International News Today

[aggienaut]

Darfur
   So I'm sure you're all familiar with Darfur. Government backed Janjaweed militia and sometimes the Sudanese government itself trying to ethnically cleanse the Darfur region. Fighting against them has been the Justice & Equality Movement (JEM) rebel group.

   New developments in Darfur hasn't been in the news lately because well the media is shallow and fleeting. So what you probably haven't heard is that the JEM has been doing better lately and AT THIS VERY MOMENT is beseiging the country's capital itself. I'm not talking sneaking up in some vans and jumping out and shooting things shady style -- they organized a large military force and drove on over there for everyone to see.

   So after years of international inaction to help Darfur it looks like Darfur is helping themselves*.


Myanmar
   In other international news, if you're paying attention at all you know there are millions in Myanmar in desperate need to humanitarian aid due to a cyclone (which is what they call a hurricane over there), but their psychotic dictatorship has let something like four aid workers in, confiscated a plane full of biscuits, and what aid they are distributing they're doing at elaborate ceremonies where the ruling generals personally hand out boxes with their names on it as if they are amazingly magnanimous. Hundreds of thousands will no doubt die because international aid is being blocked.
   This is ridiculous. I say, we drop Korean War style peacekeepers (wink wink) (ie, they can defend themselves -- our forces in the Korean war were technically "UN peacekeepers") around the effected area to prevent the Myanmar government from interfering detrimentally, distribute all the necessary aid, and then get out. Myanmar has six helicopters, three transport planes, their combat troops wear flip-flops, and the roads in the area are fubar -- so what are they gonna do about it?
   Because I mean, whatever happened to "if a government fails to provide for its people it is not legitimate?" I think their "sovreignty" doesn't deserve any further respect at this point -- they are perpetuating a humanitarian atrocity by disallowing all the aid that is just WAITING to enter the country.

Comments

[michaelpop.livejournal.com]

Good thoughts. Care to comment on the situation in Lebanon?

[emosnail.livejournal.com]

What's really interesting about the situation in Lebanon is that the army there is staying neutral (despite the fact that the fighting is between Hezbollah on one hand and pro-government militias on the other) and in fact appears to be the voice of reason. The army has reversed the most contentious government decisions which had started the conflict, and it appears both sides trust the army enough that when they can no longer hold a position they surrender to the army so they can be evacuated (and permit the army to take control of their enemies vacated positions). Its really quite odd I'm curious to look into it further.

I like it!

[lassen-hiker.livejournal.com]

I like your Myanmar suggestion...a lot. I heard this morning that Doctors Without Borders was already stationed there, furthering my good impression of that group.

hilarious

[nibot.livejournal.com]