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Post by dgriffin on Aug 6, 2008 17:59:33 GMT -5
France denies Rwanda genocide role
Al Jazeera English Website
Paris and Kigali continuously blame each other for the atrocities committed in 1994 [AFP]France's foreign ministry has accused Rwanda of making "unacceptable accusations" in a report alleging that French politicians and military played an active role in the 1994 genocide. The report named 33 French military and political figures, including Dominique de Villepin, the former prime minister, and Francois Mitterrand, the late former president, who it said should be prosecuted. It also accused French troops of directly taking part in the slaughter, which killed 800,000 people. Romain Nadal, the foreign ministry spokesman, said on Wednesday: "This report contains unacceptable accusations made against French political and military officials." Continued at: english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/08/20088611572581513.html
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Post by frankcor on Aug 7, 2008 10:21:56 GMT -5
It seems like it would be a simple matter to uncover evidence in the death of 800,000 people. Allegations just don't feed the bulldog.
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Post by dgriffin on Aug 7, 2008 10:30:46 GMT -5
Neither player is believable in my opinion. If nations ... including us ... had stepped in at the beginning, we'd have a lot less lost lives to explain and blame on whomever.
BUT, do I want our soldiers dying for that? Don't think so.
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Post by frankcor on Aug 7, 2008 10:37:34 GMT -5
I believe our constitution permits military action ONLY when our national interests are at stake. No matter how awful the plight of people, it would be illegal for the US to intervene in a human tragedy such as Rwanda. I believe the same of Bosnia. Both situations were European problems and should have been dealt with by Europeans.
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Post by frankcor on Aug 7, 2008 11:26:30 GMT -5
Neither player is believable in my opinion. I am reminded of a PBS/BBS program I watched when I was in high school (circa 1964) that reviewed news coverage of the " Mau Mau Uprising" The program compared 1) BBS news coverage 2) Kenyan news coverage and 3) historical accounts 4-10 years after the actual events had occurred. What became evident is that when you're watching news stories of an event such as this, the most believeable reports were when a reporter was interviewing a local civilian official (village chief, mayor, etc.). Their words most closely matched the truthful situation as it would be revealed by historical accounts at the time of the program. High-level government accounts (Ministers, President, etc.) were the least truthful. I always try to recall this program whenever I watch the news today. |
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Post by dgriffin on Aug 7, 2008 12:06:37 GMT -5
Neither player is believable in my opinion. I am reminded of a PBS/BBS program I watched when I was in high school (circa 1964) that reviewed news coverage of the " Mau Mau Uprising" The program compared 1) BBS news coverage 2) Kenyan news coverage and 3) historical accounts 4-10 years after the actual events had occurred. What became evident is that when you're watching news stories of an event such as this, the most believeable reports were when a reporter was interviewing a local civilian official (village chief, mayor, etc.). Their words most closely matched the truthful situation as it would be revealed by historical accounts at the time of the program. High-level government accounts (Ministers, President, etc.) were the least truthful. I always try to recall this program whenever I watch the news today. That's very interesting. I believe it. Normally, we trust the Big Picture from higher up. But, as we get higher up the political chain, facts become opinions. Or worse. |
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Post by dgriffin on Aug 7, 2008 12:08:01 GMT -5
I believe our constitution permits military action ONLY when our national interests are at stake. No matter how awful the plight of people, it would be illegal for the US to intervene in a human tragedy such as Rwanda. I believe the same of Bosnia. Both situations were European problems and should have been dealt with by Europeans. I believe you're correct. And it's a good provision. Not that we don't often break it, as you pointed out. |
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Post by frankcor on Aug 8, 2008 15:29:27 GMT -5
Amen to that, my friend.
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