Kenya next Rwanda?
OPP @ Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:34 pm
ridenrain ridenrain:
Can't Europe do something this time?
There's a good possibility that the EU will send in the Nordic Battlegroup if the violent situation would escalate further.
This country is another example of the tribal mentality that exists. There is an election and when things don't go the right way one tribe kills the other. Worse yet we are letting people like this move into western Europe and America to continue their old rivalries in this country. We are shocked only because we don't understand how dangerous these people are and we try to look the other way until the bodies pile up in the streets and then we pretend we can't understand why/
Civilization have not yet reached some parts of the world and that is life. The only way it will stop is if they are allowed to kill until they are tired of killing each other, same holds true for the arab world
If violence escalates I think we should be there. I don't think we have enough troop numbers though. How many boots do we have to ship out? I remember reading that Canada can deploy up to 5000 troops at any one time; however, I read elsewhere that we only have 8000 troops in total, so it would be a real strain.
And for the record, i hope the 8000 figure is just infantry, or the person i read that from meant 18 000 and forgot to add the one, cause a ground force of 8000 in a total force of 65 000 - 70 000 is rediculous.
Either the african union does something, or I say let me exterminate each other until one side prevails, and lives with the horrid scars forever. Everyone's been through it before. Just ask the aboriginals.
The problem is the same as in Sudan and most of the others. Corruption is so rampant, the African Union dosen't want anyone meddling in their business, but they definatly want that aid money to keep comming.
I see canada pledged $1 mil to the red cross to help but thats as close as canada should get.
OPP OPP:
ridenrain ridenrain:
Can't Europe do something this time?
There's a good possibility that the EU will send in the Nordic Battlegroup if the violent situation would escalate further.
Is that some Euro-guilt creeping in?
I won't hold my breath. One of Afghanistan's oldest Euro friends was Germany and they can't find their way out of the safe zones either.
I think at some level Canadians should always be involved. I understand that to some level there are bad things happening all over the world and we can not be involved in everything. However, where the is even a small chance that genocide may take place, I think we should at least monitor the situation and help to negotiate settlements either through third-parties (AU) or directly.
OPP @ Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:27 pm
ridenrain ridenrain:
OPP OPP:
ridenrain ridenrain:
Can't Europe do something this time?
There's a good possibility that the EU will send in the Nordic Battlegroup if the violent situation would escalate further.
Is that some Euro-guilt creeping in?
I won't hold my breath. One of Afghanistan's oldest Euro friends was Germany and they can't find their way out of the safe zones either.
NBG (Nordic BattleGroup) is a result of the succesfull venture of Swedish and French troops in Kongo, 2003, named
Operation Artemis. Swedish troops were then recomended to take controle of the fifth European army which would serve as the first European millitary response, on the ground, within 10 days of the innital hostilities and within a radious of 6000 kilometres of the HQ in Brussels.
It's mission is to neutralize hostilities and keep warring parties apart with a right to shoot first. There's no neutrality left in swedish defence as of this year.
OPP @ Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:55 pm
Careful what you wish for..
Igloo @ Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:07 pm
once again your going to impose democracy down the barrel of gun. they are savages that can't handle or even want democracy as we in the west want/tell them to have .isolate them for about 100 years and then go back and visit
maybe democracy isn't the answer to keep society working in africa?
the world needs to stop meddling and stop the annoying self righteous/importance garbage.
let them scrap it out democracy will happen when they are ready for it
OPP @ Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:18 pm
Igloo Igloo:
once again your going to impose democracy down the barrel of gun. they are savages that can't handle or even want democracy as we in the west want/tell them to have .isolate them for about 100 years and then go back and visit
maybe democracy isn't the answer to keep society working in africa?
the world needs to stop meddling and stop the annoying self righteous/importance garbage.
let them scrap it out democracy will happen when they are ready for it
They have democracy. It was an election fraud that triggered the violence.
There is nothing to be gained by trying to impose civilization on these people, in addition we should not be taking in refugees from these nations that can't behave themselves. Secondly when this stuff begins all aid money should be cut off immediately. Sending weapons to the African Union is not the answer either as most of these countries are little more than tribal states. Canada should no longer be a deposit for the tribal peoples of the world. There care about their gods and customs far more than being people of a civilized country. If the industrialized world shuns them for a period of time and refuses to pay their bills maybe they will smarten up. We should also refuse to buy oil from the middle east and spur exploration and developement within our own regions and cut of developement aid to them as well
Thanos @ Sun Jan 06, 2008 2:52 am
Kenya has a somewhat positive record of democratic tradition so this is probably something that could be solved by diplomacy and thrid-party mediation. Too bad no one really gives a shit about anything that happens in Africa.
Scape @ Sun Jan 06, 2008 3:36 am
I beg to differ. Remember Sun City?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYHiA568P6E[/youtube]
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
Not our problem as it is a Commonwealth nation.
Sounds awful cold, eh? Well, on
Streaker's advice the USA will be sitting this one out.

Having spent over a year in Kenya when I was in the military I can tell you that the US has a great interest in what happens in Kenya, as does the UK.
I spent many hours socialising with various US military unit members in different parts of Kenya.
The UK still has many links with the military and exercises on battalion strength there annually.
In answer to the OP's question. There will be no Rwanda MkII. The multitude of Kenyan tribes fall under three umbrellas, Kikuyu, Luhya and Luo. Within those groups are scores of different tribes that are joined more by linguistic commonality than real alliances.
Unlike Rwanda there is no intense hatred, just jealous rivalry. That being said, tribal loyalties pervade all levels of Kenyan society and it really is akin to the 'old school tie' network that operates even now in the UK. Tribal loyalties will get you that next promotion or that job you really want in Mombassa.
The deaths we see are a result of things getting out of hand but the Police and the Army will remain loyal to the ruling Kikuyu leader as all their bosses are Kikuyu too. They are also capable of maintaining order on a more strategic level. There will be continued unrest as that is Kenyan politics, but there will be no massacres on the Tutsi and Hutu levels.
There will be change but the rigged election is no different to what was happening in the UK during the 18th century with so called 'rotten boroughs'.