"Systematically denying people access to basic healthcare is not terribly different than holding guns to their heads" has a familiar ring to it for two-fifths of our population.  We better come up with some criticisms of this piece fast!

PingBack from http://imaginepacsblog.wordpress.com/2009/02/11/robert-mugabe-global-criminal/

PingBack from http://imaginepacsblog.wordpress.com/2009/02/11/robert-mugabe-global-criminal/

First, we should start thinking more realistically.  This group is using "international law" in a common, but false, sense -- as if it were the same critter as actual law, the sort that exists within sovereign states and is enforced by their courts and police.

"International Law" is, to quote Captain Barbossa, more a matter of guidelines.  Nothing really binds a sovereign state except its own will and the threat of action by other sovereign states.  There are treaties, conventions, and customary standards of behavior -- which states abide by or violate as they think expedient and decide they can get away with.

The problem in Zimbabwe isn't cholera. That's a symptom.  The problem is Mugabe and his gang, a classic post-colonial African demon-clown, like Amin or Bokassa, with a group of hangers-on and jackals feeding on the carrion he creates.

The solution, if we really want a solution, is to get rid of Mugabe -- which requires force to topple his regime.

And please, let's not see any "that's a very complex problem without simple solutions" nonsense.  The problem isn't -complex-, it's just -hard and difficult-.  People start muttering "complex" when what they mean is "I don't care enough to do something difficult".

When people are suffering and dying, when help is but a dollar away,,,,,This is what I believe the U.N. was made for...I feel the duties that put the U.N. into being are before us and it is past time for

action,,,,Mugabe is more than sumwhat drunken with his power...He insists on staying in power til He dies and for good reason,,,Without his army by his side, Mugabe would more than likely be killed for his atrocities,and he knows it!!!! Why the good Lord has not ended his miserable life is for

God only to know...In the mean time it's up to the responsible People on this Planet to do what needs to be done,,save the dying and sick that are under the rule of this demented Idiot...I see no other option...Innocent Human Beings,Men, Women, and children are dying needlessly,while some fat old ego-maniac gets to live out his useless life in luxury with his fat ugly head is tucked neatly in the sand....Get the Hell in there and save some lives..........This damn subject was brought up already when the death toll was at 4oo and the ***-footing was going on then,,,,

Now we have over 2000 dead and dying,,when the hell does the U.N. and the rest of the world kick

into high gear and do something ?  This f-----ing ***-footing is killing innocents...The idea of Mankind is bull---t if sitting around waiting for a Miracle is all it will do!!!!!!!   RAZZ

Take a stand , make a move,,,but stop the needless DYING....FED UP WITH TALK AND NO ACTION

PingBack from http://msnbc.postdown.com/2009/01/16/newsweek-using-health-crisis-to-intervene-in-zimbabwe/

PingBack from http://msnbc.postdown.com/2009/01/16/newsweek-using-health-crisis-to-intervene-in-zimbabwe/

Right, Dr. Zook, the problem is that the government is run by black folks, not that it is run by maniacs with no respect for human life. I guess I missed the history lesson where they explained that Hitler, Mussolini, Franco and Stalin were all black people too. In fact, were it not for the colonial rule (which displaced natives, unfairly redistributed land to Europeans and infuriated the majority of those living under colonial rule) Mugabe would not have been able to obtain control of the government in the first place.

Zimbabwe threw out all those evil, colonialist white people who were ruining their country.  They are now free to enjoy the paradise on earth of their fully black controlled state.  Another triumph for political correctness.

If drug resistant TB poses an international threat, then I see a valid reason to take over the country's health care system, and put its leadership on trial.  Enabling a deadly virus to spread to other nations and continents, in my opinion, is an act of war.

If drug resistant TB poses an international threat, then I see a valid reason to take over the country's health care system, and put its leadership on trial.  Enabling a deadly virus to spread to other nations and continents, in my opinion, is an act of war.

To directly answer the two questions you posed at the end of your article: a) I definitely think the argument does hold water. I personally feel that Mugabe's acts should qualify as murder and though the UN may be able to argue with that categorization they cannot deny that his inaction in this situation definitely falls under the categorization of "k". The situation is truly horrible and Mugabe is and should be held criminally accountable in this situation. That being said, I believe the answer to b is a resounding "no". Even if the UN decides to take action (which remains to be seen) it is hard to believe that the situation in Zimbabwe will improve. After all, this would not be the first time the UN took action in a time of crisis, but those countries where they have attempted to play a humanitarian role are still in dire straits (in some cases over a decade since this "help" was given). Look at the examples listed in this article: "Kosovo, Rwanda, Somalia, the former Yugoslavia, and Darfur" all of these countries are still facing the same or similar problems as they were back when the "interventions" were first staged. In fact Darfur is mentioned a second time in this article--as an example of a "crisis".

The point is, regardless of what the UN decides it is very hard to imagine any actions on their part leading to significant change in the region and I find it difficult to believe that their forces alone can take down this widespread outbreak. Mugabe has managed to maintain his control in the face of many threats over the years, his cruelty and disregard for the lives and health of his own people is well documented and frankly without his cooperation or a major armed presence I don't see how the situation in Zimbabwe can be resolved.

Thank you for this well written, insightful and thought provoking article!