Jamie Kirchick writing in today's Journal:
In short, Mr. Mugabe's opponents need weapons soon. This is not to effect regime change, but for simple self-defense. Critics of American support for dissidents abroad often cite how such backing, once it becomes public, could endanger the dissidents' cause and credibility. This critique might make sense in the Middle East, but it does not carry much water in Africa.
Zimbabwe definitely seems like one of those problems where there's nowhere to go but up. What's the worst that could happen if we started sending weapons and funding to anti-Mugabe forces? The guy isn't going to stay in power for ever, so now seems like as good a time as any to start building relationships with the opposition. At least it's a plan, and we don't hear a lot of other bright ideas for solving that country's crisis.