ARTICLE: "Congo's Death Rate Remains Unchanged Since War Ended in 2003, Survey Shows," by Lydia Polgreen, New York Times, 23 January 2008, p. A8.
Depressing. Congo is losing about 45,000 people a month now just like during the long years of warfare. We're now up to almost six million in premature deaths, with nearly half of this holocaust occurring to kids under five.
Strong proof that a badly run peace can kill just as many as a war we ignore.
All this death is occurring despite a lot of international aid (billions) and the world's largest peacekeeping force (obviously, without Americans).
Puts Iraq in perspective, doesn't it?
Also makes you realize where we could be doing some good if we hadn't screwed up so nicely in Iraq, creating the long-term tie down.
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Comments (1)
A country nearly twice as large as Iraq and Afganistan put together, with plenty of mountains and jungle as well. I wonder how much difference even our own undivided attention would have made?
The DRC may have just been too large to survive given the greed of past rulers and present neighbors. The most humane thing may be to encourage them to pull a Czeckoslovakia and break apart voluntarily.
Posted by Michael
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February 20, 2008 2:47 PM