What, if anything, SHOULD be done with Zimbabwe?

Phantom · 07-01-2008, 11:18 AM

Simple question - what, if anything, should be done with Zimbabwe?

Should the US get involved?

How about the UN?

A Coalition of African governments?

If any of these do get involved, what should their involvement be? Military? Negotiation? Diplomatic?

In my opinion, Zimbabwe is well on its way to the top of the list of brutal dictatorships. It has probably passed Cuba, and is challenging North Korea for #1.

Military intervention, maybe through the UN is warranted in this situation. After military intervention, the UN could assist in ensuring peace so that an election without fear or violence can be held and a government established for the good of the country, rather than for the good of the leaders.

I know such an idea is unprecedented, but the situation seems so severe that such intervention is unlikely to do more harm than good.

Any thoughts?

Dylith · 07-01-2008, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Phantom

Simple question - what, if anything, should be done with Zimbabwe?

Should the US get involved?

How about the UN?

A Coalition of African governments?

If any of these do get involved, what should their involvement be? Military? Negotiation? Diplomatic?

In my opinion, Zimbabwe is well on its way to the top of the list of brutal dictatorships. It has probably passed Cuba, and is challenging North Korea for #1.

Military intervention, maybe through the UN is warranted in this situation. After military intervention, the UN could assist in ensuring peace so that an election without fear or violence can be held and a government established for the good of the country, rather than for the good of the leaders.

I know such an idea is unprecedented, but the situation seems so severe that such intervention is unlikely to do more harm than good.

Any thoughts?

I think I would have to say no to military intervention in Zimbabwe. There is currently a lot of political unrest there and if a foreign force were to attack the country then it might unify the nation against it. This is not what we want to happen.

Mugabe was seen as a revolutionary who despite his current corruption and ineptness was / is seen as a man who helped deliver the country from colonization, if a white force were to invade the country I think that there would be considerable backlash against it.

Right now, I think that the UN in conjunction with the AU should help take care of and resettle the massive influx of Zimbabwean refugees in countries such as Botswana and South Africa, and encourage the AU to place diplomatic pressures on Mugabe (though the AU was silent on the elections when Mugabe last met with it) to allow more political change. I doubt it will do much good over the short run (except for the aid to the refugees) but I think that is probably the best course of action for the time being.

Smull · 07-01-2008, 08:52 PM

GOOD QUESTION!

Good because it is SO hard to find an answer to. Most interventions (US UN or otherwise) tend not to work out well in the end, plus no one country has any obligation to send their soldiers and tax their citizens just to try to help the Zimbabwean people. This is an issue we simply haven't found a good answer to, so we mostly just do nothing, which doesn't work well either.

How to deal with this kind of problem is one of the biggest issues facing a post cold war world. We struggled with it somewhat in the 90s (Bush tried to help Somalia, didn't work, Clinton figured Rwanda wouldnt work either, Clinton felt bad about Rwanda and tried to help Bosnia). But we haven't really found a good solution. Here's to hoping we do soon.
Sovereignty

motivez · 07-02-2008, 10:40 AM

I don't know to be honest, our most recent intervention in Iraq has left our military in bad shape, and I don't think we have the resources to forcefully occupy a third country.. so I think US intervention should be ruled out, at least if it's unilaterial. I don't think I'd be strongly opposed to our involvement in a broad coalition in which we played a part.

It seems like society is usually willing to ignore problems in Africa long after they've become unbearable for its people..

Phantom · 07-02-2008, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Dylith

I think I would have to say no to military intervention in Zimbabwe. There is currently a lot of political unrest there and if a foreign force were to attack the country then it might unify the nation against it. This is not what we want to happen.

This concern makes sense - the fear of revolt against foreign invaders.

What if the foreign forces were a coalition of local African governments? Do you think this would be less offensive, more likely the achieve the objective?

Dylith · 07-02-2008, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Phantom

This concern makes sense - the fear of revolt against foreign invaders.

What if the foreign forces were a coalition of local African governments? Do you think this would be less offensive, more likely the achieve the objective?

Given the history of the place I think that would very much so be preferable. The country gained its independance in the late 1960's and had a civil war where Mugabe and the ZANU came out on top. Despite being a horrible leader Mugabe can be looked at as a sort of hero to these people for his efforts in freeing them from white rule. A white army marching into the country would be politically devistating.

Even with AU forces though, I wouldn't advise military action. Many African countries still have friendly relations with European countries, but Zimbabwe does not. Mugabe would declare any attack against Zimbabwe as a plot by western governments to once more enslave the nation.

Besides, I doubt that the AU would even consider military action at this point, not when they aren't even currently willing to rebuff him in a diplomatic manner.

Smull · 07-02-2008, 10:43 PM

The opposition wants an AU solution
Zimbabwe's opposition calls for African action | FP Passport

members of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change and a number of civil society groups gave updates on the unfolding political standoff with President Robert Mugabe. MDC's chief spokesman George Sibotshiwe, who has been lobbying from the sidelines at the African Union summit in Sharm El-Sheik, called in to say that although unanimous AU action against Mugabe may be impossible, a number of countries, particularly in West Africa, were pushing the MDC's cause.