Posted on 02/02/2005 10:08:23 AM PST by Mark Felton
Two top U.S. lawmakers demanded UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to take an immediate action to end violence in the Sudanese western region of Darfur or resign.
A spokesman for the UN rejected the call by Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas and Representative Frank Wolf of Virginia, saying that Annan wasn’t in a position to force any action.
The two lawmakers also criticized a UN report, released on Monday, for not recommending an action to end the fighting, claiming that the report was influenced by internal UN politics.
"We cannot wait any longer for credible action on Darfur," Brownback said. "The time is now for the secretary general, Kofi Annan, to lead or leave."
The two Republican lawmakers also said that ending the violence in Darfur would be a test for whether the UN remains powerful in the 21st century.
"The United Nations has failed over and over to prevent genocide," alleged Wolf, who leads the House of Representatives subcommittee that approves the U.S. payments to the United Nations.
"If in the year 2005 the Security Council cannot deal with genocide ... I believe it's fair to ask what purpose is the United Nations serving in the 21st century."
Brownback said that the UN Security Council action "needs to happen within the next couple of weeks."
Both demanded the UN to impose sanctions on the Sudanese government, including an international weapons embargo, ban on investments in Sudan, and increasing the number of African Union peacekeeping troops in Darfur.
They also said that the United States should form a coalition of African and other countries and end the violence in Darfur if the council fails to act quickly.
Annan's spokesman, Fred Eckhard, said that the best he can do is keep trying.
"I think it's wrong to assume that he could somehow force them to take a course of action and that, should he not be successful, he would be obliged to step down," Eckhard said.
"I think that's inconsistent with the (UN) charter."
Earlier, Annan demanded the Security Council to refer the Darfur case to the International Criminal Court at The Hague, based on a UN-appointed panel’s report which cleared Sudan of genocide in Darfur.
The United States opposes the panel's report and insists that genocide was committed in Darfur, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.
"We believe that the best way to address these crimes, as detailed in the report, is to establish a UN and African Union tribunal that would be based in Arusha, Tanzania." He said.
"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." -- Mathew vii. 18
Beautiful, basically it's time for the UN to "put up or shut up."
Maybe the US should think giving Sudan a good dose of airpower until the genocide in Darfur stops.
I have long advocated making John Kerry the ambassador to Sudan so he can see the wonderful work of the UN up close and personal.
That is an excellent idea.
The UN has no army - will American forces go?? stupid.
It is a stupid idea.
Yes, a few more dinners at 5-star restaurants with various "dignitaries" should do the trick, and if it doesn't, well.....just keep trying.
Why not the French and Germans? They aren't doing anything and after all, it would have UN legitimacy...
I'd say he either gets going on this or he gets to wear the dog collar and chain with the panties on his (pin) head.
You still need the US to vote on sending troops - It is a stupid idea because it makes America have to take a position on sending troops.
This is wonderfully good and important news. Good for these lawmakers!
The US needs a 'bright line' test for intervening in foreign disputes for the protection of human life/rights. Doing it willy-nilly piecemeal, depending on the headlines of the NYT and lead stories on the MSM is not working. The Sudan, Kosovo, China, North Korea, Samolia, Iraq, et al., seem to generate vastly differing opinions on our obligation. We seem to operate on the basis of using human rights as a pretext when our national interests are really at issue, like Iraq. Let's shed the pretext and just act in our own national self interests, period. And recognize that the UN is totally irrelevant to this discussion-impotent and corrupt beyond redemption.
Making Kerry an ambassador to Sudan is stupid? How so? I would love to watch him to try and put lipstick on the pig known as the UN, which he loves so much.
Great verse.
The UN is absolutely useless. I hate to waste good taxpayer money on it.
I'd advocate a mercy killing.
Why would Annan resign? UN already "solved the problem":
UN report clears Sudan government of genocide in Darfur
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