Sanctions. How's that working out for Darfur?

[Pangloss]

President Bush ratcheted up the sanctions on Sudan today, and promised that Americans would not turn a blind eye on genocide. China responded promptly, turning a blind eye to genocide by calling sanctions an unhelpful complication. China, which buys a lot of oil from Sudan, even threatened to veto further UN sanctions, which the US also called for today.

 

I just can't wait to be told this is all my fault.

[ecoli]

sanctions an unhelpful complication to what? I guess they do get in the way of killing people.

[D H]

I just can't wait to be told this is all my fault.

 

I can't resist.

 

Pangloss, the situation in Darfur is entirely your fault.

[Pangloss]

Well you know what we genocide enablers always say: It's better to beg forgiveness for killing 20 million people than to ask permission.

 

Now all I need to do is find an appropriate rehab clinic.

 

[Rasori]

I can't resist.

 

Pangloss, the situation in Darfur is entirely your fault.

 

Of course it isn't. It's all Bush's fault. I'm afraid, however, that Bush is Pangloss's fault.

 

To be somewhat on-topic, I'm pretty sure the Chinese government's just a bit confused, as I can't begin to see how sanctions are an unhelpful complication. They may be unhelpful...I could see that being argued...but complication is tough to support.

[ecoli]

 

ahh. dry bones, my favorite Jewish political cartoon.

[Pangloss]

To be somewhat on-topic, I'm pretty sure the Chinese government's just a bit confused, as I can't begin to see how sanctions are an unhelpful complication. They may be unhelpful...I could see that being argued...but complication is tough to support.

 

They may ultimately go along with more sanctions. China's not unreasonable, they're just extremely focused on domestic economics. And lacking the politically correct moral underpinnings of western cultures, and not being responsible to a fourth estate, they can push that farther than most other states can.

[john5746]

They may ultimately go along with more sanctions. China's not unreasonable, they're just extremely focused on domestic economics. And lacking the politically correct moral underpinnings of western cultures, and not being responsible to a fourth estate, they can push that farther than most other states can.

 

They are just protecting their interests, we have done the same in the past.

[Sisyphus]

I suppose it could be a complication inasmuch as making Sudanese people poorer could make the situation worse, not better. It's also not clear who it's supposed to inspire to act. The impotent Sudanese "government?" The Janjaweed?

[Pangloss]

They are just protecting their interests, we have done the same in the past.

 

Oh and we still do. I don't really give much credence to those who scream about "no blood for oil", but you'd have to have real blinders on not to see the lack of US economic interest in Sudan or the value of China's economic interests there (which extend far beyond oil). I don't think there's any question that the game of international politics is still based on national self-interest rather than humanitarianism.

 

But there's also no question that it's a lot easier to enlist countries like the United States in an humanitarian effort that is contrary to national self-interest than it is with China. And we'll spend most of our time beating ourselves up over the Sudan and a tiny portion of the time beating up China -- doing most of their work for them. Oh, to be a Chinese diplomat these days! The luxury!

 

Just look at this statement from Barack Obama yesterday:

 

"President Bush's announcement today that he will finally impose tightened sanctions on the Sudanese government is welcome. But, it falls well short of what is necessary to compel Khartoum to stop the four year-old genocide."

 

"Conspicuously absent from this package of sanctions is maximal punitive action against the Sudanese oil industry, which the Administration once touted as a critical element of its so-called 'Plan B.' Targeted pressure by the international community against the Sudanese oil economy is a much-needed step to stop the killing and displacement of innocent civilians in Darfur."

 

"Also needed is the deployment of a strong international force, led by the UN, with an enforcement mandate to protect civilians. The U.S. should work with our allies and partners to compel the Sudanese government to accept such a force and establish a no-fly zone over Darfur."

 

He's actually holding the administration responsible for the lack of UN support for intervention in Darfur while at the same time not condoning any direct action himself, and failing to hold the true culprit responsible. And he'll get away with that statement because of the perception that still persists that George Bush is responsible for the behavior of other nations. If they're not doing what they're supposed to be doing, that's surely George Bush's fault somehow. Why, he just hasn't said the right things to them! All we have to do is elect so-and-so, and those magic buttons will automatically be pushed just right every time.

 

With friends like that, who needs enemies!

[Haezed]

All we have to do is elect so-and-so, and those magic buttons will automatically be pushed just right every time.

 

Very well said.

[john5746]

But there's also no question that it's a lot easier to enlist countries like the United States in an humanitarian effort that is contrary to national self-interest than it is with China.

 

Yes, I agree. But when we were supporting dictators everywhere to fight communism, we wouldn't have listened to anyone else. We also didn't want to wait on the Iraq invasion because of France or Germany. Why should we expect China to listen to us?

 

Why, he just hasn't said the right things to them! All we have to do is elect so-and-so, and those magic buttons will automatically be pushed just right every time.

 

They all want you to think that.

[Pangloss]

We shouldn't expect China to listen to us. That's not what international politics is about. What we should expect is that in order to get anything done we're going to have to pay for it. ALL of us. Not just Republicans. We all have to give in order to get. No matter how many liberals cry about it, the world doesn't revolve around starving children in Africa or melting icebergs in the Arctic. It just does not.