I’ve been thinking about Darfur, the conspiracies and the ongoing debate on accepting UN troops. The thinking, various comments, posts on other blogs and rethinking have paid off. I’ve made a transition into a new mental state regarding the situation and I have a more refined opinion now.
The opposition to UN troops started mainly because of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) aka Bashir and his gang of corrupt butchers. Eventually various youth organizations caught the flu and joined in the “sneezing”. Following that, various tribal leaders from Darfur voiced their opposition. A considerable portion of the Sudanese public became opposers too. All of this happened thanks to the propaganda machine of the NCP. It is common knowledge in Sudan that America and even Israel backed up the SPLM during the 20 year north-south bloody civil war. This common knowledge provides the fertile ground on which healthy conspiracy theories can thrive. Bin Laden’s & Zawahiri’s calls for Jihad are a final “cherry on top”.
If Sudan was a target for exploitation, Darfur would receive much more attention in the Western media. It doesn’t get enough. Moreover, the ruling NCP themselves announced many times before that they’re eager to improve Sudan’s relations with the United States. Hence, it doesn’t make sense that the White House will go through all the trouble of planning a conspiracy. The White House has got enough problems and wars at hand. I’m against the UN troops coming in because as I said it will mean war and more suffering. However if the ruling NCP agrees to them, then the risk of war will considerably be reduced. In case the NCP does agree, I would be more welcoming of the UN troops but I will still have my worries. Afterall, UN troops didn’t achieve much in Rwanda and Congo so I wonder what they’ll be able to achieve in Darfur. Al-Qaeda and the Sudanese Islamists are another issue too. Will Al-Qaeda act upon its threats? Will the UN troops be able to respond to them? Will the Sudanese Islamists declare war upon Bashir and his gang? I don’t know. All I know is that if the “others” want the ruling NCP to accept UN troops Darfur, carrots or assurances should probably be provided.
SudaneseThinker
SudaneseThinker
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
“Eventually various youth organizations caught the flu and joined in the “sneezing”
Nice analogy:D
Drima, the US’s persistence to deploy UN troops is giving me the creeps.I am not a fan of conspiracy theories either but what if the US does want to extend its hold on Sudan through the UN.
The UN has tried in vain to negotiate with the NCP.Why doesn’t it back off & as you suggested, reinforce the AU unless of course, it has a hidden agenda.Does it want to force the UN on Sudan & provoke a war, which, in turn, will justify its next step: to send its troops to Sudan a la Iraq???
Why so much persistence?If they are genuinely worried about the excaerbating situation in Darfur & given that their first endeavour ie negotiations with the govt has failed, they should seek other alternatives.It’s their constant nagging that is causing my skepticism vis-a-vis their true intentions.
On the other hand, read this interesting & relevant article posted by Jinkess in Shamarat:
http://ww.shamarat.net/db/viewtopic.php?t=9291192
Drima - it certainly is one hell of a fucked up situation. Personally, I don’t think a solution of the ordinary kind is possible: maybe if the government is replaced by a benevolent tyrant or a real democracy or something. But that doesn’t seem likely at this point. Sometimes people just seem to WANT a lot of bloodshed and misery.
UN are as useful as fake tits on a zombie. Not sure about AU troops, but I am certain that the UN will not want to further prove its uselessness by supporting AU troops: remember, the prime function of a beaurocracy is self-perpetuation. And the UN is a beaurocracy like no other.
Hipster - war is expensive. Have you any idea how much money and political influence US in general and Bush administration in particular have squandered on Iraq? I am always amazed by the people who claim that the Iraq war is some sort of an attempt by the US to get richer - this is contrary to all evidence. Had they wanted to get richer, they’d support Saddam’s horrible regime, suck up to him personally, and make sure he buys lots of expensive toys (as they do with Saudi Arabia).
Bloody conspiracy theories. I strongly suggest reading “Foucault’s Pendulum” by Umberto Eco - it’ll put conspiracies into a perspective
Conspiracy theories aside, Darfur is bleeding and something must be done. Period. The showdown between Khartoum and Washington (through the UN) is getting worse by the hour.
I don’t believe America wants to get itself into another dirty war in Darfur, it had much on its hands from Iraq to Afganistan. American soldiers lives are valued at home. They are not suicide bombers.
Strengthen AU? Get UN? One way or the other, I don’t see a solution coming that soon. And more people continue to die.
Hipster: the UN is not acting outta duty to the US. The UN seems like an independent body that has it various political interests everywhere it can stick their long noses in, almost as if it were an autonomous country by itself who’s looking after its own interests (filling its own pockets and control I suppose). And, those interests MOST CERTAINLY do not comply with the US interests, quite the opposite. So, call that conspiracy off LOL.
Drima: Sudan needs a military coup -first, in order to get that country stabilized. It needs someone like Jerry Rawlings. I don’t see anything good coming out of the UN. Ever.
Tse.
“the UN is not acting outta duty to the US. The UN seems like an independent body”
Then why is that everytime someone moves to criticize and resolve a problem started by Israel it is immediately crushed by a veto from… guess who… the U.S and Israel.
“I am always amazed by the people who claim that the Iraq war is some sort of an attempt by the US to get richer - this is contrary to all evidence. Had they wanted to get richer, they’d support Saddam’s horrible regime, suck up to him personally, and make sure he buys lots of expensive toys (as they do with Saudi Arabia).”
Its funny you should say that, just a couple of weeks ago it was reported that the U.S government had billions within it’s ranks, and more than a hundred million dollars are missing. I don’t think it’s going to ever be the American people that will taste the bloodied fruits of war, it’ll be our corrupt politicians. ALSO, isn’t strange how we had billions of dollars to give into the war, and STILL be able to give aid to Israel BUT YET not be able to equip our own citizens (so much for an effective democracy) with aid when a disaster like Katrina (which all officials were warned of prior to the hurricane) happens, 1 year later and it’s a joke all the rich white folks are starting to rebuild but yet all the blacks are still scattered around the U.S and no effort has been made to bring them back home and help them rebuild, OR telling our citizens in Lebanon that they have to pay for their own tickets out of a war zone, strange indeed. This administration is a joke, heck so is Bush. Can’t wait to see if he accept Ahmadinejad’s request for a live debate, I doubt it, remember the debate of ‘04 with Kerry. LMAO, sad sad sad.
Excellent post.
Conflict resolution is about nuance and subtleties. Clearly, you are comfortable in that environment.
“Conspiracy theories aside, Darfur is bleeding and something must be done. Period.”
E E, I know but nobody seems to care. It’s so funny when people talk about Darfur from a humanitarian perspective and say crap like “oh never again”. Absolute bullshit!
Hipster, I’m not going to refute your argument because hey what do I know? The conspiracies might be true but honestly? My belief in them is decreasing. If the US is planning something then it has to do with the tug of war between China and the US over natural resources. It won’t just be about US and NCP. It will have something to do with China. The focus should be directed a little more to the Chinese. We’re too busy being focused on US. China is contributing to the mess in an “unseen” way. So is Russia by the way…
I’ll get back to you.
Patriotic Human, chill. The Bush administration has a few more years to finally buzz off. Let’s hope the next President is better.
SC&A,
“Conflict resolution is about nuance and subtleties. ”
Apparently the retarded UN doesn’t get it.
SUPPORT THE AU TROOOOOOPS! Period!
The Chinese and Russian contributions are unseen for a very simple reason - no freedom of press. The Achilles Heel of free democracies is, not surprisingly, free speech. I am getting more and more convinced that free democracies are going the way of the Mayura Dynasty of Magadha; we’re free, happy, rich, peaceful and immensely powerful… and therefore complacent, indulgent, fat, weak and overconfident.
Bummer.
“I am always amazed by the people who claim that the Iraq war is some sort of an attempt by the US to get richer - this is contrary to all evidence.”
Then what was their aim? I don’t presume it was a noble one!!!
Patriotic Human, thank you.
Drima, thankx for China-Russia reminder.
Hmmmm, Hipster, in the long term, you could kind of sort of vaguely say that it’s indeed about getting richer. Or more secure, anyway. I am not an expert on the subject by any stretch, but here are my two cents (hey, you asked for them
).
USA felt (rightly) threatened by terrorism. Since going after the chief nation-state instigators (Iran and Saudi Arabia) would be too costly, they attempted an experiment: overthrowing the oppressive regime of Hussein. This was supposed to serve three immediate goals:
Flexing muscles at Iran (threatening Saudi Arabia is taboo); establishing a friendly Arab democracy in the Middle East and thus changing the whole area for the better (making it safer and less demanding of money and power from USA); and lastly, removing a constant security threat.
They sure made a pig’s ass of the whole thing, though. Governments are experts at that, though.
PS
Patriotic Hunam - do some research, mate. It’ll be interesting for ya. And - all of your base are belong to US!
Raccoon, thankx.
I agree with all what you have stated save the ” establishing a friendly Arab democracy in the Middle East and thus changing the whole area for the better (making it safer and less demanding of money and power from USA);”
http://www.shamarat.net/db/viewtopic.php?t=9291202(Article posted by a friend in our Sudanese website)
According to the above article,Bush proposed to meet Bashir to talk him into allowing the UN force to intervene.
Persistence at its zenith!!!!
Is Bush that concerned about Darfur?? but then again, who is??
Hipster - hmmm. Why not establishing democracy? Until Hamas was elected, no democracy has ever went to war against another democracy. Moreover, free democracies are much productive - which means more and cheaper oil. Check out “The End of History and the Last Man” by Fukuyama.
And Hamas is more like the National-Socialistic Democractic Party of Germany of the 30s - a democractically elected tyranny.
Patriotic human,
the UN “resolve”? The UN is set up in such a way that it can never resolve any problems. Regional representation prevents Israel to have its say in it, and you must admit that Israel has a “side” in this conflict, no? And, so because Israel can’t represent itself there is the US -who are on about the same ideology as is Israel: meaning the right to self-defence not being crushed by manipulating no-sense making fingerpointing - to act if they agree.
But all in all, the UN is one corrupt buncha high paid “officials” and a self-supporting profit gaining organization - kept alive for the sake of being alive.
Tse.
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