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Drinking latte with tyrants never works

Drinking latte with tyrants never works

By | Friday, July 11, 2008, 07:23 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer cites the recent rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages in Colombia as an example of how “hard power�?- much maligned by critics of President Bush- is often the only effective way to ensure freedom.

He writes, “On the day the Colombian military freed Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other long-held hostages, the Italian Parliament passed yet another resolution demanding her release. Europe had long ago adopted this French-Colombian politician as a cause cÃ©lÃ¨bre. France had made her an honorary citizen of Paris, passed numerous resolutions and held many vigils.�?

But it was only skilled military action that saved the hostages, not the soft-power of diplomacy. �? Solemn condemnations have been issued from every forum of soft-power fecklessness — the EU, the U.N., the G-8 foreign ministers — demanding that Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe stop butchering his opponents and step down. Before that, the cause du jour was Burma. And then there is Darfur, a perennial for which myriad diplomats and foreign policy experts have devoted uncountable hours at the finest five-star hotels to deplore the genocide and urgently urge relief.�?

Europe, writes Krauthammer, “specializes in providing haven for those fleeing the evil that Europe does nothing about…�?

Only the U.S. - in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq has the guts to save innocent people from tyrants - but is severely condemned for it internationally and is thus losing its taste for such actions.

Is the U.S. a force for good and are we retreating from that now?

Categories: Forum Comments

By James Winslo

July 11, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this

During the 1970 “May Day�? demonstrations at the University of Georgia I was a young Marine Corps veteran just back from Vietnam. Most “students�? used the day to demonstrate or goof-off but since the G.I. Bill and I were paying for my education I went to class anyway. As I walked into an empty classroom I found something very profound written on the blackboard. I wrote it down and have never forgotten it.

“When civilized man can no longer stand the horror of war and refuses to fight, then he will surely be killed or enslaved by the uncivilized who can.�?

Author Unknown

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/opiniontalk/entries/...

By tasco66 on Jul 11, 2008, 05:59 in Politics & the war.

tasco66 says on Jul 11, 2008, 06:06:

“On the day the Colombian military freed Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other long-held hostages, the Italian Parliament passed yet another resolution demanding her release"

That sounds like the no more hair cuts of Ingrid

Bravo, Presidente Uribe for the perfect operation!

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aztec says on Jul 11, 2008, 06:15:

Why not pass another resolution against crime and murder. That will take care of our problems.

While they are at it perhaps a mandate for a "livable" wage of $35,000. No problem it is that easy!

Resolutions, demands and peaceful demonstrations will solve everything.

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tasco66 says on Jul 11, 2008, 06:18:

THE greatest lie intellectuals tell us is that "the pen is mightier than the sword." That's what cowards claim when they want to preen as heroes.

http://frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=DBAA9F31-85EB-428...

Bravo, Presidente Uribe for the perfect operation!

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august says on Jul 11, 2008, 06:52:

But the rescue wasn´t an example of "hard power." Remember? There wasn´t a single shot fired. All the arms and Apache helicopters sent to Colombia over the years did nothing for the hostages. It was nothing more than a bit of clever theatrics (posing as humanitarian assistance at that) and human as well as signal intelligence.

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billyb says on Jul 11, 2008, 06:55:

But it was accomplished using military and intelligence assets which make up part of the hard power equation as opposed to negotiations and diplomacy

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quantum says on Jul 11, 2008, 07:10:

The old addage "The pen is mightier than the sword" I believe refers to the concept of education, consciousness raising, intelligence as opposed to brute force which IMO is as valid now as it ever was......

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billyb says on Jul 11, 2008, 07:13:

Brute force and diplomacy each have their use and the trick is knowing which one to use in a particular situation.

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GregYohn says on Jul 11, 2008, 07:33:

Hola!

Yes, we have to remember all the WMD's and making Iraq Democratic, instead of stopping the violence in Darfur is more important according to Krauthammer.

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

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august says on Jul 11, 2008, 07:43:

I think that one of biggest problems with this argument that the success of the recent hostage liberation vindicates the use of hard power overf soft power is that really nothing has been settled in the armed conflict. Yes, 15 hostages were freed, but that still leaves the interwoven challenges of about 700 more hostages and the unsolved presence of still powerful illegal armed groups as well as that slight challenge to state power called narcotrafficking. I mean it looks good on TV (and soon enough, the big screen), but this is a small victory people.

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aztec says on Jul 11, 2008, 07:49:

GregYohn, why in the hell is there not one African Country stepping up to prevent this atrocity in Darfur? You want that our American sons and daughters bleed for a place the whole world cares not one damn bit about?

Where is the outrage in Europe? Oh, perhaps another resolution from France will also take care of this problem.

The only thing I agree with you here is that it is outrageous to allow the massacres to continue. Just imagine what an outcry if America introduce troops to the area. You would be among the first to allege we were there only for the oil!

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GregYohn says on Jul 11, 2008, 07:57:

Hola!

In response to the ongoing Darfur conflict in Sudan, the African Union, (AU) has deployed 7,000 peacekeepers, many from Rwanda and Nigeria, to Darfur.

I would not be the first to allege we were there only for the oil!

Try learning something about the topic next time before overgeneralizing!

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

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august says on Jul 11, 2008, 07:58:

But the African Union does have troops in Darfur ... that place is a confluence of all kinds of challenges though, which makes it damn difficult to get further involved.

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Loggi says on Jul 11, 2008, 08:53:

Of the topic , but as this was previously discussed. Darfur 7000 Peacekeepers whom have not left their base in 3 years. They have not saved one life or prevented one single rape. Yet they lie an front of the TV the whole day and earn a cash per Diem from the US taxpayers of $115.00 PER DAY on top of their usual wages. This is more than their Generals earn back home. The peacekeeper that were killed this week were on their way to town to buy sullies for a party. There are 210 representatives from this, now UN Mission lying around in the 5 star hotels in Addis Abbiba, to manage this mission. You cannot comprehend what this circus is costing the US taxpayer. Africans don't give a damn for the genocide in Darfur, just watch them all still support the Zimbabwean dictator.

Patriotism is the last resort of a fool.

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august says on Jul 11, 2008, 09:09:

Loggi, this is also off topic, but that´s an interesting avatar you´ve got there. "Azania Delenda Est" translates loosely to "South Africa (or more generally Sub-Saharan Africa) Must Be Destroyed," does it not?

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Loggi says on Jul 11, 2008, 09:19:

Yep. That is currently happening in that part of the world . America and the west will soon start feeding them until all eternity.The begging bowls were out at the G8 whilst Mbeki tells bush to get out of HIS Africa.

Patriotism is the last resort of a fool.

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aztec says on Jul 11, 2008, 09:24:

Concern Arises Over Implications of New ICC Indictments on Darfur
By Derek Kilner
Nairobi
11 July 2008

The conflict in Darfur has killed between 200,000 and 300,000 people since 2003, and displaced over two million, according to U.N. estimates.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-07-11-voa30.cfm

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august says on Jul 11, 2008, 09:33:

Wow, nice, Loggi. Bring back White rule and all, huh? That sure was sweet.

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Lcacique says on Jul 11, 2008, 12:23:

Ohh boy! Just a good ole boy from Australia, Loggi?

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

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dwmte7 says on Jul 11, 2008, 16:43:

sometimes i think that we--all of us--approach some issues to the point that we almost see light and collectively draw towards some really useful conclusions...then the shit starts to fly and lo, all is lost. we end up in a scenario not much different than the ones we discuss...the good difference is that we're not armed with more than our tongues.

the issues in africa, specifically, somolia, darfur, and zimbabwe need humane resolution and we, by our thoughts and energy can be a part of some solutioning...or at least i believe that. but then we get at odds with one another and it appears all is lost.

dwmte

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