Western Sudan - what is to be done?

[MichaeltheGreat]

How about we stop the usual handwringing and gameplaying that accompanies this type of situation, and tell the government and militias that they have two choices - disarm or be killed.

Otherwise, like so many places where the rest of the world did nothing more than handwringing, this just rates the flavor of the month for murderous ****holes you're glad you weren't born in.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Ramo

Because they are doing such a bang up job in the Congo loosing control of whole cities?

I seem to recall a couple cities we'd lost control of in our current adventure, and we've (including the rest of the coalition) had over 150,000 troops in the country.

We didn't "lose control" - we relaxed our grip so as to minimize the wailing and gnashing of teeth that would result if we decided to seriously exercise control.

[Arrian]

I take it, then, that you think I'm out of my ****ing mind on this one, MtG?

-Arrian

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Arrian
I take it, then, that you think I'm out of my ****ing mind on this one, MtG?

-Arrian

Since the murdering thug Sudanese want the non-murdering thug Sudanese gone, we'd just be encouraging them and everyone else. Where would we draw the line? There are a lot of ignorant, nasty ethnic and tribal groups around the globe who'd like to be rid of somebody to grab their territory or just to be rid of them.

However, if we slaughtered enough murdering thugs in the name of a modern Pax Americanum, that would start to have some sort of effect pour encourager les autres.

Half the time we act like we're entitled to be an empire, so let's just stop ****ing around and do it.

[Whoha]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
How about we stop the usual handwringing and gameplaying that accompanies this type of situation, and tell the government and militias that they have two choices - disarm or be killed.

Otherwise, like so many places where the rest of the world did nothing more than handwringing, this just rates the flavor of the month for murderous ****holes you're glad you weren't born in.

because there are too many pussies both here and in Europe to issue an ultimatum like that. "the peace of the plenty, or the peace of death.", roughly paraphrased from a movie. You ready to flaten a couple of cities to stop them?

[lord of the mark]

ok, look, some of us may write to our representatives and call for UN intervention - some may call for use of the US military - some may call for threats of intervention first, and some may call for economic sanctions.


To me all such communications are good. My main fear that our govts will think we dont care, and that the whole thing will be ignored. By communicating, we raise it on the radar screen, and make it more likely SOMETHING will get done.

[Whoha]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Political agendas, political interests -- you know how ulterior motives and interests get in the way.

If that were the case, then Nigeria would be far down on the list, where it is now.

Nigeria has oil!

So does Liberia.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


Half the time we act like we're entitled to be an empire, so let's just stop ****ing around and do it.

For me, it's not about Pax-Americana or an empire -- it's about humanitarianism.

[MichaeltheGreat]

And that's the problem. When has a "humanitarian" mission ever succeeded against murderous thugs who still felt like bothering to be murderous thugs?

Putting bandaids on ever growing piles of bodies until the thugs get bored or run out of ammo or whatever local weed they get stoned on doesn't count. Nor does demonstrating lack of staying power.

[MrFun]

the band-aid approach does not work -- no argument from me there

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Whoha


because there are too many pussies both here and in Europe to issue an ultimatum like that. "the peace of the plenty, or the peace of death.", roughly paraphrased from a movie. You ready to flaten a couple of cities to stop them?

Well, the first problem we have to solve is the "too many pussies" problem. As for flattening cities, sure, if that's what it takes.

"Disarm and stay that way, or die" works for me.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
Half the time we act like we're entitled to be an empire, so let's just stop ****ing around and do it.

Aren't we installing a puppet state in an area with lots of oil? Does the Sudan have enough resources to make it worth our while?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
?

Putting bandaids on ever growing piles of bodies until the thugs get bored or run out of ammo or whatever local weed they get stoned on doesn't count.

If it saves lives, Im for it, even if it only works cause the thugs get bored.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


If it saves lives, Im for it, even if it only works cause the thugs get bored.

How does being halfassed and not getting in the way of the thugs and letting them do their thing until they get bored "save lives?"

It doesn't. It just takes credit for being around at the moment the thugs figured they'd killed enough people for this go-round.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Aren't we installing a puppet state in an area with lots of oil? Does the Sudan have enough resources to make it worth our while?

Who knows until we survey it all? Besides, if we just take over Africa, there's enough resources in the good spots that we can justify the dry spots on the law of averages and it simply being easier to wipe out the thugs everywhere.

Do you just exterminate cockroaches in the kitchen and let them wander around at will near the trash can outside the garage?