Bleeding Congo

The UN has the nerve to call 1,400 peacekeepers entering the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) a "rapid reaction force." NYTimes carries a Reuters article that notes that "500 civilians have been massacred in inter-ethnic fighting in and around the northeastern town [of Bunia] in the past month and 50,000 have been killed since 1999." Do the math: 500 in one month versus 50,000 in 4 years. That means this past month's deaths are less than half the average monthly total since 1999, which is 1042, assuming the violence started at this time of year. And coming in now is a "rapid reaction"? Please.

Don't get me wrong - InstantReplay applauds the arrival of the French troops, if not with the mournful eloquence of the town's residents - 'Hundreds of residents...cheered and clapped as a van of French troops drove in from the airport, shouting ``Take courage!'' and ``Free us!.''' However, it will take a lot more than Rwanda-esque peacekeepers (who aren't allowed to protect anyone) to end this conflict. I know too little to say what will work, but I can confidently say that the only thing so far that promises to end this conflict is total fatigue on all sides, which will hopefully set in sooner of later.

The wider war in the DRC, now gradually subsiding, began in 1998 when Rwanda and Uganda invaded eastern Congo to help rebel groups fight the Kinshasa government, which was propped up by troops from Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia. The conflict has led to the deaths of an estimated three million people, mostly through disease and starvation.