Ground Control to Michael Kleinman

categories: Darfur & Sudan, Peace & Justice

Published March 06, 2009 @ 03:12AM PT

It's always easy to play the critic.

Both Michael Kleinman and I hold different views on how the international community should respond to the crisis in Darfur, which have come into particularly sharp focus as Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir retaliates against the humanitarian aid community after being indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Healthy debate is always a good thing.

But I take particular exception to Michael's post last night lambasting Nicholas Kristof --- who made several suggestions for an international response in an op-ed yesterday --- by saying that he "just doesn't get it."

Michael seems to assume that in suggesting particular responses to the ongoing atrocities in Darfur, that Kristof, along with the rest of the policy advocacy community, thinks that some magic button can be pushed to bring an easy end to the conflict with no possibility of unexpected consequences. And in what is this assumption grounded? The fact that Kristof didn't list all of the possible consequences? It's an op-ed piece in a newspaper, not a comprehensive policy brief.

And after taking the advocacy organizations (in particular, ENOUGH) to task for a lack of specificity in their recommendations (another assumption, which a look through their website would've shown to be unfounded), Michael responds to ENOUGH's response to him (hello, convoluted sentence fragment) by saying that he appreciates the recommendations, but is "not sure that these actions will actually make a difference."

Ok, then, what would you have us do? Nothing? You either shoot down or disregard every option presented without coming up with an alternative of your own --- and you assume that no one is fleshing out the list of hypothetical consequences for any particular action, but that's all it is: An assumption. And speaking from the perspective of someone who works on the issues everyday, I can tell you, with authority, that it's a baseless one.

But perhaps even more importantly, what are the hypothetical consequences for your alternatives? If we give Bashir what he wants --- a suspension of the ICC indictment --- what makes you so sure that he will suddenly become more cooperative? Bashir had over SEVEN MONTHS to show the international community that he was committed to peace, but as he went on an international media charm campaign to push for a suspension of the ICC investigation, he was busy escalating violence in Darfur --- from attacking IDP camps to violating his own ceasefire two days after it was announced. This is not a man known for sticking to his word. Even more, the conflict was escalating and the humanitarian situation was deteriorating even before the ICC drama began in July, with no apparent opening for any kind of way out, messy or otherwise.

We should've taken harsher measures years ago --- we didn't, and the conflict and the humanitarian crisis have worsened. Anything that anyone does in this scenario is fraught with complications, and to suggest that people are not weighing the options --- that we view the world in black and white, rather than shades of gray, that we don't know that this is messy anyway it goes --- is completely untenable.

We debate these issues frequently in a passionate but friendly manner, but you're crossing the line when you write with a tone that suggests that we don't care as much about the people on the ground in Darfur as you do.

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Comments (8)

Dear Michael,
I have to agree with Michelle and I suggest that you listen to the words of the Darfur refugees themselves:
http://www.stopgenocidenow.org/iact/iactzine/issue8

The refugees want justice and don't believe that peace will ever come if al-Bashir is not served his time. What WHAT PEACE PROCESS IS BASHIR ACTUALLY CREATING? It's a mirage! When you speak to refugee they want all 52 administration members taken down, this will perhaps not happen, but I repeat Michelle's question, "What would you have us do?"

I highly respect ENOUGH's policy recommendations and I will further add that the people researching and writing these have been in African and US politics for years. They have far more experience than you, a blogger.

Michelle is right in that anything we do will have consequences BUT not doing anything will lead to millions of dead and survivors who will be permanently scarred. An entire culture wiped out. It's almost wiped out already with the youngest generation only knowing fear, death, and IDP/refugee camp life. Their traditions and sustainability have been replacement with dependency and horrors.

How many times are we as humanity going to allow a genocide to go on and then after look back and say, "Never Again" will we let that happen. "How could we?" Will our children look to us and say, "how come we didn't stop it? How come the Fur, Masseliet, and Zaghawa were allowed to dissappear at the hands of a few greedy, murderous men? Where was the world?"

Well if my children ever ask me that, I will at least be able to say that I tried my hardest to get the voice and wishes of the refugees into the international dialogue, that I tried to bring awareness and education and action into the hearts and minds of Americans and the world. What will you say, Michael? That you sat behind a computer and argued with possible policy positions and actions as people died. If so, please join the Alex de Waal camp of, "leave it alone and let them die," but let the rest of us fight for humanity.

Posted by KTJ Scott on 03/06/2009 @ 09:44AM PT
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Michael worked in Darfur.

Posted by Transitionl... . on 03/06/2009 @ 12:19PM PT
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and what did the people of Darfur say about Justice?

Posted by KTJ Scott on 03/06/2009 @ 07:49PM PT
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Great points made Michelle. I agree!!!! We can't sit by and shoot down every idea. We can't wait for someone who is known for lies to stick to his word. We can't not stop making suggestions on what to do. We can NOT give up.

Also, I agree that this should have been done a LONG time ago. It makes me sad that people want to just give up and walk away. These people need us more now then ever. Things may look endless right now but we will see things change if we stick together and fight together. I for one will not give up.

Posted by Andrea M on 03/06/2009 @ 07:45PM PT
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I too am on Your side Michelle, for more than ten years we let Saddam Hussein con Us while He tortured and murdered his own people. It is shameful that once again We are standing around with Our thumbs up Our butts. I don't want another war, like in Iraq, but lets' do something now!

Posted by Charlie Reed on 03/08/2009 @ 04:49AM PT
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Michelle,

Thanks for this -- will post a response later today, in more detail, but you're right; simply carping from the sidelines isn't particularly constructive. So, my suggestion, bow to Bashir's demands and suspend the prosecution. And yes, I do understand the consequences, but right now I think resuming aid is far more important.

Michael

Posted by Michael Bear on 03/08/2009 @ 12:38PM PT
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Michael,

So your suggestion is to "bow to Bashir's demands and suspend the prosecution"? How might I ask will this do any good at all? He's very well known for not keeping his word over and over. What's to say he will if they do "bow to his wishes"? Very unlikely that he would allow Aid Workers back and then where are we???? Worse then ever. So I have to ask is it a matter of either don't do anything at all or do what he wants and hope he keeps his word?
Now I have to point to Michelle's blog " If we give Bashir what he wants --- a suspension of the ICC indictment --- what makes you so sure that he will suddenly become more cooperative? Bashir had over SEVEN MONTHS to show the international community that he was committed to peace, but as he went on an international media charm campaign to push for a suspension of the ICC investigation, he was busy escalating violence in Darfur --- from attacking IDP camps to violating his own ceasefire two days after it was announced. This is not a man known for sticking to his word. Even more, the conflict was escalating and the humanitarian situation was deteriorating even before the ICC drama began in July, with no apparent opening for any kind of way out, messy or otherwise".
To think he would do otherwise is naive. If we don't remove him now things are going to get far worse (if possible). I personally don't see any other way.

Posted by Andrea M on 03/08/2009 @ 07:15PM PT
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Andrea and others,

Excellent points - I think we're in a situation of weighing and deciding between the least-bad option. For my full response to Michelle, see:

http://humanitarianrelief.change.org/blog/view/ahem_-_ground_control_to_michael_kleinman

Best,

Michael

Posted by Michael Bear on 03/09/2009 @ 09:16AM PT
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Michelle became involved in the anti-genocide cause at a young age, and has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns, ever since.