General Gordon to the Rescue

In 1966 a major historical movie called Khartoum was released. It was the story of General Charles Gordon, played by Charlton Heston, a British officer responsible for bringing stability to Sudan. His job: to defeat the Muslim army of Mohammed Ahmed el Mahdi, played by Laurence Olivier. Mahdi was leading his own Jihad against the British army. The film was a classic epic adventure for the Colonial period; great costumes, grandiose wide shots of battles featuring heroism of a sort that most audiences would like, cinematically speaking.
 
After trying to negotiate a settlement, the story advances with true religious zeal as the powerful Christian forces of Gordon take on the “fanatical” muslim forces and lose. The British government set Gordon up to fail because it’s easier to sacrifice one man than a whole nation to battle, expecially if you’re an Imperial power with resistance at home.
 
Forty years after its release, Khartoum echoes the current strife in Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region. Thousands of people have been displaced, the food is scarce and supplies are difficult to deliver because the military forces are engaged. Five major tribes are at war. In Darfur, its a matter of who lives there: Sudanese or Egyptian. Only 39% of the country is Egyptian and the growth of Christians in the south makes up 52% of Sudan.

The central message in Khartoum is that without clear policies, foreign affairs are destined for messy and tragic wars without honour or purpose. The existing state of affairs in the Darfur region appear to be a little better. Peace talks continue but perhaps we need that one, lone soldier ready to sacrifice his or her life for the greater cause.

Any volunteers?

That’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.