If Harold didn´t screw up at Hastings, they would understand.

Yeah, just what we need, even more people with a Saxon dialect

Saxons are not what you think they are.
The saxons you know are more bavarian than saxon, to make a long gstory short...

Don't ruin my jokes with mere facts.

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaGod, I hate it when I get all cynical like this, but as I stated up-thread, there's plenty of blame to go around, so don't stop at strident college students and celebrity activists.

!i!

In 2003, after going into the region on a fact-finding mission, Colin Powell recommended to the Bush Administration that US intervention should occur in Darfur. This move was blocked, actually "forbidden" was the word used, by Kofi Annan of the United Nations. So the US didn't go in then.

Now, of course, since a bunch of Hollywood celebs and neo-hippies think its a good idea - the US should just jump right in?

Quote from: jeff37923In 2003, after going into the region on a fact-finding mission, Colin Powell recommended to the Bush Administration that US intervention should occur in Darfur. This move was blocked, actually "forbidden" was the word used, by Kofi Annan of the United Nations. So the US didn't go in then.

Damn that Kofi Annan & the UN with their strong hold over Washington.

Regards,
David R

Quote from: jeff37923In 2003, after going into the region on a fact-finding mission, Colin Powell recommended to the Bush Administration that US intervention should occur in Darfur. This move was blocked, actually "forbidden" was the word used, by Kofi Annan of the United Nations. So the US didn't go in then.

Tee-hee.  That's so cute.  Just like the UN had any sway over the US invasion of Iraq.

Sorry, the reason the US didn't intervene in Darfur in 2003 was because there was nothing to gain and lots of opposition, while Iraq had lots and lots of oil and not so much in the way of international opposition.

QuoteNow, of course, since a bunch of Hollywood celebs and neo-hippies think its a good idea - the US should just jump right in?

You didn't get this idea from me, did you?  Hell, from a humanitarian point of view, it was a good idea to intervene long before Colin Powell suggested it.  The whole of East Africa has been a hotbed waiting to explode for decades now.

!i!

"Waiting" to explode?

Yeah you know like "things are getting better in Iraq slowly" - the football victory helped

Regards,
David R

Yeah, yeah.  I was in a hurry to make a bus and I worded that whole post poorly.  To be honest, the "waiting to explode" bit wasn't the part I expected to get jumped on about.

!i!

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaYou didn't get this idea from me, did you?  Hell, from a humanitarian point of view, it was a good idea to intervene long before Colin Powell suggested it.  !i!

No, I didn't get that impression from you, Ian. It just appears to me that the celebs making a cause out of Darfur are doing so to improve their own image and not for any altruistic or humanitarian reason (and I must say, with the exception of Angelina Jolie who does indeed donate about a quarter to a third of her millions to charity). Its the same thing with Global Warming, many supporters of that are simply trying to look good, not engender any kind of lasting beneficial change.

As for the UN preventing the US from going into Darfur, the US found less opposition from the UN to intervene in Iraq and more opposition from the UN to intervene in Darfur. Yes, the US could have ignored the UN - however, a better question is why was there less UN opposition for Iraq intervention then there was for Darfur intervention?

Quote from: jeff37923As for the UN preventing the US from going into Darfur, the US found less opposition from the UN to intervene in Iraq and more opposition from the UN to intervene in Darfur. Yes, the US could have ignored the UN - however, a better question is why was there less UN opposition for Iraq intervention then there was for Darfur intervention?

Because, when push comes to shove, the UN follows the big dog.  The big dog wanted a piece of Iraq.  The big dog wasn't particularly interested in Darfur.  The UN took whatever the big dog would let it have.

Ugh.  How's that for some ugly imagery?

!i!

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaUgh.  How's that for some ugly imagery?

!i!

Its pretty ugly.

Then again, while I think the US is doing the right thing by being in Iraq, I admit that it is ugly for Iraq that we'd rather fight a war in someone else's backyard than our own.

I think it's important to know How to Write About Africa. :hehe:

Finally.  Some sound, rational advice.

!i!