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New Yorker magazine
Staff writer for the New Yorker magazine; author of We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda and co-author of The Ballad of Abu Ghraib
PROFILE
Philip Gourevitch
Guest
FROM Philip Gourevitch
To the Point
President Obama Wants to Give Peace a Chance In last night's speech to the American people, President Obama laid out his case for punishing Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons to kill its own civilians. He asked every member of Congress, and those watching at home, to view shocking pictures of children writhing and dying, alleged evidence of Syria's use of chemical weapons. In addition to the moral argument, the President said there's a real risk to national security. But he asked Congress to postpone approval for limited military action -- a vote he was almost certain to lose. Instead, he said there's a chance of accomplishing his objectives without force, by negotiating a deal proposed by Russia. Did the President make the alternatives clear? If diplomacy fails, will the President renew the threat? What about Congress?
Which Way, L.A.?
The Syrian Government and the Massacre at Houla Monitors for the United Nations have confirmed 108 victims , including 49 children and 34 women — many executed at close range — by Syrian soldiers last Friday. After this latest massacre in Houla , western nations have thrown Syrian diplomats out of their countries. The US today increased financial sanctions. But, there's no consensus on what to do next. Mitt Romney issued a statement saying it's time for the US to arm the rebels and criticizing President Obama for giving Syria's Assad regime time to murder more of its own people. The Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey said the US military is ready. We hear about a tattered peace plan and calls for arming Syria's rag-tag rebels.
To the Point
Syria: Agonizing Questions with No Good Answers In the aftermath of Friday's massacre in Houla -- including at least 34 women and 49 children – Washington is divided over how to accomplish regime change in Syria. Mitt Romney says the US should arm Syrian rebels. President Obama is focused on diplomacy. There's also dispute within both parties of Congress. Who are the rebels? What would it take for them to defeat Assad's army? Would arming them lead to chaos or a proxy war between other countries? How long can the world stand by while a government slaughters its own people?
To the Point
Africa and the Unintended Consequences of Western Engagement The West has always had a complicated history with Africa. The slave trade and colonialism are a thing of the past, but there are different issues being raised today about relationships. While Western NGO's have committed significant amounts of time and money to help meet some of the continent's most pressing needs, do the media often portray Africa as having problems and the West as having the answers? Whose story gets told and from what perspective? Is there a danger of creating an image of Africa as helpless without Western aid?
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