"A Problem from Hell" Chapter 7 and 10 Notes

Chapter 7

In 1984, Department spokesperson John Hughes proclaimed that Ronald Reagan would promote the genocide convention.

Reagan paid a visit to West Germany's Bitburg Cemetery in 1985 and was criticized by many of his followers. Reagan was hoping that the visit would better the ties between Germany and the U.S.

Doctrine of reciprocity

Reagan made it possible to ratify the genocide convention but when they had the first opportunity to use it they had to side with the Saddam Hussein genocide due to domestic and political concerns.

Chapter 10

In Rwanda, when the president was killed in a jet crash the country went into a panic on who would rule and if the government was still in place. A curfew was set and many people were encouraged to stay in their homes. 

The genocide in Rwanda only lasted 100 days.

In this case, the Hutus were against the Tutsis. 

People from Death-squads went to the homes of those living in Rwanda and murdered the Tutsis and any Hutus who were not in support of the war.

One-seventh of the population was murdered as a result of the genocide.

The genocide was a result of racial tension. It was the most concentrated genocide in all of history.