Posted by
Matthew on Thursday, July 20, 2006 2:57:29 PM
In the past, the Bush administration has demonstrated strong leadership
regarding the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and for good reason. According
to the
Genocide Intervention Network,
as many as 400,000 civilians have died and 2.5 million have been
displaced. The genocidal government in Sudan has engaged in the
indiscriminate murder, rape and robbery of Dafurians.
Over the last month, the situation on the ground has worsened. Unfortunately, the Bush administration is planning on a disastrous approach that will endanger even more civilians in Darfur.
At a recent UN donor conference in Brussels, US Assistant Secretary for
African Affairs Jendayi Frazer stated that funding of the African Union
peacekeepers would not continue. In June the United States sent $116
million to the AU force. The funds have already been appropriated. This
will apparently be the last US money sent to the African Union. The
financing will run out at the end of September. Asst. Sec. Frazer has
stated the United States is willing to fund a UN peacekeeping force on October 1.
Granted,
it is very important that an eventual UN force be fully funded.
However, the timetable is disastrously skewed! Jan Pronk, the United
Nations Special Representative for Sudan, has estimated that a UN
peacekeeping force could be ready as early as January 2007. The United States is cutting off funding for at least three months. The AU force on the ground is already under-funded and over-extended.
Their courageous actions have minimized the effects of an otherwise
gruesome situation. The administration may prefer peacekeeping under
the aegis of the United Nations. Indeed, the African Union has stated
that it is willing to welcome UN peacekeepers. However, it is inconceivable to terminate the funding of the only force in Darfur taking proactive steps to end genocide.
This
is not intended as yet more vitriol spewed against President Bush and
his foreign policy. The administration has done some very good things
for the people of Darfur. For instance, the United States is the only country in the world to call the situation genocide. Additionally, President Bush pushed hard for the May 5 Darfur Peace Agreement.
His strong leadership gave hope for those Darfurians in desperate need.
Unfortunately, peace has not panned out. The administration must
understand that the situation is as bleak as ever. Instead of cutting
the resources of the African Union, President Bush must assist them
until a UN force is ready to fully deploy. The life of hundreds of
thousands is at stake.
The Genocide Intervention Network has set up a way for you to fax Sec. Frazer's office for free: http://www.GenocideIntervention.net/FaxFrazer