The following is an excerpt from Lt.-Gen Romeo Dallaires book Shake Hands with the Devil, a book that I haven't yet read, but fully intend to buy within the next couple days:

My story is not a strictly military account nor a clinical, academic study of the breakdown of Rwanda. It is not a simplistic indictment of the many failures of the UN as a force for peace in the world. It is not a story of heroes and villains, although such a work could easily be written. This book is a cri de coeur for the slaughtered thousands, a tribute to the souls hacked apart by machetes because of their supposed difference from those who sought to hang on to power. . . . This book is the account of a few humans who were entrusted with the role of helping others taste the fruits of peace. Instead, we watched as the devil took control of paradise on earth and fed on the blood of the people we were supposed to protect.

Dallaire was the UN force commander in Rwanda during the genocide in 1994 that resulted in the deaths of more than 800,000 Rwandans in a span of 100 days. It was an immense humanitarian tragedy, one that could have been prevented, had the world cared enough to do so. But, as American Military officer said in response to Dallaires repeated requests for more support, "it would take the deaths of 85,000 Rwandans to justify risking the life of one American soldier".

Quite shameless, I'd say, the way we dole out the worth of anyone's life. As though our rich democratic society justifies an apathetic viewpoint that labels such deaths as little more than a statistic of passing note. Like the U.S. bombing of the Sudan, destroying half the country's pharmaceutical supplies and killing an unknown quantity of people (the U.S. blocked the UN inquiry, and no one around here bothered to take count). Who cares, right? It wasn't anyone important. Only 3rd world lives were lost.

My readers can fully expect me to post more on this subject as I make my way through the book. Hopefully, to the benefit of everyone. I, personally, believe in the vast importance of a knowledge and understanding of what happens in the world - especially the tragic. As Noam Chomsky says; "we have a choice: we may try to understand, or refuse to do so, contributing to the likelihood that much worse lies ahead."

~K