Stopping Mass Killings in Africa: Genocide, Airpower, and Intervention

This monograph seeks to contribute to the urgent task of developing realistic strategies for preventing and stopping genocide and mass killings. Neither humanitarian operations in a passive environment nor combat operations serve as appropriate models for interventions geared specifically at stopping genocide. The concept of UN Charter, chapter 7 peace enforcement operations comes closest, but US, NATO, and UN doctrine on "peace enforcement" remains sketchy and ill-defined. The four case studies that comprise this monograph add an important ingredient to the literature on genocide intervention in that they provide "actionable" strategic and operational ideas. Drawing upon the experience of Somalia, Rwanda, and the C te d'Ivoire, the authors present thoughtful recommendations for the future based on lessons derived from the past. Each case study presents an analysis of the patterns of genocide within specific historical and cultural settings, an assessment of the international and American response to deepening crises, and an array of recommendations for more effective intervention strategies compatible with limited domestic support for humanitarian interventions. All the contributors to this volume are keenly aware of and concerned about the ongoing genocide in Darfur; but given evolving developments in the region ranging from attacks on African Union (AU) peacekeepers to ongoing efforts to organize a more robust AU/UN hybrid peacekeeping operation (UN-AU Mission in Darfur), we felt that any assessment of intervention efforts in Sudan would be incomplete and partial at this time. Instead, we encourage readers to consult the Web sites of various organizations dedicated to providing timely information, analysis, and assessments of ongoing genocides, mass killings, and intervention efforts. The case studies in this volume draw upon Somalia, Rwanda, and the C te d'Ivoire rather than Darfur because these earlier crises allow historical distance, enabling assessments that will have a longer shelf life than those based on an ongoing, unfolding crisis.