News from the New Party

Weasel words

Some unaccustomed words of appreciation for the doctrine of humanitarian intervention from Sir Simon Jenkins:

It may be that there is nothing we can do about the horrors of Darfur, Burma or Zimbabwe, or nothing that could make their plight any better. It may indeed be wiser to sit on our hands and leave it to our leaders to emit occasional howls of impotent contempt... Yet I am sure that the concept of humanitarian intervention, however limited, was sound.

Unaccustomed because six months ago he said this:

Global policing has strayed far from the goal of defending borders and organising humanitarian aid. By extending its remit to the internal politics of states, liberal intervention is becoming an enemy not a friend of peace. Lacking imperialism's permanent commitment to a conquered land, it has become a half-hearted meddling in the affairs of others. It is the ideology of the fidget.

The doctrine of humanitarian intervention is indeed sound, for any who value human rights and freedoms.  It's a shame that some of its proponents are incapable of more than weasel words.

[Thanks to Norm Geras].