Bismillah [IslamCity] Final Call: Take another look at the 'Save Darfur' crowd

[Ismail Kashkash]

Take another look at the ‘Save Darfur’ crowd
By William Reed
-Guest Columnist-
Jan 4, 2008, 03:10 pm

     
            Sudan and surrounding countries. 
  Anyone who tells you that “genocide” is occurring in Darfur and doesn’t in 
the same breath say that the same, or worse, serious situation is occurring in 
Uganda, the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and 
Occupied Palestine, is engaged in deception about the subject. 
   
  Under the guise of “saving Africans,” the “Save Darfur Coalition” operation 
is doing a serious disservice to Africa’s peace and stability. The powerful and 
well-funded group’s business is to sucker Americans into supporting an invasion 
and occupation of Africa’s largest county. By attracting sympathetic 
celebrities, such as Don Cheadle, and Members of the Congressional Black Caucus 
to voice demands for an American “intervention” in Darfur, “Save Darfur” moves 
a step closer to the military intervention to “save” Darfur’s people—and at the 
same time—its rich oil reserves.
   
  “Save Darfur” is Christian Conservative and Neo-liberal groups in an 
imperialistic alliance to do in Africa what has been done in Iraq. The “Save 
Darfur Coalition” claims it is “dedicated to ending genocide” in Darfur. 
   
  Under the lofty ideals of “democracy” and “humanitarianism,” “Save Darfur” 
uses these as pre-texts for U.S. and European imperialist intervention there. 
The “Save Darfur” lobby has cowed the U.S. Congress and Bush administration by 
portraying the conflict as a kind of racial “genocide.” Their deceptive 
propaganda portrays pro-government “Arab” militias as terrorizing unarmed 
“Black” civilians; and has caused many concerned Americans to buy into the 
farce. The “Save Darfur Coalition” spent $15 million in 2006 and none of that 
money went to aid groups on the ground in Darfur.
   
  Gullible American officials are in on the scam. But, anyone attuned to the 
humanitarian consequences of our imperialist interventions that are causing the 
occupation of Iraq, funding Israeli repression of Palestinians and backing 
reactionary terror around the world should take a moment of reflection. How did 
traditionally racist white politicians become champions for the lives of 
Africans?
   
  Unfortunately, the Save Darfur propaganda has taken hold among some 
well-intentioned activists and progressive organizations. The Congressional 
Black Caucus (CBC) has encouraged that UN-mandated European and Western 
“peacekeepers” be placed in Darfur. CBC members claim that putting the weight 
of the U.S. government behind the insurgent forces in Darfur shows U.S. 
commitment to the lives of African people.
   
  Those calling for imperialist intervention do not talk about the U.S. or 
France’s role in promoting the conflict, or the horrendous conflicts also 
occurring in limited-resource countries neighboring Darfur. They do not mention 
profits that imperialist powers can gain from entering Sudan and breaking it 
apart. Instead, these “progressive” or “human rights” organizations fuel a 
demonization campaign to view the war as “Arabs” against “Africans.”
   
  The main division in Darfur is economic: between migratory herders and 
sedentary farmers. The vast majority of all the people of Darfur are Muslims 
and all are Black. Recognizing and explaining the complicated economic and 
political issues there does not make for good propaganda; instead it is more 
convenient to portray the struggle as one of genocidal “Arabs” against 
defenseless “Africans.”
   
  The well-connected people of “Save Darfur” have made gobs of money for the 
activist community and made millions of Americans feel good while actually 
doing squat to save people in Darfur. But, real people for peace reject the 
rhetoric. Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan labels “Save Darfur” actions 
“imperialistic.” Republican presidential candidate and Congressman Ron Paul 
criticized the coalition, calling its aims “unconstitutional” and claims it 
would be counterproductive to intervene in the war and would “prolong it.” 
Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu and Jimmy Carter say that calling events 
in Darfur “genocide” is “unhelpful.” Former Senator, and U.S. Ambassador to the 
UN, John Danforth says claims of “genocide” are “political.”
   
  African-Americans should involve themselves in ways to help and not hinder in 
Africa. The first step is to be about the business of getting the Darfur rebels 
to the peace table. Over past years, Sudan’s rebel factions have repeatedly 
walked away from peace talks—encouraged by the anti-government campaign waged 
by the imperialist powers—which only prolongs the fighting and expands the 
crisis.
   
  (William Reed is President and Chief Executive Officer of Black Press 
International.)

© Copyright 2008 FCN Publishing, FinalCall.com 
   
  http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_4231.shtml


       
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