Auschwitz
This weekend I visited Auschwitz outside of Krakow, Poland. It was, of course, a harrowing experience, although somewhat diluted by the tour I was on and the number of tourists visiting the camp. An important experience, however, and an interesting counterpoint to the visit I made last year to Dachau outside of Munich. Visiting these places one cannot help but a feel a sense of dread that something this terrible, this evil could be occurring right now in some part of the world of which we are not aware. On a smaller scale perhaps, but still this inhuman. Or even worse, that something this evil does exist today of which we are aware but whose gravity we underestimate or whose existence we would rather ignore. Of course, I thought of Darfur (and in a moment of serious cynicism, Guantanamo Bay). What the hell is happening on the ground in Darfur? Do we have any idea? What is rationally within the power of the West to do to stop it? I have been following The New Republic's self-proclaimed "crusade" to force action on this issue, although not too closely. Can someone point me towards some well-balanced literature on this issue? Something that keeps in mind strategic and political realities?
(Photo mine.)
posted by James at 11:10 AM
2 Comments:
Though this is not in itself balanced, it does offer an interesting counter-point to most western media covering the issue:
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/sudan/2006/0610political.htm
Most interesting, though sadly an old theme, it suggests that "intervention" may be seen by even very multilaterally minded Sudanese as occupation related to oil pipeline control, explaining why some leaders in the region have threatened Jihad at the approach of UN peacekeeping troops. Thus, though international complacency is still at the heart of the issue, earnest attempts to moderate the conflict may be/have been destructive if this paradigm is widespread in the area.
A more detailed explaination of the oil interests (though, not to in any way gloss over the ethical horror of the situation) is found on this site as well:
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/sudan/2006/0427imperialists.htm
Oops. Rather, hyperlinks
The Political Problem
The Imperial Accusations
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