Well Look Who Just Caught Up?

The Sudanese government said they would accept whatever numbers the AU could provide. I am counting on that because, now that there is a new government in Sudan, they have to realize that the united government of Sudan has a responsibility for this.

And the international community is going to hold them to it. - Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice after her visit to Sudan

No, I am not just going after Ms. Rice. I am going after the press here too. In the interview Andrea Koppel expresses misgivings for the "new" tougher stance Condeleezza is speaking about following her visits with the Sudanese government and at one of the refugee camps. The press can choose to make anything an issue and have it not go away. I'll bet a few of you know who Kenny Rogers, the baseball player, is now and didn't a few weeks ago. The reports about rape and genocide type activities have been coming from the Sudan for almost 2 years and it rarely rates more than 30 seconds on the news.

Part of the job of the free and unaffected press to make the Sun shine on things trying to hide in the dark. The Bush administration has been fighting two wars, so it is understandable that the press has been a tad busy. But 300,000 people have been killed and we get B-roll on TV. These people need our help, the world's help. The press is in the position not to make the White House and Congress demand action or even the UN for that matter. But they can try to inform the citizenry so that Senators and Congressmen get letters and phone calls.(See link on the left.)

Why are we just talking to them about this? Why no peace keeping mission? Is it because Sudan is not a major trade partner with the United States? Or is it because other countries trade too much? There is another question I want to ask here but it is purely inflammatory. (Someone else said it though.)

Economic sanctions aren't likely to work here if you are the U.S. and you as of 2001 purchased 0.1% of all Sudanese exports. Frankly, that is like me calling McDonald's and telling them I won't eat there anymore. Big deal.

I am not one to come to the conclusion of using the armed forces likely, however, I figure if an estimated 300,000 people have died, countless thousands of women have been raped and close to 2 million people either live in refugee camps or have otherwise been displaced from their homes perhaps someone should go stand between them and the people hurting them.

Many people seem to be dragging their heels on this one. We need to give them a push.