The Kivu Conflict ( for those tired of Israel and Paly)

[cottontail]

Okay, I've finally had it with Israel and Palestine, so I've decided to start a thread to show you real Hell.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kivu_conflict
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Kivu-conflict
The conflict is a fight between the forces of the DRC ( Democratic Republic of the Congo) and the renegade general Nkunda. Nkunda was a member of the Rally for Congolese Democracy faction during the Second Congo civil war. The Second Congo Civil War cost the lives of four million people, mostly civilians ( gee, a little more than the Israeli- Palestine conflict, even if youy combine all of them together and add in Lebanon as well). After the war, Nkunda became an officer in the DRC army, rising to the rank of general. Soon afterwards, Nkunda rejected the Transitional DRC government and rebelled with his militias in 2003. His excuse for the conflict is to protect the Banyamulenge, a people in the Congo, from genocide. A U.N. mission into the Congo has proven this to be false, however. Nkunda is also allegedelly being helped by Rwanda. For years, he and his militias battled the DRC, both sides being accused for warcrimes, including forcing children to fight for them. In January 2008, a ceasefire was announced between the two factions. However, dissatissfaction with how the peace deals where proceeding angered both sides ( and many more sides that I'm not going to get into to keep this simple). Most recently, Nkunda has siezed a DRC military base, and their is evidence that he has murdered many DRC supporters after the attack. Both sides have been accused of atrocities against civilians, and an estimated 60,000 people have died.

Well, that's a very simplified version of the story, and I have doubtlessly missed many important parts of the conflict. I just wanted to get a discussion going that wasn't about Israel and Palestine for once. Additional facts and opinions welcomed, and encouraged.

For me, there is no right side in this conflict, both are awful, and, whoever wins, the civilians lose in this horrible conflict.

[ComnenusTheOne]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand? Who cares?

[Barry Goldwater]

Sadly (and to be honest), nobody really...
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[Space Wolves]

I care and that sucks...


really...its stupid that were even debateing that the israel vs stupid hamas is more important then the fighting in the kivu conflict which has costed more lives then the one between the israelis and hamas..

really..don't say who cares..cause that just shows you have bad character..

[ComnenusTheOne]

really..don't say who cares..cause that just shows you have bad character..

So the problem isnt that i have a bad character, but that i SHOW my bad character. Interesting....

Anyways....why should i care?

[Space Wolves]

So the problem isnt that i have a bad character, but that i SHOW my bad character. Interesting....

Anyways....why should i care?

Because you should, nice to have caring charcter then none

[saglam2000]

i bet sending at least 500 mercs from private contractors would end it quickly......just like in Angola

[Barry Goldwater]

Sadly, nobody important cares...maybe when Iraq and A-Stan wind down (or even better, end) we'll be able to look at this...nobody seems to care enough to actually help out (which means going well beyond wearing something like a 'Save Darfur' t-shirt).
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[Da Skinna]

If the profit was in ending war... war would be over.

The problem of the Congo is that there is SO MANY factions and they constantly switch allegiances that's hard to get a grasp of what's going on, let alone stop it.

[Exarch]

who cares about black africans when god's Chosen people, white jews are being threatened on their (historically debatable) homeland

[Zephyrus]

who cares about black africans when god's Chosen people, white jews are being threatened on their (historically debatable) homeland

LOL!

Really though, its just another episode of "African factions vs other african factions". It happens so much that its pointless to stop it. I'd suggest we all sit at the sidelines and watch popcorn during the interesting news coverage...

Oh wait, this doesn't GET covered by mainstream news!

[Last Roman]

I think Jon Stewart put it best

"...so after the white leaders left, the new black leaders looked around and said, 'well, if they can steal and exploit, why can't I?'"

[jankren]

Ill just be honest I dont care. Why? Because the conflict doesnt have global effect.

[ComnenusTheOne]

Ill just be honest I dont care. Why? Because the conflict doesnt have global effect.

If it had, it would be interesting. Basically i didnt care not even in global effect conflicts....such as WW2.

[LegendI]

For me, there is no right side in this conflict, both are awful, and, whoever wins, the civilians lose in this horrible conflict.

Hey if you've ever seen blood diamond: "TIA."

[Ragabash]

Moved to Political Academy.

[MekongFisher]

No one's getting killed besides couple millions of sub-Saharan black Africans who've been going through this for generations. And no F15s flying over the sky dropping cluster bombs which would make worthy pictures for Pulitzers or NYT. Why would anybody care?

I tell you, that part of the world is just like what World War II is to Japanese: a big, bad nightmare that everyone wants to pretend to never existed.

[roy34543]

Ill just be honest I dont care. Why? Because the conflict doesnt have global effect

it does. These countries are rich in natural resources.. Very very rich. Many countries would love to be able to scoop up all that wealth.

I think the lack of caring may have to do with the fact they speak french.

[Viking Prince]

Why should we care when the Africans do nothing about their own problems. It is not really unique to DRC -- the whole continent is filled with private army war lords doing terrible things for the sake of power.

[Exarch]

perhaps africa's always been like this?
i suggest we back the away and let them sort it out themselves...unless they have oil of course in which case let's 'regime change' the hell out of x african nation, beginning with the oil rich sudan