Does the US have a moral obligation to intervene in cases of genocide?

Question

Case in point, Darfour. I'm not asking whether we send troops or humanitarian aid or HOW we should get involved, but rather...

Do you believe that in a more general sense, part of America's heritage and goodness the fact that we stand up for justice not only here at home, but anywhere in the world where atrocities are happening to innocent people?

Or, should we just worry about ourselves?

If you want to state your belief (nonbelief) system, that might make it more interesting as well.

I'm personally on the fence on this one--I didn't ask with a "right" answer in mind. Thanx for sharing your thoughts.

Answer 1

The US has no more moral obligation to act on genocide than any other nation.

Situations like Darfur may seem very cut and dry right now, hundreds of thousands of people are being killed by a despotic government hell bent on a land grab, but that situation arose out of old colonial borders and western manipulation of client governments.

A central reason for the United Nations is to allow all nations to come together and agree upon interventions, not with the authority of a single nation, but with a mandate from all (or most) nations, in the hope that any action would be more sensitive, and have consensus.

The fact that the US has perpetrated mass murder, assisted in ethnic cleansing, is the sole nation to use a nuclear weapon in anger and is presently engaged in a war which, according to the Lancet has resulted in the premature deaths of over 700,000 people does bestow an image of "standing for justice" in much of the world outside the US.

That said, Europe owes its freedom from the Nazis to American intervention, and many many African lives have been saved by US foreign aid.

I believe that if the US wants to help Darfur, it should make resources available through the UN, which while not perfect - is probably the best option there is.

And Im an agnostic.

Answer 2

Settling civil disputes like Rwanda and Darfur should fall to the United Nations. One country can't afford to be the world's only moral enforcer. I hate the idea of ruling by committee, but that's what has to be done for the interest of all involved.

Answer 3

America's heritage includes genocide.

Answer 4

Our government is only interested so far as the natural resources or economic potential the region we may help has. Notice we don't hear much about Somalia, Uganda, etc., and they are always killing eachother.