This is an interesting and troubling article that is an excerpt from a book that will soon be published. Because it is an excerpt on a complicated situation, I found it a little difficult to follow. However, the points made regarding the civilian deaths caused by the war on terror are important and makes the article worth reading. The author thoughtfully points out that the war on terror has deregulated certain forms of violence which has led to "violence run amok" as seem in Iraq after 2003 in Darfur in 2003-04. The author points out that the violence has been very real to civilians in both countries but we have defined the killing in Iraq as a counterinsurgency and in Darfur as genocide. The U.S. which 'perpetrated the ... More »

Unsure quite how to cateorize this, I finally settled on opinion but it is far more than that. Prof. Mamdani, an expert in U.S. foreign policy, particuarly as it applies to Africa, has put recent civil conflicts into political, historical, legal and, dare I say, moral, context. His analysis is sobering and thought provoking.

Mahmood Mamdani's forthcoming book 'Saviours and Survivors' contains 304 pages and has been described elsewhere as; 'Incisive and authoritative, Saviours and Survivors will radically alter our understanding of the crisis in Darfur'. The article excerpted from the conclusion to the book, would suggest that the tenor of the book will inevitably radically polarise understandings not only of the crisis in Darfur, but of the role that the 'International Community' should play in judging and resolving 'humanitarian' issues. It is suggested that humanitarian intervention is the twin of the 'war on terror' and that in this context the standard of responsibility is no longer international law. Mahmood Mamdani concludes that the ... More »

Excellent article. Should be read by everyone. The 'new humanitarian order' appears to say that if the people of some country, or area, appear to be suffering the 'great powers' should go in and shoot the place up a bit to make the people feel better. What rot. Thanks for this article.

While I claim no expertise about the situation in Darfur, having read only modestly, the extrapolation to the former Yugoslavia is consistent with my greater store of knowledge, and the discussion is compelling. Bringing the problem back to the Treaty of Versailles is consistent with more extensive reading, Paris: 1919, for example, and the logic of extending it back to the colonization of the Americas is compelling.

powerful and nuanced history of changes in uses and views of power and its relationship to sovereignty at the international level. Much to ponder. Very convincing....top shelf. Strange No mention suspect actions of NATO ..... or Bosnia.