Darfur, Child Soldiers

Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

UN Policies dictate the use of force can only be used when the opposing force uses equal force, and usually only against UN Forces and not the civilian population.
Historically UN have been for the most part a toothless army of Peacekeepers,  who only observe, a Peacekeeping force who have a front seat to Genocide.
Canadian Peacekeepers in Bosnia over a decade ago, frustrated by the genocide playing out in front of them took action and went to the defence of a small village resulting in a fierce firefight lasting a few days against  a militia bent on ethnic cleansing.   These Canadain  Peacekeepers save some lives, and though many were lost,  Canada showed it's mettle,  contrary to the Unitied Nations rules for engagement of attacking another force regardless of the situation. Politicians in Ottawa kept this international incident of the firefight secret from the media and the world, swearing its soldiers to secrecy.  It was only last year this act of courage came to light, in some small way being UN observing force did not seem to have an effect stopping those bent on ethnic cleansing, showing once and for all that it is Might that makes Right, with complacency and diplomatic efforts just delay the inevitiable in what is Genocide.
Africa with all it's factions, despots, dictators, clans and tribes all want a piece of the dictatorship pie caring not who they kill including UN peacekeepers.  African militants far outnumber UN Peacekeepers 1,000 to one. 
Sending UN Peacekeepers whose position is only to observe is suicide, especially if a similar mindset of Canadian Peacekeepers who engaged in firefights in Bosnia went with their moral gut were sent to Africa, you just know Canadian Peacekeepers would not just sit idly by and watch the genocide, much to their credit they would most likely die violently for their Might makes Right stance.
The World needs to clean house in Africa, an expensive and tragic proposistion that is achievable, but with africans ragtag militias numbering hundreds of thousands of part time soldiers whose differing loyalties can switch at a moments notice, Peacekeepers will never be sure who is friend or foe.  A dangerous situtation for any soldier to be in as it is today in the middle east.  Previous wars in europe one knew who the enemy was, today it is totally different.  The last Gentlemens war was the First World War and previous wars before that were horrific as well but it was a time when honour was paramount amongst officers and soldiers on both sides.