Why don't the US army invade Zimbabwe?

Question

Way more people are suffering and dying in Zimbabwe than Iraq, but no one really seems that interested!

Is it because they don't have oil?

Answer 1

It's probably due to the fact that Mugabe has such a firm hold on the zimbabwean army. Therefore if america invaded zimbabwe they would be met with alot more hostility.

There is also the fact that they can't come up with a justification to invade, yes we all know he is destroying an entire country, but there is actually very little evidence. The inflation can easily be explained away.

The whole idea that because there is no oil america doesn't care, is simply speculation.

Answer 2

Mugabe, the Dictator, was until recently The Brits and US Darling.

Usually the USA waits a couple of years, before they attack their Bad People, they put in power. It looks better.

See, established by the USA - Khomeini 1979, Saddam 1969, Osama 1994, Noriega 1982, Idi Amin 1973, Arafat 1987, Stalin 1944 (East Europe), Musharraf 1999(Pakistan) --  list is endless

Answer 3

You're onto it.  None of the US top brass ever believed that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction or represented a terrorist threat.  Nobody involved in the events of September 11 had any Iraqi connections.  When Operation Desert Storm, the first war against Iraq in January 1991 started, the Southland Times published a cartoon of some starving Africans in the Sudanese (or maybe Somali) desert looking up at the US warplanes flying overhead, and one of them says "Isn't it wonderful how quickly they respond to a real emergency".  'Nuff said.

Answer 4

Good question, I would say people wouldn't be too happy about it, but this is America, since when has it mattered what the people wanted...

Answer 5

Why should we? Why doesn't an African Union invade them, or pehaps the spineless EU or UN if they are genuinely concerned about whats happening in the garbage dump of the world.

Answer 6

They don't have oil, but they have a lot of other natural resources, which they, and a lot of the other African nations are currently swapping for AK47's and other goodies with China so we can all buy cheap 'T' shirts and other junk we never knew we needed until the adverts showed us we couldn't survive without it.

I guess we will all be interested when China doubles the price of MP3's or something, but until then we will all just keep smiling because we are getting the goods.

Answer 7

At least in Iraq, you can see the enemy.

Africa is another matter, and there is a reason why countries tend to avoid fighting with those nations. Because it would be close range, bloody, and confusing for us since we'd have to fight natives in a jungle region with home field advantage. Just like Viet Nam and Korea.

Answer 8

That's precisely the reason Wabby, if they had we'd have been there a long time ago already given their instability to 'help them out'.

Oil wars have begun, Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur (China)... politicians are sick little puppies.

Answer 9

Bonsai got a thumbs down for telling the truth.

Answer 10

While Zimbabwe doesn't have much oil, it is quite rich in other resources, especially minerals.  The reason is that, as opposed to Saddam and Iraq, Mugabe hasn't invaded any other countries, hasn't used chemical weapons on his own or other country's citizens, and hasn't supported various international terrorist groups.

While Mugabe is a despot and needs to go, this is a UN problem, just like the Sudan, Rwanda, Myanmar, and several other hot spots with internal issued around the globe.

Answer 11

Zimbabwe has problems but it shouldn't  involve the US. It would just cause everyone to hate us more and cause instability.

Answer 12

We have a long history of letting Africans massacre each other and not really getting involved.  In the Clinton years we got involved in Kosovo, but turned a blind eye to Rwanda.

It's partially that we don't care WHO sells us the natural resources in Africa after they are extracted, as long as someone does.  And once the massacres are over, whoever comes out on top in the African countries is always willing to do business with us.

Now if the Zimbabwe leadership said officially "After we finish deep frying and eating all who oppose us, we swear to stop selling tobacco and other exports to American corporations," I'm fairly certain some military action would take place.

Don't think because I put this bluntly I AGREE with this policy.  It's just how we do things historically.

Answer 13

Yeah! You tell 'em, bonzai!

Answer 14

I assume you are being facetious Wabby.

The Chinese already have so there would be a major set back in Sino/US relationships.

There maybe no oil there but there are other huge resources that Mugabe is giving to the Chinese, in return for them propping up his regime.

I can't recall the mineral but it is important, bauxite comes to mind but that may be incorrect, but it is one of those "auxite" minerals.

(you're a clever girl work that out and let me know)...it maybe copper.

For decades the US believed in their own military strength could fight 2.5 wars at the same time but thanks to budget cuts and down sizing they are now struggling for sufficient troop numbers in Afghanistan and despite what they are saying about the 'success' in Iraq there is a shortage of troops there.

A contact of mine has a son and son in law in the military one has done 2 tours of duty in Iraq and is home and is preparing for Afghanistan, and the other is in one or the other location unknown as he is 'special' forces.

To 'invade' a country that far inland is nigh on impossible without the support of neighbouring countries.

Why you have decided to dump on the US is beyond my comprehension.

All fingers should be pointed at NBeke S. Africa  who needs to pull his finger out and do something as do the neighbouring countries, struggling to cope with the refugees.

Answer 15

Americans can't catch a break

Damned if we do....damned if we don't

Answer 16

My answer would be how many Americans want our soldiers to lose their lives over African lives?  Not many.  Its horrible but I believe our conscience extends to what do they have to offer me to make it worth while to potentially have an American killed.