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Divernan

(15,480 posts)
Wed Apr 13, 2016, 07:08 PM Apr 2016

On Anniversary of Rwandan Genocide, Bill Clinton’s Words Ring Hollow

This powerful HuffPo article condemns Bill Clinton & his administration for his actions in pushing to remove 90% of the United Nations peace-keeping force, and watering down the mandate of those remaining from peace keeping to merely observing. It is written by two black survivors of the Rwandan genocide & war. They have impeccable credentials. I would have preferred to post this in the AA forum but have been banned from there. Will any of their approved members cross-post this article? I hope they do, and look forward to their comments on this article and the role Bill Clinton played. The article points out that "first lady Hillary Clinton" joined Bill in visiting the State Department to congratulate its task force on evacuating white Americans. As the authors forcefully point out, Rwandan black lives didn't matter to the Clintons.

Alice Gatebuke is a Rwandan genocide and war survivor, Cornell University graduate, and a human rights advocate. She serves as the communications Director for AGLAN. She can be reached at alice@aglan.org.

Claude Gatebuke is a Rwandan war and genocide survivor. He is the executive director and co-founder of the African Great Lakes Action Network. He can be reached via email at claude@aglan.org, Facebook at the African Great Lakes Action Network (AGLAN) page, and on Twitter @AGLANglr.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alice-gatebuke/on-22nd-anniversary-rwandan-genocide-bill-clinton_b_9677440.html

During the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, President Bill Clinton and members of his administration pushed for the reduction of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Rwanda from over 2,500 troops to 270, with the remaining troops’ mandate being reduced to a mere observers’ role. The U.S. government evacuated foreign (read: white) personnel from Rwanda, and pretty much ensured the total success of the 100-day slaughter that occurred. President Clinton later told Rwandans that he “did not act quickly enough after the killing began” in his 1998 address in Rwanda.

President Clinton did not fail to act as he told the world then. Actually, he actively pushed for a particular course of action. The genocide began after the April 6 assassinations of the Rwandan and Burundian presidents. By April 11, U.S. government and foreign personnel were successfully evacuated from Rwanda. Once the evacuations were completed, President Clinton, along with then-First Lady Hillary Clinton, “visited the State Department task force in charge of evacuating American citizens to congratulate them on finishing their job.” President Clinton’s administration then strongly and successfully pushed for the reduction and evacuation of the peacekeeping force, by April 21, 1994.

On the day the Rwandan Genocide is generally commemorated, former President Clinton’s words rang hollow both in material and delivery. Instead, they conjured up images, of white foreigners being evacuated from Rwanda to safety at the outset of the genocide. The rest of us, the innocent civilians, were provided with neither the option of evacuation, nor the decency of protection, but were left, amidst a bloody war and genocide, come what may.

What about our black lives made them immaterial to President Clinton and his administration? The cynicism of his utterance “Black Lives Matter” in Africa juxtaposed to his administration’s comments and actions goes even deeper. In discussions about whether to call the events occurring at the time in Rwanda genocide, Clinton National Security Council staff member Susan Rice, who went on to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., and as current National Security Advisor, said, “If we use the word ‘genocide’ and are seen as doing nothing, what will be the effect on the November [congressional] election?”

It is almost impossible to articulate the depth of betrayal felt at this profound sense of political expediency. While our lives were being slaughtered, at least somewhere in the United States, elections were being won. And in exchange, 800,000-1,000,000 casualties of black lives that apparently did not matter more than mid-term elections were lost.
38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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On Anniversary of Rwandan Genocide, Bill Clinton’s Words Ring Hollow (Original Post) Divernan Apr 2016 OP
Watch the movie "Sometimes in April" and watch the extra footage. It is eye opening. n/t Skwmom Apr 2016 #1
Thanks for referring to that film. Divernan Apr 2016 #2
It was a great movie Marrah_G Apr 2016 #9
I guess it just depended on what the meaning of "genocide" is. Divernan Apr 2016 #3
K&R - Not a single RIP thread for Rwandans in DU AA group. Divernan Apr 2016 #4
Well head back over there and tell those black folks what to do. trumad Apr 2016 #5
HRC supporter jokes about genocide? That's disgusting. Divernan Apr 2016 #6
Dude---you dissed the AA forum because they didn't snap to your comments. trumad Apr 2016 #7
This feels pretty similar to a callout thread... Blue_Tires Apr 2016 #10
About the charges by 2 black survivors of Rwandan genocide against Bill Clinton Divernan Apr 2016 #14
No ... The OP from HuffPo makes an accusation with no supporting information. 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2016 #17
You sure are foul mouthed today. Divernan Apr 2016 #19
Like I said ... 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2016 #24
me got some black friends LOL- You guys really need to keep your election shit in GD-P snooper2 Apr 2016 #29
For starters Blue_Tires Apr 2016 #36
I'm confident you posses the courage of your convictions and will begin an OP in the AA Group LanternWaste Apr 2016 #11
lol La Lioness Priyanka Apr 2016 #35
No response? Blue_Tires Apr 2016 #12
Hey there. Hi. Not sure if anybody told you yet but Maru Kitteh Apr 2016 #13
is there any reason why AA have to specifically do a RIP thread? is it not as important La Lioness Priyanka Apr 2016 #15
Of course not! Silly me! Divernan Apr 2016 #21
So African lives should only matter to the AA group on DU? why, were they instrumental in the death La Lioness Priyanka Apr 2016 #23
You are absolutely twisiting and confabulating what I posted. Divernan Apr 2016 #26
i'm not attacking you personally. i am questioning your comments. I still don't get why AA group La Lioness Priyanka Apr 2016 #28
Didn't say they were responsible; commented that they posted nothing on anniv. of genocide Divernan Apr 2016 #30
it's not my group. like i don't own the group or anything. i just participate sometimes as an ally. La Lioness Priyanka Apr 2016 #34
I think this might be the most shameful part of his legacy Marrah_G Apr 2016 #8
I would have thought the article would have a mention of something to support the claim. 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2016 #16
Click on highlighted words/terms in the HuffPo link; massive support of claims Divernan Apr 2016 #18
Ahhh ... who would have thought to look in a hot link saying ... 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2016 #20
So you're fine with Bill Clinton's actions re Rwanda? Divernan Apr 2016 #22
No. I'm not fine with it ... 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2016 #25
You dishonor the dead by covering up Clinton's actions. Divernan Apr 2016 #27
And you dishonor the dead with your faux "concern". But thanks, anyhow. 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2016 #31
My concern is real, and has been for decades. Divernan Apr 2016 #32
Sure it is. 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2016 #33
When foreign governments starts slaughtering their civilians, liberals should act but it is not easy pampango Apr 2016 #37
This. nt La Lioness Priyanka Apr 2016 #38

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
2. Thanks for referring to that film.
Wed Apr 13, 2016, 07:20 PM
Apr 2016

After reading the following review, I will be sure to watch this film, as horrifying and painful as it may be.

A clear-eyed look at the Rwandan genocide is offered in Sometimes in April, a frank take on the 1994 slaughter that claimed upwards of 800,000 lives. Some overlap with Hotel Rwanda is inevitable, and this HBO feature does have similarities, but without the strong suspenseful storyline of Hotel. Its protagonist (the strong Idris Elba, from The Wire) pieces together the past tragedy from the perspective of a decade-later war-crimes tribunal, where his brother is on trial. It's hard to know which is less bearable--the depiction of atrocities, such as mass murder at a girls school, or the second-guessing of the international community, which largely stood by while the horror was unfolding. (Like Hotel Rwanda, this film zeroes in on the U.S. government's distinction that "acts of genocide" occurred in Rwanda rather than "genocide," a Joseph Heller-like absurdity.) The plain style of director Raoul Peck, shooting on location in Rwanda, works for the subject; his film Lumumba was also a direct, blunt account of a tragedy in Africa. The approach doesn't work as well in the U.S. scenes, which feature Debra Winger as a concerned official; these just look clumsy. But the subject itself remains worthy of close attention. --Robert Horton


http://www.amazon.com/Sometimes-April-Idris-Elba/dp/B0007R4SYU

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
3. I guess it just depended on what the meaning of "genocide" is.
Wed Apr 13, 2016, 07:26 PM
Apr 2016
But according to a review panel’s newly released transcript and declassified State Department documents obtained by Colum Lynch of Foreign Policy from the Holocaust Memorial Museum, the administration had been warned of the planned genocide more than a year prior.

“I must rebut rapidly. President Clinton did not want to know,” Lt. Gen. Roméo Dallaire, the U.N.’s Canadian force commander said. “I hold Clinton accountable. He can excuse himself as much as he wants to the Rwandans, but he established a policy that he did not want to know.”

Then-Deputy Chief of Mission in Kigali Joyce Leader sent Washington a cable warning that Hutu extremists with links to Rwanda’s ruling party were advocating the extermination of ethnic Tutsis. The Clinton administration scapegoated what they depicted as a broken down bureaucracy that failed, a claim still repeated by officials.



https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/05/rwanda-revisited-genocide-united-states-state-department/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=*Situation%20Report&utm_campaign=SitRepAprl2015

Exclusive: Rwanda Revisited

Former President Clinton said he never knew the extent of suffering during Rwanda's genocide. But America's diplomats on the ground knew exactly what was happening -- and they told Washington.

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
4. K&R - Not a single RIP thread for Rwandans in DU AA group.
Wed Apr 13, 2016, 11:58 PM
Apr 2016

And not a single reply in this thread? Well as was asked by the two black Rwanda genocide survivors who authored the OP link, what was it about those eight hundred thousand black lives ended in that genocidal slaughter which meant they didn't matter?

Deja vu - can't have a single expression of criticism with an election approaching?

Well, at least Bill's fans were too shamefaced to attempt even one word in his defense.

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
6. HRC supporter jokes about genocide? That's disgusting.
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 12:22 AM
Apr 2016

How can you possibly post your comment? You know you just said that +800,000 horrifying black deaths don't merit even a single RIP, let alone a discussion of how Bill Clinton got it so very, very wrong. I'm glad your post included Hillary's smiling face - that says it all for you, doesn't it?

Ever heard the expression,
Black Lives Matter, Trumad!?!?!

 

trumad

(41,692 posts)
7. Dude---you dissed the AA forum because they didn't snap to your comments.
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 10:19 AM
Apr 2016

You best get over there and straighten them out.

Blue_Tires

(55,445 posts)
10. This feels pretty similar to a callout thread...
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 03:02 PM
Apr 2016

Are you trying to tell us how to run our group? Don't you have your own house to straighten out? People miss threads all the time in GD, and I didn't see this yesterday...

You wanted a black DUer's presence in this thread, and now you've got it. So *what* do you want to talk about?

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
14. About the charges by 2 black survivors of Rwandan genocide against Bill Clinton
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 01:13 PM
Apr 2016

The OP from HuffPo, which I posted with no commentary of my own, explicitly lays out Bill Clinton's actions influencing the U.N. peace keepers to leave Rwanda and first lady Hillary's in joining him at a follow up "congratulatory" visit to the State Department for getting all the whites out before the slaughter began.

These 2 survivors quite explicitly set out facts which reveal Bill Clinton in a very negative light, i.e., those hundreds of thousands of black Rwandan lives didn't matter. I opened the topic to debate. I did not post in the AA group, having been told to keep my white nose out of "their" business. That was when I criticized Bill Clinton's recent actions talking down to two black lives matter protestors.

You ask if I have my "own house" to straighten out? Well I have 2 black relatives and some black friends, and I support Black Lives Matter - and by that I mean ALL black lives matter, including Rwandan ones.

Run "your" group anyway you want - I'm not going there again. Are you trying to tell the rest of the DU that none of us are allowed to discuss Rwanda in any other DU forums? Or Bill Clinton's actions in that nightmare?

So the topic was and remains the Rwanda genocide and Bill Clinton's actions there as set forth in the Huff Po article. The authors of the HuffPo article lay all the facts out in a far more powerful fashion than I could. Stop calling me out, and respond to their account of Bill's actions/inactions.









 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
17. No ... The OP from HuffPo makes an accusation with no supporting information.
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 01:43 PM
Apr 2016

And your shit stirring comment regarding the African-American betrays your fucked up agenda.

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
19. You sure are foul mouthed today.
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 02:04 PM
Apr 2016

But not a word of criticism of Bill/Hillary re Rwanda, and not a single word of sympathy for 800,00 slaughtered Rwandans.

In the future, I politely suggest that you (1) click on the link to the article quoted in the OP and (2) click on the highlighted words and terms therein to access the supporting information.

So you're using gutter language to attack me for your inability to understand how to access the supporting information. I know you must feel just terrible about your mistake, right?

And here it is again:
http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB511/

These are the titles of the sources available in their entirety from the article's links, as kept by the National Security Archives
1994 Rwanda Pullout Driven by Clinton White House, U.N. Equivocation
White House Clears E-Mail Release and Susan Rice Hand-written Notes
Newly Declassified E-Mails Detail U.S. Role at Genocide Turning Point
Political Restrictions on Peacekeeping Missions Were Key to U.S. Thinking in 1994, Not Protection of Civilians or Prevention of Genocide
State Department Attempts to Cover Up Well-Known U.S. "Bombshell" - Excises Key Parts of Cable Already Released in Substance by Other Governments
Documents Show Minimal High-Level U.S. Attention to Rwanda Genocide in April 1994; Ended with Evacuation of U.S. Citizens April 11, Notwithstanding Last-Minute Add-On to Deputies' Meeting of April 29
National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 511


April 16, 2015
For instance, here is just one of the many documents:

Document 9
April 9, 1994
From: Richard Clarke
To: Donald Steinberg, et. al.
Subj: "Rwanda: Next Steps, for Sunday and Beyond"
Source: Clinton Library MDR Case no. 2014-0278

In a National Security Council (NSC) email from April 9 1994, Richard Clarke writes to Donald Steinberg and several other NSC officials about working to coordinate with the French to get American citizens out of Rwanda, and to terminate UNAMIR. He writes in a section titled "Terminating the UN Force":

"We make a lot of noise about terminating UN forces that aren't working. Well, few could be as clearly not working. We should work with the Frecnh [sic] to gain a consensus to terminate the UN mission."


 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
24. Like I said ...
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 02:11 PM
Apr 2016
Ahhh ... who would have told to look in a hot link saying ... "along with then-First Lady Hillary Clinton" to find the NSA-archived support for the claim.

I supposed that was just a coincidence and not a telegraphing of agenda.

Now ... about your shit-stirring comment about the AA Group? I guess your thrift should be commended, you got a two-fer.


Sorry to offend your delicate sensibilities.

 

snooper2

(30,151 posts)
29. me got some black friends LOL- You guys really need to keep your election shit in GD-P
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 02:30 PM
Apr 2016

In GD we deal with important topics, like why the FUCK would Rihanna release this piece of "work"


&list=RDHL1UzIK-flA

Blue_Tires

(55,445 posts)
36. For starters
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 05:22 PM
Apr 2016

1. When I say "straighten your house out", I mean you'd better be able to withstand the same scrutiny when it comes to criticizing what you think other DUers should or shouldn't be discussing.

2. I didn't tell "the rest of the DU that none of us are allowed to discuss Rwanda in any other DU forums", and do not put words in my mouth. But when I see all this screechy WHY AREN'T ANY BLACK DUERS RESPONDING TO THIS THREAD? WHY ISN'T THIS STORY POSTED IN THE AF'RAM FORUM? OH IT MUST BE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T TOLERATE ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT BILL CLINTON! -- I start to wonder if this *really* about the Rwandan genocide, or if you just want to score some political points and bash the Clintons, and I guess the black folks who support them by extension. (Trust me, I cross this line myself against my own political enemies here, so I do know the difference).



Now, on to your topic and my response:

Yes, the inadequate response from the U.S. and the U.N. were reprehensible and beyond the pale, and there are some disturbing, unanswered questions on what roles Belgium and France played in all of this... Bill Clinton's inaction was inexcusable (What, you thought I was gonna defend him on this or something?) I'm not sure what Hillary has to do with this, other than supporting her husband publicly like any other first lady would do in this situation. And I guess the author missed something, since the Dems got swept out of both houses in '94 (which everyone was predicting, but nobody was expecting losses that severe). So the accusation of "political expediency", or Clinton did this to help some incumbent dem congresscritter in a podunk district seems a little off...

SO -- Is that what you wanted to fuckin' hear?? Are we good now, or is there something else?

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
11. I'm confident you posses the courage of your convictions and will begin an OP in the AA Group
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 03:16 PM
Apr 2016

I'm confident you posses the courage of your convictions and will begin an OP in the AA Group instructing POC what they should or should not discuss or be offended by. It's a very popular act.

Else, I'm left to think yours was simply a petulant and passive-aggressive desire to poke a finger in the eyes of the AA Group, lacking any real depth or substance.

(in the space provided below free of charge is where you may talk about anything other than your reason for not posting in the AA Group)

Maru Kitteh

(28,341 posts)
13. Hey there. Hi. Not sure if anybody told you yet but
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 11:53 AM
Apr 2016

Your little callout here produced a real live person who is waiting for your response. Just look around a little. I bet you can find the post, I have faith in you. I'm looking forward to watching this conversation!

Don't mind me. I'll just be over here.

 

La Lioness Priyanka

(53,866 posts)
15. is there any reason why AA have to specifically do a RIP thread? is it not as important
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 01:20 PM
Apr 2016

for other groups?

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
21. Of course not! Silly me!
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 02:08 PM
Apr 2016

Worst genocide of blacks in modern times (not as bad as King Leopold of Belgiums actions)

There's been quite a debate about who is qualified to comment on Black Lives Matter. I'm still waiting to see a response re Bill Clinton's actions on this matter. What do you think?

 

La Lioness Priyanka

(53,866 posts)
23. So African lives should only matter to the AA group on DU? why, were they instrumental in the death
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 02:10 PM
Apr 2016

of Rwandans?

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
26. You are absolutely twisiting and confabulating what I posted.
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 02:21 PM
Apr 2016

Of course they weren't instrumental. However Bill Clinton was, and he deserves to be called out for it. And who has better standing to do that regarding the slaughter of 800,000 Africans than an African American group? It should be a major chapter in the history of his presidency.

You are having a great time attacking me personally, but not one single word of criticism of Bill Clinton's actions. One of you mocked my "tender sensibilities" in noting his foul language. But why aren't your sensibilities far more offended and outraged by Clinton's actions then my calling your attention to them?

 

La Lioness Priyanka

(53,866 posts)
28. i'm not attacking you personally. i am questioning your comments. I still don't get why AA group
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 02:27 PM
Apr 2016

is responsible for this particular thread more than any other group.

Are they only responsible because they have similar skin color to the Rwandans? What else is the AA group responsible for? Where is the limits of their responsibility for foreign governments/actors?

I want to know why you think this group on DU is particularly responsible for mourning this particular genocide.

I criticized Bill Clinton and American overall a lot when the genocide was actually happening, not twenty years later when politically convenient to do so.

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
30. Didn't say they were responsible; commented that they posted nothing on anniv. of genocide
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 02:35 PM
Apr 2016

It's not simply skin color, it's heritage. You do refer to your group as African Americans, not Black Americans. It's not a matter of political convenience; it's a matter of political relevance. If Clintons had retired to private life, his actions would not be as relevant, except for historical evaluation of his presidency - but the 2-for-1 couple wants back in the oval office, and they have a pattern of dissing Black Lives Matter protestors.

Surely you are not saying that only Black AMERICAN Lives Matter?

Racism does not stop at national borders.

 

La Lioness Priyanka

(53,866 posts)
34. it's not my group. like i don't own the group or anything. i just participate sometimes as an ally.
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 02:41 PM
Apr 2016

For African Americans to be focused on black lives in the US, is a perfectly reasonable focus.

when your kids are being exposed to lead filled water and you are being disenfranchised from your vote and your kids are being shot dead by cops of the street, you don't have all this extra time to mourn about a tragedy twenty years ago in another country. You have your hands kinda full.

You also need to be told by people not experiencing the same set of systemic issues, what you need to be focused on.

Marrah_G

(28,581 posts)
8. I think this might be the most shameful part of his legacy
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 11:06 AM
Apr 2016

In fact not just the US, but the entire world deserves to hang their heads in shame for what was allowed to happen there. No one did anything and even the UN troops were impotent.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
16. I would have thought the article would have a mention of something to support the claim.
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 01:38 PM
Apr 2016

I guess that's not important.

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
18. Click on highlighted words/terms in the HuffPo link; massive support of claims
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 01:50 PM
Apr 2016

Do materials from the National Security Archives satisfy you? They are all available via the OP's link. Now that that's cleared up, please give your opinion of Bill Clinton's actions re the Rwanda genocide.

Example: Citation: William J. Clinton: "Letter to Congressional Leaders on the Evacuation of United States Citizens From Rwanda and Burundi," April 12, 1994. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=49961.

or http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB511/

1994 Rwanda Pullout Driven by Clinton White House, U.N. Equivocation

White House Clears E-Mail Release and Susan Rice Hand-written Notes

Newly Declassified E-Mails Detail U.S. Role at Genocide Turning Point

Political Restrictions on Peacekeeping Missions Were Key to U.S. Thinking in 1994, Not Protection of Civilians or Prevention of Genocide

State Department Attempts to Cover Up Well-Known U.S. "Bombshell" - Excises Key Parts of Cable Already Released in Substance by Other Governments

Documents Show Minimal High-Level U.S. Attention to Rwanda Genocide in April 1994; Ended with Evacuation of U.S. Citizens April 11, Notwithstanding Last-Minute Add-On to Deputies' Meeting of April 29
National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 511


April 16, 2015

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
20. Ahhh ... who would have thought to look in a hot link saying ...
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 02:07 PM
Apr 2016

"along with then-First Lady Hillary Clinton" to find the NSA-archived support for the claim.

I supposed that was just a coincidence and not a telegraphing of agenda.

Now ... about your shit-stirring comment about the AA Group? I guess your thrift should be commended, you got a two-fer.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
25. No. I'm not fine with it ...
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 02:16 PM
Apr 2016

But in the real world, there is nothing that can be done to undo the decision, other than learn from it.

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
27. You dishonor the dead by covering up Clinton's actions.
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 02:26 PM
Apr 2016

And since we're looking at another two-for-the-price-of-one Clinton presidency, and I've seen no acknowledgements from Bill of his major role in the Rwandan genocide, Bill apparently has NOT learned from it.

Why don't you contact Huffington Post and tell them this shouldn't have been published since "nothing can be done to undo the decision"?

pampango

(24,692 posts)
37. When foreign governments starts slaughtering their civilians, liberals should act but it is not easy
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 06:14 PM
Apr 2016

If liberals do nothing and a slaughter ensues, we can rightfully be accused of showing that Black lives (or Arab lives) don't matter.

If we do act, then we can be accused of now owning the ensuing chaos and that we should have let the government slaughter just go on since it is not our country.

Hind-sight is always 20-20. We (the UN, not just the US) should have intervened early on in Rwanda. What does that say about Libya? Syria? The Balkans? I think it is difficult to say ALWAYS or NEVER intervene. One of the tough things about being president is that you can't predict the future. It is difficult to always know whether it is better to intervene or let a potential slaughter play out.

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