Has anyone actually set up a charity for arming genocide victims? It could obviously backfire in a really nasty way -- maybe the difference isn't that Tribe A is more evil than Tribe B, but that Tribe A is better-armed.
What's the worst that can happen? Genocide? It sounds worth the risk. Possible genocide is better than certain genocide. Note that neither the RPF (in Rwanda) or the KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army) did much retaliation after they ended their respective genocides (to take two recent examples).
Plus, there is deterrence when two parties are evenly armed.
"Lets go kill the darkies, loot their village and rape their women."
Sounds awesome. I hate those darkies, and who doesn't like loot and booty?
"Lets get into an evenly matched gunfight with the darkies and, if we survive, loot their village and rape their women."
You know, I agree the darkies are a pox on this world. But I'm not liking the sound of 'if we survive.'
I haven't seen anyone suggest arming at-risk ethnic groups outside of Cryptonomicon: (http://www.innternet.de/~peter.patti/stephenson-neal-crypton... , search for 'HEAP'; there's a description somewhere in there).