DRC Update

Even though certain members of the blog world seem to want to shift the focus to Myanmar, I'm not. I'm sticking with Congo.

The Latest. UN Peacekeepers arrived to a skeptical reception. The link I posted this morning was a bit off. The force that arrived today was a small group designed to pave the way for the more heavily armed (thank you!!) French-led force that could start filtering into northeastern DRC this weekend. Unfortunatly, the peacekeepers might not do what they should do: disarm the rival tribes that have been fighting since the Ugandan army pulled out. Also, this:

It has no authority to remove weapons from the child soldiers who largely make up the militias or to stop the flow of arms entering Ituri. And, for now, its mandate lasts only three months.

UNICEF estimates that there are as many as 10,000 child soldiers. 10,000.

This deployment will be a test for EU troops, as they are going in without NATO. Actually, more accuratly, I see this as a test to the world's resolve to stop genocide, given our propensity for saying "Never again," and sitting back while it happens again and again, over and over.

I apologize for that brief bit of cynicism.

While I am pleased that some international attention is being given other than the standard "We Condemn This" lip service, I really, really don't think these peacekeepers will do a damn bit of good other than standing there looking pretty unless their mandate is changed to use force, and more troops are sent in to stabilize the region.