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More Empty Words from the White House?
On April 18, 2007, President Bush warned the government of Sudan: “…If President Bashir does not fulfill the steps I outlined…[namely, allowing the full deployment of a joint UN-AU peacekeeping force to Darfur]
In a short period of time. In a short period of time. In a short period of time. On April 18, 2007, President Bush promised action against the perpetrators in “a short period of time.”
Today’s May 24. The White House has given the government of Sudan more than a month to decide whether or not it will let UN peacekeepers into Darfur. The question is: Will President Bush finally sanction Omar al-Bashir and company? Or will the President continue to stand by as more Darfuris are raped, starved, and killed?
Last year, there was a debate in the international community and among foreign policy experts about the use of force to stop the genocide in Sudan. Should the U.S. urge NATO to establish security in Darfur? Or should it try to go through the UN Security Council to get UN peacekeepers deployed? Should the international community be prepared to force itself into Western Sudan? If Khartoum says “no” to peacekeepers, why should this stop people in power from ending the worst crime known to human beings?
Note, though: The current Darfur policy climate doesn’t require such a debate. We’re not talking about NATO vs. the UN, or consensual vs. non-consensual force deployment. We’re talking about whether or not the U.S. and the international community should move to impose strong multilateral sanctions against the government of Sudan’s high-level leaders (in order to change their position on UN peacekeepers for Darfur).
Here, there’s no doubt that strong sanctions should be put in place. No infantry is required. You don’t need fighter planes, big guns, or any other kind of military flexing. You just need some political will to impose these punitive measures.
So: What is the White House waiting for?
Take Action: Call the White House and tell President Bush to help impose strong multilateral sanctions against the gov’t of Sudan’s leaders.