Bolton, Krueger Give Sharply Differing Views of Humanitarian Interventions

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One man emphasized the agonizing complexities inherent in any decision about intervening in genocides. The other spoke with emotion about the horrific scenes he witnessed while serving as ambassador in a developing African country racked by widespread ethnic killing.

When John Bolton and Robert Krueger finished their conversation with the Lewis & Clark community at the 46th annual International Affairs Symposium, the several hundred students who attended the event had much to ponder.

Bolton, the controversial Bush administration appointee as U.S. representative to the United Nations, and Krueger, a former U.S. senator and ambassador to Burundi, aired their sharply contrasting views during the opening night of the symposium, April 7. They packed Council Chamber as well as Stamm Dining Room, where a simulcast was shown for the overflow crowd.

Bolton, now a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, spoke of the myriad factors that must be considered when U.S. decision makers contemplate a humanitarian intervention—including, he stressed, American interests and the potential loss of American lives.

“The question that confronts all democratic countries,” he said, “is what are the circumstances that ought to motivate… active intervention for purely humanitarian purposes,” Bolton said. “Morality [in these situations] is more complex than one side wearing white hats and the other wearing black.” A crucial question that must be asked, he said, is “how many American lives will be sacrificed?”

Bolton’s emphasis on complexities and the importance of American interests differed markedly from the viewpoint of Krueger, a Texan who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate before his appointment to Burundi by President Clinton. While serving in that African country from 1994 to 1996, Krueger witnessed ethnic cleansing comparable to the better-known genocide happening in neighboring Rwanda.

Krueger described his frustration as the world failed to respond to the massive killing taking place at the time in Burundi, despite his efforts to draw attention to the crisis. At its height, he noted, the violence was raging at the rate of approximately 100 deaths each day in the country of six million. In a nation the size of the United States, that would be equivalent to 4,200 killings daily.

“It’s like having ten 9/11’s a week. And nobody cares!” Krueger declared, his voice rising dramatically. “Ever heard of Burundi, the genocide there? No. Why? Because when people are poor and isolated and not influential— and, oh yes, and when they’re black— nobody cares.”

In a subsequent question-and-answer session, Bolton continued to challenge audience members to consider the losses that may come with humanitarian intervention. At one point, when a student offered that he would be willing to risk American lives to prevent the continued killing in Darfur, Bolton shot back: “You can tell me which [Americans] you would sacrifice.”

Bob Mandel, chair of the International Affairs Department and advisor to the symposium organizers, praised the students for creating an event that highlighted Lewis & Clark “as a place that presents opposing views, even those that contrast with the prevailing views of many students and faculty.”

The International Affairs Symposium is the longest-running student-organized event of its type in the country. By bringing distinguished scholars and policy makers to Lewis & Clark to present their views of the most pressing issues in international relations each year, the symposium provides community members with the opportunity to hear new perspectives on foreign affairs. The symposium has been highly acclaimed by the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Chronicle of Higher Education.