Should We Fund Africa's Wars?

Africa Says It’s Ready To Conduct Own Missions – With West’s Money -- McClatchy News

NAIROBI, Kenya — When M23 rebels marched on the eastern Congolese city of Goma last month, the United Nations’ largest peacekeeping mission at first struck back like a force that costs $1.4 billion a year, pounding the advancing columns from the air. But as the Congolese army quickly dissolved, so did the U.N. resistance, and days later the rebels rolled into Goma with barely a fight.

Congo’s neighbors proposed a solution: If the United Nations was unwilling to put its 19,000 men more directly in the line of fire, African countries would send in 4,000 troops of their own to comb through the militia-ridden vacuum and eradicate the armed thugs.

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My Comment: It is true that the West no longer has the political (or public) will to become directly involved in wars and conflicts a continent away. But if our allies are willing to do the dirty work .... as long as we pay the bill .... I say that this is an approach that we should (at least) investigate but with one very strict provision .... always be aware that Africa's wars are a mix of tribal and ethnic animosities that goes back generations and have nothing to do with us .... but if we become involved in supporting one side we may end creating millions of enemies and animosities that will then be directed at us.