Losing the peace in the South Sudan
Paul sends us a link to Foreign Policy which digs into the rise of violence in the South Sudan. They find Hope & Change behind it;
It’s an extraordinary and painful development, given America’s major role in securing independence for South Sudan. But the toughest part for Americans to swallow may be that it’s the U.S.-backed leaders of South Sudan — the supposed good guys — that are responsible for plunging the country into chaos and threatening to wreck America’s signature achievement in the region.
[…]
The country’s quick descent into the inter-ethnic violence has stunned American observers, who had long viewed the Sudanese government in Khartoum as posing the greatest threat to South Sudan’s future. But it’s South Sudan’s own unresolved internal political and ethnic differences that appear to be endangering the country’s hopes. Sudan was the site of one of Africa’s longest and bloodiest civil wars, with as many as 2 million dying from combat, hunger, and disease in a conflict that lasted 22 years.
[…]
In Washington, U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice, who has championed South Sudan’s cause in the United States and at the United Nations for more than two decades, warned this weekend that the United States’ longstanding support was in jeopardy.
“For all those who choose the path of peace and democracy, know that the United States will continue to stand with you, as we have at every step of your journey,” said Rice, who has spoken to both Kiir and Machar in recent days, according to a source close to her. “But, I must also be clear: If a different choice is made, if individuals or groups seek to take or hold power through force, mass violence, or intimidation, the United States will have no choice but to withdraw our traditional, robust support. Killing will only lead to deprivation and isolation for the people of South Sudan.”
Who would have thought that folks who had been fighting a guerrilla war for two decades wouldn’t be able to peaceably govern a new country? Certainly, no one who has ignored human history could have thought it would happen. And, oh yeah, there are now 40 Army troops in Sudan to evacuate Americans there, and another 150 Marines in the neighborhood.
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Foreign Policy, Military issues
‘the toughest part for Americans to swallow may be that it’s the U.S.-backed leaders of South Sudan — the supposed good guys — that are responsible for plunging the country into chaos’
No, this is NOT hard for me to swallow. The only reason the US had for backing the division of Sudan into two parts was oil. South Sudan is an oil-rich country. Period.
None of this surprises me any more than the chaos in Congo, Angola or any of the other diamond-rich places in that continent.
This is not going away any time soon, and if someone does not stop it, the massacres that happened in Rwanda will happen all over again. And I fail to understand why it has to be the USofA, because you know damned well that’s exactly what will be expected.
The entire continent of Africa is full of pain and frustration, death and destruction. A “new” country pops up there every few months and they consistently have issues.
I agree with Ex-PH2, its not a surprise that leaders we supported are going against what was expected of them. With this administration and their lack of support for “friends” along with their lack of backbone against other countries that push our buttons, it was to be expected.
As for the rest of the African continent? tick tick tick tick…..
tick tick tick….? Then let it go up in smoke.
We need to get our people the hell out of there and stay out of that mess.
This period of political upheaval and social chaos started in 2008 and won’t end until it has run its course, some time between 2015 and 2019.
More drama…Fox News now reporting 4 U.S. military personnel being held in custody by Libyan Gov’t. No details other than the State Dept is already engaged on this.
Holy shit,,, nothing to do with the thread,, but damn.https://www.facebook.com/cendawan.kicap?fref=ts
I clicked on the NYTimes ‘breaking news’ link and found this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/28/world/africa/libya.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimesworld&_r=1&
‘According to initial reports received by officials in Washington, the four were believed to have been reviewing potential evacuation routes for diplomats when they were detained. The circumstances of how they were taken and why were not clear.’ NYTimes 12/27/2013
@5 That FB link doesn’t work for me.
#5, Zounds! What sort of asshattery is this?
@7 Just type in General Joshua Lee in Facebook search and a pic of this dude pops up.
Local news just reported, at 11:25pm that the four military personnel have been released.
That said, as far as South Sudan, or anything else in Africa, or world-wide, that the folks who can’t get a web-site to work, are involved in, will certainly turn into a fuster cluck. We’ll certainly entrust the situation to our best and brightest, Jawn Fraud sKerry. What could go wrong?