Not on Our Watch: Response 2

In reading three more chapters, I have come to develop a strong opinion on the book. It delivers vital information while providing ideas on how you can help. For those who don’t have a clear idea to what is going on in Darfur, there are numerous chapters which explain the situation. The motives for killed non-Muslim Africans, the groups involved with the genocide as well as countries who sponsor the genocide are all discussed. I really like the way this book explains the crisis – Don and Ron give a full analysis of every aspect of the problem and what can be done to stop it.

The authors also make connections to the Rwandan genocide and how similar they are. This helps by putting matters in context so as to understand the full problem with Sudan. They also explain why the US hasn’t been actively involved. What they are trying to do is get the word out to the people. However, I believe the suggestions they offer will be ineffective. How can you use economic and weapon embargoes if they are not enforced? How will the US gain support from the United Nations if China and Russia can just veto the bills? Sure, the more people involved the better. But if major countries are actually supplying the killers with arms, helicopters and military jets, how can we solve anything. In some ways, I truly believe that Darfur is a lost cause. Economic sanctions won’t help a poor country. Putting political pressure on a government that is so intent on killing will not change a thing. Even with the military, it will be a mess. The United Nations Secuirty Council has the power to employ military action but with two of the big five countries giving arms to Sudan, the UN is useless. Options are limited, if anything. If anything, we can learn how genocide can be stopped. And yet we said this about Rwanda and the Holocaust. I don’t think there is an answer to this problem.