More Tales From the (Sort of Human) Zoo

[jbg]

I have come to the realization that no matter how much aid the U.S. and/or U.N. or the "We Are the World" crowd gives much of the world, the people revel in savagery (link). The article excerpted below concerns Somalia. It seems that some truly human gems struggled to succeed in graduating medical school, against great odds, to become doctors and serve their people. It seems that others with an agenda relating either to religious or tribal differences found it necessary to ensure that never happened. The result was a horrific suicide bombing, discussed in the article and excerpted below.

The question I throw out is do we:

1. Continue the flow of aid uninterrupted;
2. Follow the apparently failed (and likely too expensive) policy of trying to spread decency and democracy to these lands;
3. Supply aid, but bump off the "leaders" until someone gets the message, but not try to hold territory; or
4. Cordon off these areas so no one gets in or out, and suspend all aid including "humanitarian" aid until these countries are willing to abide by some kind of civilized norms.

I am personally in favor of alternative (3) since I believe that (1) and (2) have failed and no one has the stomach for the massive famine, war death and human misery that would result from (4). Any other ideas?

I just see no point in funneling in assistance, welcoming the "representatives" of these people to the U.N. and pretending that their systems and cultures are the equivalent of ours. Article link, excerpts below:

Veiled Bomber Kills 3 Somali Ministers

By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN

Published: December 3, 2009

December 4, 2009

Veiled Bomber Kills 3 Somali Ministers

By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN

NAIROBI, Kenya — In a devastating blow to Somalia’s fragile transitional government, a suicide bomber disguised as a veiled woman blew himself up at a college graduation ceremony in the capital on Thursday, killing at least 15 people, including 3 government ministers, Somali officials said.

The attack killed more high-ranking Somali officials than any before it, illustrating how weak the government really is. The fact that the government cannot protect even its own could further undermine the support it needs, especially within the country. The killings may also increase the urgency for the government, which has several thousand young soldiers in training, to go on the offensive before it is too late.

The bomber struck in a part of Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, that was thought be relatively safe, though many Somalis fear Islamic insurgents have infiltrated the government’s security forces all across the city.

***************

Though no one has claimed responsibility yet for the attack on Thursday, it had all the earmarks of the Shabab, an extremist Islamist group in Somalia that is drawing increasingly close to Al Qaeda and harbors the ambition not only to rule Somalia, but also to foment a holy war across Africa. The Shabab have drawn jihadist fighters from around the world, including the United States, where officials believe several dozen Somali-Americans have left to fight in Somalia.

According to witnesses and government officials, dozens of medical students gathered around 11 a.m. at the Shamo Hotel to mark a hard-fought milestone — their college graduation, no small feat in a country that has been mired in chaos for nearly 20 years.

***************

The United States has been pouring in millions of dollars in weapons for the government, though because of rampant defections, many of those guns immediately fell into Shabab hands, Somali officials have conceded. Other Western countries are helping to pay for the training of thousands of young Somalis to become the backbone of the new army. A government offensive was planned for this winter, but many people doubt it will make any difference.

“The government doesn’t have a clue, doesn’t have a plan, doesn’t have anything,” said one adviser to the United Nations operations in Somalia.

The adviser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of his position, said that the government was planning a major cabinet reshuffle, but that it was futile. “It’s like rearranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic,” he said.

(snip)

[jbg]

Is this how you like spending your money? Had enough?

[Michael Hardner]

I'm not sure if you want to punish the people by withholding aid. Doesn't this give more power to the government in some cases ?

[jbg]

I'm not sure if you want to punish the people by withholding aid. Doesn't this give more power to the government in some cases ?

The only problem is that the corpus of the aid is first handled by what passes for a "government" before it gets to the people. That is why these governments refer to efforts of donor countries such as the U.S. to handle aid through direct programs such as the Peace Corp as "imperialism". The governments want to get their paws on the money first.

At best it is distributed to favored groups or used to pacify or quell opponents. At worst it funds terrorism or winds up in Swiss bank accounts. Basically, it is money that you and I earned that is going down the toilet.

[Shwa]

3. Supply aid, but bump off the "leaders" until someone gets the message, but not try to hold territory; or

and then:

Veiled Bomber Kills 3 Somali Ministers

So are you supplying this story to show that someone agrees with you about option #3? Or are you using the story to illustrate a point of some sort - that other governments might be interested in option #3, but they are not on the same side.

[Michael Hardner]

The only problem is that the corpus of the aid is first handled by what passes for a "government" before it gets to the people. That is why these governments refer to efforts of donor countries such as the U.S. to handle aid through direct programs such as the Peace Corp as "imperialism". The governments want to get their paws on the money first.

At best it is distributed to favored groups or used to pacify or quell opponents. At worst it funds terrorism or winds up in Swiss bank accounts. Basically, it is money that you and I earned that is going down the toilet.

So there's no direct aid ? It's all just payments to the government ?

[jbg]

So there's no direct aid ? It's all just payments to the government ?

Or fungible commodities that wind up being sold on black market.

[jbg]

So are you supplying this story to show that someone agrees with you about option #3? Or are you using the story to illustrate a point of some sort - that other governments might be interested in option #3, but they are not on the same side.

Option 3 is a way Western governments could ensure peace.

[Shwa]

Option 3 is a way Western governments could ensure peace.

Well it looks like someone has already gone that route and blew up 3 government ministers. So tell me, did the actions of this bomber "ensure peace" is Somalia yet or are there more ministers and government officials to die yet before "peace" can be achieved?

[Michael Hardner]

Or fungible commodities that wind up being sold on black market.

Have I not seen UN trucks passing goods out to people before ?

Let's bring Google into this discussion.... okay... found it...

World Food Programme Article

This article implies that the US monitors these things already. Also, the US is in a precarious situation, having already set a precedent by getting involved in this and other world conflicts.

[Oleg Bach]

The we are the world crowd had better realize we are in a state of de-civilization. All the warm and fuzzy talk about scrapping the flys from the eyes of big eyed children has done nothing...They are much like the stupid green crowd that go on about recycling packaging etc... It takes a lot of energy and time to re-cycle what you re-cycle..in fact the idea of using energy to recycle amounts to an increased carbon foot print. Things like advertizing which abuse the population in developed nations....is akin to brain washing people to consume what they do not need - causing problems everywhere. Until the people in common positions and power realize that the more they take materialy causes someone else to have less to the point of a below substance level life forms for the already pressured poor.

I guess my point is someone has to yell stop..and no one is going to do that...It is the super powers that brought about the existance of failed states like Somalia - untill they admit this wrong doing...things will continue to remain negative.

[Michael Hardner]

The we are the world crowd had better realize we are in a state of de-civilization. All the warm and fuzzy talk about scrapping the flys from the eyes of big eyed children has done nothing...

There's no evidence of that. Starvation has been on the decline for decades now, there are less rogue states, and more global harmony than ever before.

What IS happening is that we're more aware of problems than we have been.

[jbg]

What IS happening is that we're more aware of problems than we have been.

There are still problems. One is that events in ungoverned or rogue states still threaten the safety of other nations. Another is that most "aid" moneys go into the toilet.

Yes, I acknowledge that the U.N. distributes some aid directly. But not nearly enough.

[Michael Hardner]

There are still problems. One is that events in ungoverned or rogue states still threaten the safety of other nations. Another is that most "aid" moneys go into the toilet.

Yes, I acknowledge that the U.N. distributes some aid directly. But not nearly enough.

You're not as pessimistic as Oleg either.

[jbg]

You're not as pessimistic as Oleg either.

I dont' have anyone on a mechanical ignore. Some posters are just not worth taking seriously.