US 'Discovers' Mercenaries, Not Their Sponsors
The Guardian reports the U.S. is sanctioning four individuals and four companies for funneling Colombian mercenaries to Sudan, where they're allegedly aiding the RSF, a group responsible for 'genocide.' It's heartening to see the US take a stand against actors profiting from war crimes, especially when those actors are conveniently located far from traditional American allies. One might wonder,
however, about the convenient forgetting of America's own extensive history in training, funding, and weaponizing paramilitary forces globally, often with direct ties to atrocities, from Central America to the Middle East. It seems the 'war crimes' label only applies when the perpetrators are not receiving generous aid packages. This 'discovery' of a mercenary network provides excellent cover,
redirecting attention from the systemic conditions that create demand for such services. The 'war crimes' are horrific, but the selective outrage is... familiar. How many of the RSF's weapons were traced back to nations that received US aid? The US can sanction low-level contractors, but actual arms dealers and geo-political strategists seem to operate with impunity. It's a classic case of
swatting flies while ignoring the elephant in the living room — particularly if that elephant is a major defense contractor.