7. EXTERMINATION begins, and quickly becomes the mass killing legally called “genocide.” It is “extermination” to the
killers because they do not believe their victims to be fully human. When it is sponsored by the state, the armed forces
often work with militias to do the killing. Sometimes the genocide results in revenge killings by groups against each
other, creating the downward whirlpool-like cycle of bilateral genocide (as in Burundi). At this stage, only rapid and
overwhelming armed intervention can stop genocide. Real safe areas or refugee escape corridors should be
established with heavily armed international protection. (An unsafe “safe” area is worse than none at all.) The U.N.
Standing High Readiness Brigade, EU Rapid Response Force, or regional forces -- should be authorized to act by the
U.N. Security Council if the genocide is small. For larger interventions, a multilateral force authorized by the U.N.
should intervene. If the U.N. is paralyzed, regional alliances must act. It is time to recognize that the international
responsibility to protect transcends the narrow interests of individual nation states. If strong nations will not provide
troops to intervene directly, they should provide the airlift, equipment, and financial means necessary for regional
states to intervene.