So what do you suggest, surely not that we stop protesting against the war?? The answer is to expand the campaign rather than complain about past inadequacies.

Yes, and you can say this about many many tragedies.

What is different here (re september 11th) is that this has touched everyone. That is they have been directly and pers involved, and have had to confront a situation that suggests full on global war may occur.

Instead of saying where were you (which I can well understand), see this as THE opportunity to organise and campaign against ALL war and oppression.

You may feel bitter but don't let your anger prevent the bigger opportunity.

Peace.

Daniel,
When somebody acts differently in situations which the questioner considers the same, it is necessary to point out the moral difference. So I will attempt to explain. Lets take one of your examples.

When two ethnic groups in Rwanda seek to exterminate each other I might deplore this. It might be something for me to act upon, to attempt to be a peacemaker to save multitudes of human lives. But it's not my personal responsibility to do so. I am not killing anyone, I am not aiding one side to kill another, etc.

On the other hand, when it's MY people who are doing the killing (eg: like right now in Afganistan) then I do have resoponsibility for what is going on.

Does that make the difference clear enough?

In this world everything's to do with us - we are everywhere (tho I take your point) -

David Icke is full of conspiracy theories, most of which are embarassing. The African genocide was not one of choice by Western powers, but neglected by everyone in the West because Africa is seen as uncivilised and barbaric. The barbarians are not just the murderers who massacred up to three million civilians in Congo, Rwanda and Burundi - although colonial powers were largely responsible for manipulating and entrenching ethnic divisions for their own benefit.

They were the arms dealers to sold to Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda and Rwanda which all participating in killing to control timber and mining resources, even coffee. Despite CAAT's best efforts, parliament, the media and activists ignored this genocide, which was fuelled by the arms trade and unbridled capitalism. Some 'left-wing' groups even supported Laurent Kabila for overthrowing Mobuto Sese Seko, perceived as the lacky of the West. In doing so, they legitimated this violence.

A lot of people stood by and watched the blood of millions flowing down the Nyabarongo and Congo rivers and said nothing. A lot of people stood by and believed the media when they claimed that this was simply tribal warfare, as if this was an inevitable fact of life in Africa. A lot of people turned away as British, French and Belgian industry and commerce, from diamond merchants to arms manufacturers to mobile phone producers, made millions out of the genocide.

Whether British troops engaged in this war is irrelevant. The British stayed silent and let this continue. That's why I say peace activists have largely neglected Africa and I feel very angry about this.