« It's Official Now: McCain Not as Sleazy as Hillary!!! | Desidero's Blog | Double Down and Do It Dirty or Donate Till You Drop? »
As Goes the Congo, So Goes the (Inter) Nation
Ask Americans where the worst atrocities are in Africa, and they're likely to point out Sudan with it's long war of attrition against the Christian of the south, or perhaps Zimbabwe - not so much for atrocity but for Mugabe's ham-handed anti-democratic governing. A few might mention Liberia and Sierra Leone, though those have mostly calmed down ("died down" being a little too close to the truth), while Uganda brings images of the fight against AIDS.
But the Congo wins hands down. 5.4 million dead since 1998, and today's Times points to more troops on the move in the east, the continual lake region War of Africa that includes Rwanda and Burundi and other proxy armies.
And it also includes likely the most brutal place on earth to be a woman, what with being held to slave labor, repeated gang rape by militia, lack of basic amenities like shoes for torturous work in the jungle, and carrying weights far past their bodies' capacity.
But the Sudan's marketing department is much better. We get Muslims vs. Christians. We don't quite get "marauding warlords killing for minerals". Titanium? They're fighting over Titanium? What is Titanium anyway? Nope, doesn't cut it. So our eyes gloss over and we go back to Mugabe, white vs. black, colonialism vs. freedom fighter or nationalist exploiting open wounds, an annoying but much smaller problem in the shadow of 5.4 million dead and a huge nation still in barbarous chaos. But better defined. We like our chaos well defined.
As long as we get our basic facts and our basic understanding of the world wrong, our policies are unlikely to help the world to much, unless by some miracle we back into success. And the world of 2008 is much more complicated than the typical attention deficit-challenged brain can manage. Meanwhile the rest of the world sits back in fear and amazement.
But the Congo wins hands down. 5.4 million dead since 1998, and today's Times points to more troops on the move in the east, the continual lake region War of Africa that includes Rwanda and Burundi and other proxy armies.
And it also includes likely the most brutal place on earth to be a woman, what with being held to slave labor, repeated gang rape by militia, lack of basic amenities like shoes for torturous work in the jungle, and carrying weights far past their bodies' capacity.
But the Sudan's marketing department is much better. We get Muslims vs. Christians. We don't quite get "marauding warlords killing for minerals". Titanium? They're fighting over Titanium? What is Titanium anyway? Nope, doesn't cut it. So our eyes gloss over and we go back to Mugabe, white vs. black, colonialism vs. freedom fighter or nationalist exploiting open wounds, an annoying but much smaller problem in the shadow of 5.4 million dead and a huge nation still in barbarous chaos. But better defined. We like our chaos well defined.
As long as we get our basic facts and our basic understanding of the world wrong, our policies are unlikely to help the world to much, unless by some miracle we back into success. And the world of 2008 is much more complicated than the typical attention deficit-challenged brain can manage. Meanwhile the rest of the world sits back in fear and amazement.
Advertisement
Morbidity as a contest. How sweet.
October 28, 2008 7:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Desidero.
Where has the rest of the world been while this is going on. While it's true America has dropped it's role as world's policemen (unless there's something in it for Cheney), why hasn't any other first world country done anything?
why? why? why?
October 28, 2008 7:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Better to edutain people with the plight of the gorilla & bonobo. Or push the necessity of increasing tantalum supplies, needed to bring down the cost of PlayStations. Or preservation of Heart of Darkness-related historic sites. Or maybe point out that bottled water sales are 10 times the per capita income of all 64 million Congolese. No, clearly that won't work.
F*ckit. Let's tell people the Bankers took our $700 billion and pissed off to their Congolese hide-aways - and since we're otherwise engaged, we're gonna give $10 billion to the UN's Blue Helmets to go in and calm things down.
Great ROR.
October 28, 2008 7:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is that a Jetsons/Astro reference? ROR, George? Here in the middle of the jungle? Oh wait, the thumbers changed it to Raghing Out Roud, not Rots o Ruck. Back to our regularly scheduled program.
October 29, 2008 2:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Acronyms tire me out. The last letter I put in is usually random. Then again, same holds for sentences. Now stop mocking & get down there & fight with Hilarym99. She promised me she was gonna sort you out today. 'Bout time.
October 29, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Didn't you give me sh*t last time for posting about bonobos? And now they're the be-in-and-be-all (or whatever that damn expression is) of posting? I'm going in for snail darts or dart snails, fits me to a manatee.
October 29, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
"The Congo - Home Of The Last Wild Bonobo."
Y'see? Would've been that easy to tie all our issues together. Instead, it's allllll about you "people," isn't it? 5.4 million dead. Well, how many dead Bonobo? We'll just see how well you do with your people-centric post. The tide has turned, pal. Values shifted. Bonobo, we can market. Diamonds, we can market. The Congolese people... go ahead. Try.
October 29, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here you go, "I'm singing in the rain (forest)" - music from the peoples of the Congo.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/rainforest/rainforest_music_lo.html
October 29, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Some full songs here.
Hit "Albums," then "Heart of the Forest" for some full songs. Played that one til I wore it out - Water Drums esp. Thanks.
October 29, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Cool tunes. Thanx for the link. ; )
October 29, 2008 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
" white vs. black, colonialism vs. freedom fighter or nationalist " is certainly much easier to analyze in a 30 second spot on television than the 32 candidates vying for the presidency of the Democratic Republic of Congo in their last election.
The paucity of food resources per capita and the abundance of natural resources in central Africa , compounded by the so-called 'war lords' garnishment of what they are able to in eastern DRC guarantees a steady future in misery for the inhabitants of the area without meaningful international intervention. The West's understanding that these issues are not a local issue, but rather are indicative of the global issue of expanding populations and finite resources, (with multi-tribal affiliations accelerating the problem), will determine the efficacy of that intervention. What a mixed up crazy world we live in.
Alternatively, we coud say, "F*ckit. Let's tell people the Bankers took our $700 billion and pissed off to their Congolese hide-aways - and since we're otherwise engaged, we're gonna give $10 billion to the UN's Blue Helmets to go in and calm things down". My guess is we'll send a lot less than $10B, not that it will make much of a difference.
October 29, 2008 12:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
"The paucity of food resources per capita and the abundance of natural resources in central Africa" - hmmmm, that sounds a bit like what, the Middle East? Monopoly over scarce resource = high prices, leading to ability to import luxury goods? My, we were so close, except for "war lords", who happen to work for whom?
The west has managed a "civilized" exploitive monopoly over the diamond industry for what, more than a century? What's the difference here that I'm missing?
October 29, 2008 6:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
You have a point in that the instability of the area most probably benefits the western exporters of gold from the north and diamonds from the eastern DRC by translating to lower spot pricing in neighboring Uganda/Rwanda.
I think the reasons for the conflict however are much more complex than manipulation of these prices by western capitalists by promoting war if that's your point. Rwanda sees retaliation by displaced Hutu refugees in east DRC for the genocide of the 1990s as a security risk. This ethnic diaspora underlies the entire regions political instability. Historically the big dog of the region, Uganda is opportunistic in the north, (as is Rwanda in the diamond mines in the east) to the weakened state of the country after 32 years of autocratic rule by Mobuto followed by the Kabila father and son. The Mobuto regime through its nepotism created a underground economy for the gold and diamonds and he was backed by the western countries. Throw in Ugandan and Rwandan proxy warlords and the lack of effective roads connecting the Kiva area to Kinshasa and it's a pretty good recipe for conflict.
The most telling difference between the Mideast and central Africa remains the lack of food resources due to the conflict and the subsequent starvation of the bystanders to the travesty.
October 29, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
The desert economy might limit food resources too if the occupants were intent on mutual genocide. But somehow they've been able to control their resources and turn it into money and food, while the Africans have just managed to squander it (or others have managed to exploit them nicely, depending on point of view).
Don't worry, it's not a first - the Spanish did a good job of wasting their New World loot as well and were pretty bloody in the process too.
October 29, 2008 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
True. The Sunni/Shiite conflicts pale by comparison.
October 29, 2008 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does Desidero have any conception of reality beyond the monomanic self-centeredness of ONLY WOMEN MATTER?
Does she ever concern herself with children's issues, without the sole criterion of measure being genital configuration?
October 29, 2008 2:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I referenced 5.4 million *PEOPLE DEAD*, not 5.4 million mutilated vaginas. However, lads of 8 years old tend to get a gun and go off to the bush to fight, ravage and drink, whereas lasses of 8 years old tend to be put to hard labor or whored off to the local warlord. Sorry if life is so inconveniently divided that I find myself noting subtle imbalances. I'll try to be more gender neutral to preserver your ocular sensitivities.
October 29, 2008 7:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Drawing attention to gender issues is sexist. Who knew?
October 29, 2008 8:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Me. But I do it anyway. Bad Des, no bischotti with double-mocha latté.
October 29, 2008 8:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
I just totally dig on Nagarya comin' on threads. TPM's own Wildebeest. He sees a word he doesn't like, lowers head, charges & stomps. Coupla hours of grunting & stomping later, he's tired, lays off. It's like getting the majesty & violence of the Serengeti in the privacy of your own home.
Meanwhile, everybody else goes, "I'd swear there was something else in that post. Something about 5.4 million dead," goes back & re-reads it.
He's performing a public service, I tell ya.
SAVE THE NAGARYA!!
October 29, 2008 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Nagarya Falls!!! There, I did it. I'm taking the barrel over right now. And then I'm getting married.
October 29, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do you know there's a museum exhibit - at the REAL Falls, on the Northern side - entirely consisting of barrels that Americans took over the Falls? Yup. Most of 'em with the dude still inside. Gotta say, you guys are creative. Those are SOME nice barrels.
Mostly though, I'm just bitter cause I totally flailed on finding the best Nagarya insult. Damn you.
* leaving in disgrace. outwitted by an american. life as we know it.... over. *
October 29, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've been assuming he was using TPM to relay info to his sleeper cell. It was the only manner in which some of his streams of posts made sense.
October 29, 2008 11:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's only sexist if you're a man. Or a man who people often mistake for a woman online. Or something. Umm, what we talking about?
October 29, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Poorly defined gender identity. I've heard bay leaf helps, or was that basil? In any case, not much use having an identity if it doesn't make a difference, eh? But at least you've touched on the ultimate irony, though I'm trying not to let my identity politics and my vagina, sorry, my "genital configuration", take over.
October 29, 2008 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rather curious, I mentioned women in 1 sentence out of 15 - 1 paragraph of 5. And that brings the charge that ONLY WOMEN MATTER.
There seems to be an unwritten rule that if you point out something that affects women, you have to quickly balance it with some observation about children, minorities, poverty, stay-at-home dads, baby harp seals, manatees in the Everglades or some other oppressed group, or you're just being selfishly non-inclusive.
October 29, 2008 8:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rule: If you point out something that affects women, you have to quickly balance it with some observation about children, minorities, poverty, stay-at-home dads, baby harp seals, manatees in the Everglades or some other oppressed group, or you're just being selfishly non-inclusive."
There. Now it's in writing.
October 29, 2008 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, the Congo did just sign onto an agreement to help protect manatees. And dolphins and small whales. Now that's inclusive.
October 29, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
But the ICC is that commie plot to limit America's right to do whatever it wants, while the ICJ is the almost American-approved court that we listen to on a case-by-case basis. I'm waiting for the ICU, which is the International Court of the US, which we might deign to join. As Quinn says, the 3rd letter of the acronym you might as well toss away. Let's hear it for the IC. I can remember 2 letters at least.
I think the exclusion you're referring to is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Criminal_Court#Darfur.2C_Sudan
or otherwise known as the "nyah nyah nyah, they're ours and you can't have 'em" exemption.
October 29, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Uh wait, that was supposed to go below, and my comment about how delicately you avoided talking to Quinn about baby harp seals should go hear. But yes, we need more stateswomen like you.
AND THIS IS NOT A FIGHT, QUINN. MY SWORD REMAINS SHEATHED.
October 29, 2008 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, the Wiki. I should have thought to look there. Thanks. That's what I thought. So it's symbolic justice. I don't know if that's helpful or detrimental.
And yes of course, the ICC is bad for Bush's America. We don't want to have to answer questions like whether going into Iraq was starting a war of aggression, or that pesky little torture war crime. I actually hadn't thought till now to look up Obama and McCain's views on the ICC, but it appears neither is ready to jump on the Rome Treaty 2 days into office.
http://www.globalsolutions.org/in_the_news/analysis_obama_vs_mccain_icc
Samantha Powers makes a good point that our signing onto it now may actually undermine the ICC until we get our act together.
October 29, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
One might think that women's issues and children's issues are highly interconnected, particularly in areas of the country where the men are either killed off or enlisted in militias. It should also be noted that many are of the mind that the stability and peace of a country depends highly on the women of the country.
October 29, 2008 8:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well Des, Sudan is a little more complicated than that. I don't know how great their "marketing" campaign is when the western world regularly uses the term genocide to describe the situation.
Darfur has become a cause célèbre. Which I actually happen to think is a good thing, though I do sort of find it odd that attention is not drawn nearly as highly to the surrounding areas.
The Sudanese conflict is also a fight over oil revenues (I believe oil was discovered there only 20 or so years ago) and the situation in Darfur is less religious and more tribal. Complicated, yeah. Not well-defined. Another part of the problem. And our official position toward the Sudanese government? Are they committing genocide? Sure, but they're an ally in the War On Terror. Bin Laden's old stomping ground. "Key intelligence," they say.
October 29, 2008 8:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Question. Does the ICC have the authority to arrest those being charged of crimes in other countries?
I can't think of the word we use for it right now. I have to start sleeping more.
I'm trying to decide if I think the ICC can be effective at all. Or if it can be effective without the recognition of three major powers in the world. Also, China also really presents a problem when we're talking about oil in Africa.
October 29, 2008 8:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Extradition. That's the word. Remembered it as soon as I hit submit.
October 29, 2008 8:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Also, for what it's worth, I think the U.N. needs a major overhaul.
October 29, 2008 8:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
ICJ? Of course the UN needs an overhaul, but then it's a compromise system made of rogues states mixed with a few democratic ones. (I forget which side of the fence we're on these days). It's an imperfect system based on the premise that imperfect is better than no cooperation at all.
October 29, 2008 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
No, the International Criminal Court. They're involved in the situation in Darfur and the Congo and have pressed charges for war crimes on some of the leaders. I just thought I remembered reading somewhere that they couldn't extradite the Sudanese leaders anyway, but I can't seem to find it now and I may be wrong.
October 29, 2008 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
As above, so below - look up. I can't keep my posts straight today, the whole world is topsy-turvy.
October 29, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
No worries. To be more specific, I think it is the Security Council that needs major reform. Even more specifically, veto power needs to go.
October 29, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great post, and I agree, but the reference to titanium had me confused. Do you mean tantalum, the material used in cell phones and laptops?
October 29, 2008 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Des meant titanium.
But yes Tomaz, the right answer is tantalum.
And me saying this is gonna produce a tantarum.
TBC.
October 29, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now you've done it - you make me look bad in my own post. I'm going to throw a temper tantalum and kick all of you out of here.
October 29, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gimme a minute willya, I'm trying to figure out a way to get Niagara AND Tantalum into a really good gloat.
Be nice if it rhymed with orange too.
October 29, 2008 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Quinn doesn't get more Viagra
He'll burst like those barrels oe'r Niagara
Though the horny old goat
Would just love to gloat
An orange spunge is a wee short of Daguerre.
October 29, 2008 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Has anyone ever explained to you the difference between "Really good" and "Totally fucked up?"
Daguerre? LOL. That's just totally fucked up. You win.
Your prize? An evening with Nagarya.
October 29, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great, the poster with a name that sounds like a throat lozenge and behavior that goes along with gargling.
Next time I'll let you hoist yourself by your own petard.
October 29, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink