I believe the bigger question is why did the whole world let this happen. Us, the UN, Europe, and anybody else who was in a position to help. In hindsight (and I believe it was obvious then as well) Kofi Annan, as great as he has been in his current UN position, seriously ****ed up in that situation and it is a real shame he was not held accountable. Personally, I feel he holds most the blame as he had an opprotunity to help stop or resolve the conflict, and sat on his hands.

The Clinton administration is also to blame, for being so caught into the politics of Somalia that they did not want to help. They knew what was happening, and simply didn't want to get involved. Europe as well didn't want to touch it with a 20foot pole. Really a shame nobody ponied up to help all those innocent people . Hindsight is 20/20, but the intellegence was there via those in the UN security force that was on the ground (with its hands tied), as well as the seriously brave french reporters who covered (and died in) the conflict. This really is a shame. Especially due to the larger punishments many in lower positions have recieved in the Arusha tribunals so far.
-Jeff

 

Everyone is so quick to blame the UN...but let the US off the hook. We 'saved' Iraq from Saddam...in the same logic, aren't WE to blame for this attrocity?! Hahaha...oh that's right, they don't have oil or power in the middle east...


if you don't catch the sarcasm, the summary of this post is: why the hell would we be involved, and why the hell are we involved in Iraq


The UN is, at it's base, an advisory committy. They are not responsible for enforcement, it's just a forum for the leaders of the world to discuss major international problems. Of course if you listen to republicans in the US, you might think they are both powerless AND responsible for the world...which, as we all know, is impossible. If we (the US) had listened to them....maybe we wouldn't be in a...what is it called...that guy from Family Guy...oh yeah...quagmire...