“1-No-one wants us in Iraq, yet they seem to want us to solve other country’s issues? Can you guys pick a side please? If it is such an issue, why hasn’t anyone else stepped up to fix it? “

The US decided on its own to go in and fix a problem that has been ongoing for the last 20-30 years.
No one made them.
There was no great call from the Iraqi people themselves… just a few exiles.
The last time they were told to rise up they were let down which largely explains why they didn’t welcome US troops with flowers and bread on the border.
Several countries chose to go with them.
And together they went in and took control of Iraqs oil… because it was the right thing to do… for Iraq, for the Iraqi people and most importantly for the US economy.

The US took on the role of righter of wrongs in an international context… it even ignored the UN to do it.

Now there is another wrong that it could potentially make right.
It will not of course… because it is not in its direct interests to do so… congo has no oil and has already been plundered of most of its resources by Belgium.

The fact that a country of 20 million people is in complete disarray through the actions of the US has tied up both the time and resources of the UN for more than a year. The US has pushed the topic of Iraq to the top of the list at every forum it has attended with the purpose of getting backing to ensure the continued performance of its economy.

Who has failed Congo? Well obviously Congo itself first of all, probably Belgium second and the UN and the US third… normally the US shouldn’t even be on the list but if you self appoint yourself the worlds policeman then this is the sort of things you should be involving yourself with.

“2-What does a fence by Mexico have to do with poor black people in Africa?”

Both show US attitudes to poor people… build a wall and pretend they aren’t there… if the climb the wall… shoot ’em or round them up and send them back home.

“Hold on, but isn’t the UN the one organization created for this exact purpose? “

The UN was not designed to prevent war. It was an international forum to enable dialog to discuss issues. If the two sides just want to fight or it is an internal issue (ie Northern Ireland for Britain or Chechnia for Russia) then the UN can do little.

“Unlike, let’s say, Europe for instance? And what has YOUR government, Garry, done about the situation in the Congo?”

Listening to the rhetoric from the white house recently you’d think they had decided to use their enormous economic and military power to help correct the problems of the world… I think that deserves a little criticism from me.
I quite agree with your comment about Europe… they have had their moral wars in the recent past too and could equally do with some criticism, though I don’t understand how the New Zealand government can be criticised. We have no power to do anything, so our lack of action is hardly surprising. We are a little fish… this was brought home many times by the actions of our allies like Britain, France, and the US.

“Isn’t that kind of dangerous? I mean sending
young woman to that crazy country as peace
keepers.”

It’s alright Jayzee… they give them guns before they go…