Darfur

After four years of delay and neglect, the United Nations has finally authorized a Chapter VII mission to the troubled Darfur region of the Sudan. As most readers are aware, this is the scene of an ongoing genocide perpetrated against the Black African inhabitants of the region by the predominately Islamic Arab population of the Sudan. Complex forces are at work here, ranging from shifting demographics within the region and the rising demand for the limited supply of water, to the desire of outside nations (particularly China) for the oil wealth of the Sudan. All have worked against the international community's ability to take effective action in the Darfur region.

Continue reading "The Sand Trap of Darfur" »

A recent opinion piece from the Toronto Star leaves one wondering if that newspaper even employs fact-checkers to verify the accuracy of the assertions made by its contributors.

Examining Linda McQuaig’s piece titled "Surely we can spare 600 of our 18,000 troops to do what we do best — peacekeeping" in the May 14 edition of the Star line by line reveals an embarrassing array of errors in logic and fact. Beginning with the statement “Leaving aside politics, it's hard to imagine why Canada is sending troops to Afghanistan and not to Darfur.” one can immediately see that Ms. McQuaig has a very limited understanding of the situation in Sudan. Leaving asides politics immediately transports her piece into the realm of make-believe as politics are the single greatest factor influencing Canadian involvement in Sudan. Specifically, Canadian troops could not be sent to Sudan without the permission of that country’s government: anything else would be an invasion of a sovereign country. This is clearly an important political consideration and one that overshadows all others. Continue reading "The Truth About Darfur" »

A crime against humanity is being perpetrated in Sudan.

‘Determined nations’ (as some, including Canada, were described by one journalist) are being pushed and prodded into taking some sort of action.

It is highly unlikely that the UN Security Council (where Sudan’s friends China and Russia wield a veto) will authorize a robust, Chapter VII peacemaking/peacekeeping operation which might make it possible for NATO, for example (or some sort of coalition of the willing), to take on the mission on the UN’s behalf, with some prospect of success. Continue reading "Canada to Darfur?" »

It is difficult to know where to start to correct the mass of errors which the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest newspaper, published on Sunday, May 7th. The article: Shift some troops from Afghan mission to Darfur is the work of its editorial page editor emeritus Haroon Siddiqui.

Siddiqui’s knowledge of 21st century history – all six years of it – betrays the abysmal ignorance which characterizes his entire column. Canada’s deployment in 2001 was not to Kabul – it was to Kandahar, for combat operations. Shame on Siddiqui for being foolish; shame on the Star’s editors for being amateurs; professionals check facts. Continue reading "The Toronto Star and Haroon Siddiqui are wrong!" »