British Report Says Death Toll in Darfur Near 300,000; Expecting U.S. Veto, France Delays Vote on Resolution to Try Killers
Sort of a side issue, but nonetheless significant, "France agreed to postpone a vote until Thursday after the United States said it wanted to amend the draft resolution to ensure that no Americans could be handed over to the court, the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal, U.N. diplomats said."
From some research a few months ago:
On a separate issue, it is illuminating that the BBC is reporting that France is opposed to sanctions against the Sudanese:
Some one million people have fled their homes and at least 10,000 have been killed in what the UN calls "the world's worst humanitarian crisis." (107)
France led opposition to US moves at the UN over Iraq. As was the case in Iraq, it also has significant oil interests in Sudan. (107)
Mr Muselier [the French ambassador] also dismissed claims of "ethnic cleansing" or genocide in Darfur. (107)
"I firmly believe it is a civil war and as they are little villages of 30, 40, 50, there is nothing easier than for a few armed horsemen to burn things down, to kill the men and drive out the women," he said. (107)
Human rights activists say the Janjaweed are conducting a genocide against Darfur's black African population. (107)
Those who have fled their homes say the Janjaweed ride on horses and camels into villages which have just been bombed by government aircraft, killing the men and raping the women. (107)
According to Voanews, France's buddy Russia is also contributing to a stable situation in Darfur:
In recent days, Sudan is believed to have received the last of 12 MiG-29 fighter jets it had ordered from Russia. Although the deal was signed three-years ago, the timing of the delivery - five-months ahead of schedule - sparked deep concern about their potential use. (138)
Human-rights groups say refugees in Darfur have testified that their villages were bombed by Russian-made MiG jets belonging to the Sudanese air force. Many activists fear the new jets may be used in a renewed bombing campaign in Darfur. Sudan's threats against foreign intervention in Darfur have also raised fear they could be used against peacekeepers. (138)
It seems like the resolution is worded so that we have to recognize the ICC for Sudanese leaders to be tried there?
The UN and the Euro-dreamers propose to end this by having lawyers and judges gather in the Netherlands call 200,000 witnesses and then yak about it for 10 more years and then pronounce a few life sentences for a handful af thugs and stick them in a cushy Euro-jail.
It appears idiot judges with an exaggerated sense of their own importance are not unique to the United States.
the UNquagmire.
Unfortunately, no. And worst of all, by 'front burner' the world always means the United States must invade and begin cleaning up. It's sickening how atrophied the rest of the world is when it comes to dealing with situations like this one. Always on the back of Americans... Damn them, damn that UN.
Either ship in arms so the southerners can defend themselves, plus a bunch of Special Forces trainers, or get out. Nothing else will be effective
Where is Jesse Jackson?
I forget what the concept was called, but in some BS international relations course that I took in college, taught by some Marxist idiot, the idea was discussed of kind of a sharing of the burden for military action when several countries have an interest in the outcome.
When we are the dominant and benevolent nation, others expect us to do all of the heavy lifting, spending and sacrifice, while the other nations remain on the sidelines and enjoy the fruits of our labor. The problem is, we're pre-occupied with Iraq, so now the leeches are beside themselves, wondering who is going to fix this Africa thing - assuming that anyone even cares.
This is a clear illustration of the laziness, cowardliness, and disorganization of the rest of the western world and the blatant self-interest of the Asian world. Nobody who can do anything about Africa cares, and they are trying to figure out how to blame it on us, so that they won't look like the bad guys.