Comments on: Genocide As A National Security Threat http://conflicthealth.com/genocide-as-a-national-security-threat/ Armed Conflict, Public Health, Human Security, Health Diplomacy, and Medical Intelligence Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:00:12 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Christopher Albon http://conflicthealth.com/genocide-as-a-national-security-threat/comment-page-1/#comment-733 Christopher Albon Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:06:29 +0000 http://conflicthealth.com/?p=1495#comment-733 Agreed RJS. They are framing it wrong. You hit the nail on the head, it is political violence threatening American interests. That is related to, but not the same thing as, genocide. Now, the gray area is determining how wide does the "American interest" lie. The ripples of Darfur do have some effect on the American interest, but how much? Is American weakened in any significant way from a genocide in Darfur? Is the region more unstable? Is terrorism more likely to flourish? Does America lose international legitimacy? Those are tough questions. Agreed RJS. They are framing it wrong.

You hit the nail on the head, it is political violence threatening American interests. That is related to, but not the same thing as, genocide.

Now, the gray area is determining how wide does the “American interest” lie. The ripples of Darfur do have some effect on the American interest, but how much? Is American weakened in any significant way from a genocide in Darfur? Is the region more unstable? Is terrorism more likely to flourish? Does America lose international legitimacy?

Those are tough questions.

]]> By: RJS http://conflicthealth.com/genocide-as-a-national-security-threat/comment-page-1/#comment-730 RJS Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:47:30 +0000 http://conflicthealth.com/?p=1495#comment-730 If these guys like Blair had their way, EVERYTHING would be a national security threat. In the last year I've read that fat kids are national security threat because it means not enough of them can pass military medical exams. Climate change has long been said to be a national security threat. The lack of students majoring in science and engineering is a national security threat because we will supposseldy fall behind the rest of the world. Genocide is not a national security threat. Political violence that spills affects American interests is, and political violence occurs because of a lack of legitimacy when it comes to the existing regime. Genocide is a byproduct, not a root cause or a threat in an of itself. If these guys like Blair had their way, EVERYTHING would be a national security threat. In the last year I’ve read that fat kids are national security threat because it means not enough of them can pass military medical exams. Climate change has long been said to be a national security threat. The lack of students majoring in science and engineering is a national security threat because we will supposseldy fall behind the rest of the world.

Genocide is not a national security threat. Political violence that spills affects American interests is, and political violence occurs because of a lack of legitimacy when it comes to the existing regime. Genocide is a byproduct, not a root cause or a threat in an of itself.

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