How did Rwanda happen 800,000 killed in 100 days?

[Bastiat's The Law]

I remember hearing somewhere that they were stockpiling machetes, did anyone see it coming or were the victims completely blindsided? Any recommended readings or documentaries are welcome.

[Aratus]

the slaughter rate is greater than idi amin's uganda at its worst or the third reich.
were obama's people seeking a consensus on kony's genocidal child armies so as
to break the cycle by putting the newer graduating classes of west point at risk?

[agitator]

A French Officer saw it coming and asked for help, but was turned down.

[jmdrake]

Rent the movie "Hotel Rwanda". It's a fictionalized account of events that really happened. The hero of that movie does a mini documentary at the end which is pretty good. Basically the weapons were pre-positioned and the attacks were coordinated over radio stations. And yeah, a lot of people saw violence coming but probably didn't think it would be as bad as it was.

[jmdrake]

A French Officer saw it coming and asked for help, but was turned down.

While I'm sure there were some French officers who acted or attempted to act honorably with regards to Rwanda, the role of the French government in general is highly suspect.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/rwanda-mass-killers-armed-by-france-1138378.html
Rwanda mass killers armed by France
JOHN LICHFIELD TUESDAY 13 JANUARY 1998

France exported arms to the former Hutu regime in Rwanda in 1994, even though genocidal massacres of Tutsis were happening on an epic scale, says new evidence. The late President Mitterrand is quoted as saying: `In countries like that, genocide is not so important.' John Lichfield reports.
Even from the point of view of realpolitik and overriding national interest, French policy on central Africa in the 1990s has been a disaster. First Rwanda and then Zaire fell into the hands of rebel forces profoundly hostile to France and French influence in the region.

Le Figaro began articles yesterday investigating the morality and political motives of French diplomacy in the region 1990-1994, a policy driven mostly by the Socialist Francois Mitterrand. The investigations by Patrick de Saint-Exupery are all the more startling for appearing in the patriotic Le Figaro. Although they mostly blame Mitterrand, they also accuse the then centre-right government of Edouard Balladur of cravenly accepting a policy of uncompromising support of the murderous Hutu regime in Kigali.

Fearing an extension of US influence, Mitterrand insisted on supporting the Hutu government, despite evidence that genocide was planned and even after the massacres began. Le Figaro quotes him as telling advisers: "In countries like that genocide is not so important."

In May 1994, two months after the start of massacres which killed 850,000, Figaro reports, arms were being delivered from France to Rwanda. The Foreign Ministry denied it yesterday, saying Paris halted all arms exports in 1993. Le Figaro reported, however, that it was told by a senior officer that shipments continued until a month before France's "humanitarian" intervention in the conflict on 23 June, 1994. The paper also said arms for the Rwandan government continued to arrive at the airport in Goma in Zaire in July of that year, when it was controlled by French troops.

Figaro also says two Rwandan officials, including one now under arrest on suspicion of inciting genocide, visited the Elysee Palace, home of the President, and Matignon Palace, home of the Prime Minister, in April 1994, three weeks after massacres of civilians began. At the Elysee they saw Bruno Delaye, then head of the African advisory "cell". He told Mr de Saint-Exupery: "(At the Elysee) I must have seen 400 murderers and 2,000 drugs-traffickers. When it comes to Africa, you can't help getting your hands dirty."

Defeat of the genocidal Hutu government in the war with Tutsi forces, invading from Uganda, damaged French influence in the region, and Africa as a whole. The new Rwandan government went on to support Laurent Kabila's rebels in their push against President Mobutu in Zaire (also supported by France almost to the last). The episodes, and budgetary restraints, forced a re-examination of France's African policy. The present prime minister, Lionel Jospin, and his predecessor, Alain Juppe, favoured lower- level military engagement and less unquestioning support of authoritarian regimes.

Kigali: Hutu rebels killed nine Catholic nuns at a convent in Rwanda's north-western province, Reuters reports.

[Bastiat's The Law]

The reason I ask the question is because I want to get inside the psychology of the perpetrators and also want to know the nuts and bolts of how they pulled it off. How they stockpiled weapons, why they chose machetes, how they communicated their plans and got everyone on board with those plans.

Most ask why, but I'm asking how.

[jmdrake]

The reason I ask the question is because I want to get inside the psychology of the perpetrators and also want to know the nuts and bolts of how they pulled it off. How they stockpiled weapons, why they chose machetes, how they communicated their plans and got everyone on board with those plans.

Most ask why, but I'm asking how.

How they communicated? Code language over commercial radio. "Cut the tall trees" was code word for "start the killing". (Tutsi's typically were taller than Hutus). See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3257748.stm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/3191489.stm

Why did they use machettes? Two words. Gun control. See: http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north367.html

They were dealing with largely unarmed victims. Why waste money on bullets to shoot people when you can just hack them to death?

How were the Hutu militia's armed and how were they stockpiled? It seems the French may have had a hand in that.

I hope that helps.

[Danke]

While I'm sure there were some French officers who acted or attempted to act honorably with regards to Rwanda, the role of the French government in general is highly suspect.



I think this was the guy: Lieutenant-General Dallaire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shake_Hands_with_the_Devil:_The_Journey_of_Rom%C3% A9o_Dallaire


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq9Eg2w2pis

[Aratus]

i hate to say this, but we must think over how the nazis organized
so as to take over europe, and then planned a genocidal slaughter.
like pol pot's regime in cambodia, this was very deliberate and cruel.

[UWDude]

Just remember, the Rwanda Massacres did not start in 1993, it started in 1990.

[showpan]

I can't remember whether it is LINK or Democracy now that did an excellent story on how it all played out....you should do a search on both sites.

[Danke]

I can't remember whether it is LINK or Democracy now that did an excellent story on how it all played out....you should do a search on both sites.

Ya, I can't remember the one I saw, it was good. http://vimeo.com/25257006

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_about_the_Rwandan_Genocide

[idiom]

"Sometimes in April" and "Hotel Rwanda" are great places to start.

As an added note, "Scream Bloody Murder" is a brilliant piece by CNN on how western governments have never stopped a single genocide and why they never will.

The only way to stop them is action by private citizens. Historically a well armed populace has been the only defence.

Best biblical example is in the Book of Esther, the Jews are scheduled to be slaughtered as always. The King cannot over-rule the slaughter due to a constitutional clause so he simply allows the Jews to arm themselves and that is *all* it takes to save them.

The Rwanda massacre was stopped by the victims themselves once they had sufficient arms.

[FindLiberty]

Only two teams are required:


Team 1) Disarm target population. (Professionals such as UN, "Peacekeepers", etc.)

>>>>>>>>>>>>
Two words. Gun control. <<<<<<<<<<

Team 2) Hack ENTIRE population to death with machettes. (Mob filled with hate, etc.)


I first learn about this popular but horrid, tried and true method from the JBS.ORG ...about 20 years ago!

[Bastiat's The Law]

I think this was the guy: Lieutenant-General Dallaire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shake_Hands_with_the_Devil:_The_Journey_of_Rom%C3% A9o_Dallaire


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq9Eg2w2pis
He's actually Canadian. He only had a few hundred men and no supplies.