The situation in Africa has caused great disquiet in the West. But apparently the impetus is insufficient to translate into effective action.
JOHNSON
Clinton and the U.N. stepped in in Sudan, albeit late. Why? He got a ton of flak over Somalia, where Bush 41 sent 25,000 peacekeeping troops in December 1992 promising to have them out before Clinton's term. He reneged on that and Clinton was left with the problem. John McCain complained loudly and publicly "they need to come home now!!!!". Bin Laden was in Somalia at the time and bragged Al Qaeda participated in the Mogadishu incident. Clinton got flak over bombing Afghanistan as the GOP cried "WAG THE DOG!!". The GOP tied Clinton's hands in all kinds of ways that came back to haunt us.
For some unknown reason, the right hates the U.N. Thank God for the U.N. They've done and continue to do marvelous works in the poorest, desperate places on the planet.
We could have had them in Iraq, but after their headquarters was bombed in 2003 they pulled out because we couldn't provide security. Meanwhile 2 million Iraqi refugees live in tents short of food and medical care.
Bush and Co. didn't make any friends there. The WH's clear intent was to diminish the U.N.
So, as far as humanitarian crisis's go, no one has been a bigger enemy to the U.N. in American history than Bush. Withholding payments, sending John Bolten against U.N. wishes, you name it. They're the best at dealing with crisis's. Always have been. But, without funding, and an enemy in the WH their job has been made that much harder.
The genocide in Sudan has been raging on the last 7 1/2 years with nary a peep or assistance from the WH. No oil. No care.
