Tim Worstall

Kristoff on Darfur.

Kristoff in the NYT today on the subject of genocide in Darfur:

We in America could save kids like Abdelrahim and Muhammad. This wouldn’t require troops, just a bit of gumption to declare a no-fly zone, to press our Western allies and nearby Arab and African states, to impose an arms embargo and other targeted sanctions, to push a meaningful U.N. resolution even at the risk of a Chinese veto, and to insist upon the deployment of a larger African force.

This is what is known as acting “multilaterally” and as we know, trying to get the UN to act on human rights in Sudan when Sudan is a member of the UN Human Rights Commission…..well, you get the picture. What is actually needed is “unilateral” action. A brigade of US troops 6 months ago would have saved that 100,000 dead that he speaks of. A regiment equipped with helicopters would have saved most of them. Nice to know that the sovereignty of the nation state (something which does not actually apply under international law when genocide is taking place) is more important than, y’know, actually solving a problem.

In

2 responses

  1. Andrew McGuinness Avatar
    Andrew McGuinness

    “Multilateral Action” is indeed code for doing f**k all. However, I’m not sure if you (or Kristoff) have thought through “A brigade of US troops 6 months ago would have saved that 100,000 dead that he speaks of.” How? It could protect them, for a time, I am sure. But could it wipe out the Janjaweed and go home? If it changed the government of Sudan, who would be put in charge? Would it put an end to civil war?
    I would like to see some concrete plan — multiateral or unilateral — that would do more than “manage the genocide”
    Tim adds: so would I like to see such a plan and no, I don’t have one. The troops thing was me, not Kristoff. I guess what I really anted to complain about was as you put it in your first line. There are times when it is better to do not quite the right thing now rather than wait to get it correct later.
    Then again, I’m a big believer in regime change, a few well placed bombs in Khartoum would have helped, just as taking out Mengistu would have helped Ethiopia in the ’80’s.

    Reply
  2. alyson Avatar
    alyson

    I can’t afford to pay for f. Kristof, clever bastard that he is. Can anyone recommend where i can keep up with his words? Im v. po with NYT. I dont need this hassle.

    Reply

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