Everyone's favourite disaster

[Odin]

Or else they'd do what, exactly...?

Get the mighty UN to issue a proclomation? Link

[Geoffrey S]

Well, yeah. Two sides to this:
1. No African nation is willing to risk civil war and masses of refugees. That, and the already pointed out solidarity between African leaders/comrades.
2. No major power is willing to allow another to get a foothold in Africa, so won't allow non-African foreign troops stationed there. And they don't want to, certainly not in the necessary numbers.

Thus, no-one does a thing.

[Lemur]

No major power is willing to allow another to get a foothold in Africa, so won't allow non-African foreign troops stationed there.

That sounds a bit late-1800s to me. I think it's much more a case of no Western power wants to explain body bags to their own population for the sake of a landlocked little African hellhole that has no oil. Heck, look at how hard it's been to explain Iraq to Western populations. Now imagine doing the same rope trick with no oil, no Israel and no WMDs.

I can't even imagine a Western leader stupid enough to want to wade into that.

[Geoffrey S]

1800s? Do you think China would tolerate a strong US military presence in the heart of Africa, or vice versa?

[Fragony]

Put that guy in the embassy of a country ruled by anything other then the dutch. Who is doing the talking on behalf of this guy, the dutch minister of development-aid, not the minister of foreign affairs that is just bizare to the extreme. I can see where this is going

[Lemur]

1800s? Do you think China would tolerate a strong US military presence in the heart of Africa, or vice versa?

No, but I don't think that's really the issue, either. If China were so unwise as to physically invade, say, the Congo, I think America would protest strongly at the U.N., and then sit back and laugh our butts off as China got sucked into a neo-colonial nightmare.

If we're talking about physically invading places to exert our influence, yeah, that's kinda 1800s realpolitik; as the Iraq misadventure has demonstrated so fully, invading and occupying nations ain't what it used to be.

Part of the problem is communications. When people can document just about anything and spread it just about anywhere, doing the things a colonial empire needs to do without getting caught becomes impossible. There are other reasons, but let's leave it at that for now.

[Crazed Rabbit]

The AU welcomes Mugabe: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4242895.ece

What more needs be said?

CR

[Dâriûsh]

The AU welcomes Mugabe: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4242895.ece

What more needs be said?

CR

Come on Rabbit, discussing the undemocratic nature of Mugabe’s rule at a conference held in Mubarak’s Egypt? That would just be in poor taste.

Besides, with member states like Egypt, Algeria, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Sudan, Gabon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Chad, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Djibouti, Swaziland, Somalia, Libya, and Lesotho, Mugabe should feel right at home.

[Tribesman]

Come on Dariush , he would feel at more home if his dictatorship was getting billions of dollars in military and economic aid and his police aperatus was getting sent people to torture as a vital ally in the war on terror .

What more needs be said?

[Somebody Else]

I was asked what I thought the best thing to do about Rhodesia Zimbabwe was at an interview a little while ago. My view was that intervention in some way was required, and has been for a very long time. It's just a pity that the only countries that seem inclined to do that sort of thing are rather tied up at present. The Commies Russians and Chinese have (I believe) the available manpower - but where's the self-interest?

As has been alluded to earlier. The best thing for the people of the country would be for someone to strike oil.

SE

[PBI]

As has been alluded to earlier. The best thing for the people of the country would be for someone to strike oil.

Would it? When a valuable natural resource is found in an African country, it doesn't tend to be good news for the locals. Finding diamonds didn't exactly do the people of DRC much good, did it?

Besides, Zimbabwe already had a valuable export which Mugabe managed to destroy quite adequately, so I'm sure he'd manage the same with oil.

[Somebody Else]

Would it? When a valuable natural resource is found in an African country, it doesn't tend to be good news for the locals. Finding diamonds didn't exactly do the people of DRC much good, did it?

Besides, Zimbabwe already had a valuable export which Mugabe managed to destroy quite adequately, so I'm sure he'd manage the same with oil.

I hate having to explain throw-away comments like this. I was alluding to the way that the majority of people believe that the one and only reason we the West invaded Mesopotamia Iraq was for oil. I do actually prefer to think that the institution I'm joining operates for less selfish reasons.

(Gods, I feel so... unclean, saying something that's on the verge of what I feel)

SE

[PBI]

Yep, sorry, was posting over breakfast again.

Really must remember to be awake when reading...

[Lemur]

Zimbabwe introduces the $100 billion banknote — not quite enough for a loaf of bread, but it will get you four oranges.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Hmm, it seems behind all evil, lurks Jimmy Carter.

CR

[Lemur]

Hey, you know what's a good idea when your country is plunged into hyperinflation, starvation and total chaos? Pressure foreign firms to leave! That will work, sure it will!