Power's article in 'The Atlantic'. 43 pages, but informative for the 'CNN bred and raised posses'
A Quote:
In March of 1998, on a visit to Rwanda, President Clinton issued what would later be known as the "Clinton apology," which was actually a carefully hedged acknowledgment. He spoke to the crowd assembled on the tarmac at Kigali Airport: "We come here today partly in recognition of the fact that we in the United States and the world community did not do as much as we could have and should have done to try to limit what occurred" in Rwanda.
This implied that the United States had done a good deal but not quite enough. In reality the United States did much more than fail to send troops. It led a successful effort to remove most of the UN peacekeepers who were already in Rwanda. It aggressively worked to block the subsequent authorization of UN reinforcements. It refused to use its technology to jam radio broadcasts that were a crucial instrument in the coordination and perpetuation of the genocide.
[[[[From April 7 onward the Hutu-controlled army, the gendarmerie, and the militias worked together to wipe out Rwanda's Tutsi. Many of the early Tutsi victims found themselves specifically, not spontaneously, pursued: lists of targets had been prepared in advance, and Radio Mille Collines broadcast names, addresses, and even license-plate numbers. Killers often carried a machete in one hand and a transistor radio in the other. Tens of thousands of Tutsi fled their homes in panic and were snared and butchered at checkpoints.]]]]
And even as, on average, 8,000 Rwandans were being butchered each day, U.S. officials shunned the term "genocide," for fear of being obliged to act. The United States in fact did virtually nothing "to try to limit what occurred." Indeed, staying out of Rwanda was an explicit U.S. policy objective.
With the grace of one grown practiced at public remorse, the President gripped the lectern with both hands and looked across the dais at the Rwandan officials and survivors who surrounded him. Making eye contact and shaking his head, he explained, "It may seem strange to you here, especially the many of you who lost members of your family, but all over the world there were people like me sitting in offices, day after day after day, who did not fully appreciate [pause] the depth [pause] and the speed [pause] with which you were being engulfed by this unimaginable terror."
Yes Bill wi 'believe' you and still WELCOME you to Harlem although you and your boys turned your head the other way when .8 million a wi bredda an sista blood a RUN inna Rwanda
[This message has been edited by Guidance (edited 08-28-2001).]
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What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history
Guidance, mi see what you saying but like RedHillsMan and Terminator said the US can not be blamed when it refuses to step in and "solve" other peoples' problem. The Us typically "solves" problems in a manner that is consistent with its worldView and interests. Thus for example if they were allowed free reign to "solve" problems in Cuba we can anticipate what the result would be. We saw how they "solve" problems in Panama, in Nicaragua, in Greneda. I am not sure I want them to "solve" many more problems.
As for the UN, I have lost confidence in that organization long time. If there was ever a puppet organization that is it. Isreal annexes it's neighbours territory, the UN makes resolution ordering Isreal to back out. Isreal ignores the UN resolution and everything criss. Saddam, the butcher, annexes Kuwait; the UN makes resolution ordering Iraq to back out. Iraq ignores the UN resolution and they unleashed hell on Iraq. Inconsistent!
Anyway we need to be more active in solving our own problems because it always better leave the COPS out of it when it is determined that the cops are crooked.
Originally posted by ddread: Guidance, mi see what you saying but like RedHillsMan and Terminator said the US can not be blamed when it refuses to step in and "solve" other peoples' problem. .......
Yes we don't want dem to interfere between JLP and PNP. But they Do. They choose the side they want to back in every situation and back them to the last bullet. Turning their heads the other way when their side is masskilling, does the name Suharto ring a LOUD bell in recent history?
What is evident in the Rwanda genocide is how they PREVENTED the UN from taking effective actions to prevent the wipeout of innocent lives. So you don't want to ACT but when others DO, you block their endeavors.
Can I get a witness? If not jus pass roun the collection plate and bring in the choir mek wi sing 2 negro spirituals fi di Rwandans
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What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history
The united nation consist of several arm forces with the us troops making up the largest portion, so the US had to act expeditiously to pull out their troops or risk being drawn into the conflict without being able to weigh the pros and cons. It's easy to look for someone to blame but every country takes sides. Blame the Hutus and Tusis for oppressing their own people to the point of vengeance and retaliation. I am not condoning corruption but america has its own problems.
Originally posted by terminator: The united nation consist of several arm forces with the us troops making up the largest portion, so the US had to act expeditiously to pull out their TROOPS....
what troops, how many US troops were on the ground in Rwanda? This is going nowhere....
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What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history
Guidance, I meant that metaphorically if the United Nation had gotten involved especially at that time then the involvement of the Unitied States was inevitable. Here is an analogy, if 5000 united nation troops were hacked to death do you think the rest of the world would've stood by and watched?
Originally posted by terminator: The united nation consist of several arm forces with the us troops making up the largest portion, so the US had to act expeditiously to pull out their troops or risk being drawn into the conflict
Quote:
Originally posted by terminator: Guidance, I meant that metaphorically if the United Nation had gotten involved especially at that time then the involvement of the Unitied States was inevitable
Yuh coulda fool mi. This is still going nowhere. Mite as cheap wi play 2 domino
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What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history
Ites blame the British who created Burundi and Rwanda. Blame Kofi Annan Un head in Rwanda. Thats why the US supported him to head UN. He kept his silence and was rewarded. Madleine Albright The biggest blame should fall on Bill Clinton. Clinton, Albright, Annan kept the volatility of the situation from the world press, and convinced the outside forces that intervention was not needed. Ah jus fimi opinion.
I believe the dead can and should get a "kumba ya" but again I strongly believe the OAU,Africans, and black people in general need to be more active in these Africa related issues. Guidance take for instance how many people on this site respond to this thread? Why should I blame Clinton when the people who you figure should care the most don't really care?
Talking 'bout Rwanda, look at the Sudan. That genocide has been ongoing for quite some times but the neighbouring states are anything but vocal. You get the impression that the Sudan is an Island somewhere in the middle of hell with no neighbouring country.
Yes you can blame colonialism for much of this and you should because oftentimes the news that these countries get about their neighbours actually come from the BBC and other European countries. We need to break those chains and be more active in Africa and places where we live like Haiti, Jamaica etc. and stop running to the "Gods" of the north to solve our problems. When you create gods you eventually get the wrath of said gods when you step out of line.
Motherland I know you love your family break the chains and set yourself free. -Beres Hammond
Registered: 03/13/01
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Ities it is sad how Powell has being silence, I am almost certain he is now regretting not being a democrat. If you read President Carter's unprecedent commentary a few weeks ago, he expressed outrage at what is being done to Colin.
