24 March 2011

US double standard on humanitarian intervention

President Obama and his allies and fans are defending US-led attacks on Libya as a humanitarian mission "to make sure people aren't butchered because of a dictator who wants to cling to power."

While I oppose all violence, as it will never ultimately solve the political problems that underlie any such situation, Obama's intention sounds positive.

But if Obama really wants to protect the innocent citizens of other nations from violent, repressive governments, why has he not led similar large-scale efforts to defend the people of Darfur? The DRC? North Korea? Our trade "partner" China?

(Rhetorical questions, of course.)

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