Regulating 'blood minerals': Why the controversy?

Published November 16, 2011

In last week's Embassy, professor Rita Abrahamsen authored an article, "Stopping 'blood cellphones': A too-easy fix." She said that the idea of ending conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo by curbing the trade in conflict minerals is "seductive—and dangerously simplistic." The article was misleading on several important points.

The Kimberley Process, designed to halt the trade in conflict...