Sudan: U.S. envoy Bolton says U.S. will move "fast" and "far" on Darfur

Relief Web ^ | 2/6/06

[dervish]

U.N. Security Council plans transition from AMIS to U.N. peacekeeping in region

The transition from the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to a U.N. peacekeeping force in Darfur is a complicated and logistically difficult mission, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton told reporters February 3.

The United States remains committed to the transition, as is the United Nations, where the Security Council unanimously issued a presidential statement to initiate contingency planning for the transition, Bolton said. He emphasized both the United Nations' and the United States' commitment to continuing support for AMIS "until the possible transition is completed."

Asked whether the United States and other capable powers will play a direct role in the peacekeeping operation, such as putting "boots on the ground" in Darfur, Bolton said, "It's premature to speculate on that" at this point, but the importance of the Security Council's presidential statement is that it gives the body the authority to ask such questions of governments that might be considering participating in the operation in Darfur.

"It's something that U.S. military planners will work very closely with the Secretariat on ... and we're trying to evaluate what's necessary in Darfur, building from the AMIS mission," he said.

Troop levels and other issues will be decided "in close consultations with the AU [African Union]," Bolton said in response to a question on whether the present AMIS and UNMIS (U.N. Mission in Sudan) forces will be augmented.

The purpose of the presidential statement was "to kick off contingency planning" for the possible transition, Bolton reiterated, saying that his instructions and intentions are "to move as far and as fast as we can during the month of February." The United States presides over the U.N. Security Council during February.

Also on February 3, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer said the United States would seek to use its chairmanship of the U.N. Security Council "to try to strengthen the African Union's work in Darfur.” She told reporters the United States wants to ensure the African Union has the resources to provide access for humanitarian aid and to protect civilians.

Following is the transcript of Bolton's remarks:

(begin transcript)

[bybybill]

Got to like Bolton

[VOA]

looks like Bolton has also won over one of his hysterical critics:
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-02-06T200522Z_01_N06101048_RTRUKOC_0_US-UN-BOLTON-VOINOVICH.xml&archived=False

[dervish]

'snip'

"Dozens of witnesses, who were interviewed separately, described the attackers as ethnic Arabs visibly different from the local population, wearing Sudanese army khakis and speaking Sudanese Arabic," yesterday's Human Rights Watch report said, describing the ethnic dimension of the war that America alone has so far called genocide.

'snip'

Churches, civil rights groups, and politicians from both parties have pressured the State Department to address Darfur, and America signaled its intention to take a stand by using the Security Council presidency to highlight the crisis. The best move, however, would be if America and like-minded countries declared that they will now do all they can to end the killings - with or without Turtle Bay, which so far has failed Sudan miserably.

http://www.nysun.com/pf.php?id=27085

Amb Bolton is trying to get as much done on Sudan as possible while he holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council.

[vimto]

From the UK - I don't understand the micro-politics here. All I know is that the world has sat back and allowed the Muslim government and Janjawed to butcher some 2 million mostly Christian and black Muslims.

The UN is morally bankrupt.

[dervish]

"The UN is morally bankrupt."

after Rwanda one prayed that they would change. But the Arab oil interests/Arab League has firm control at Turtle Bay.

[VOA]

As awful as the suffering is in Darfur (and was in Southern Sudan),
I've said it shows us what the world will be like once Islam achieves
world domination.

First-Class Muslims murdering, raping and pillaging Second-Class Muslims

As for attempts to alleviate suffering in Darfur...the USA sent Colin Powell
to the region and pushed/shoved Khartom into some sort of truce (lot of
good that does with Islamics).
UK did send aid; I couldn't understand where all the aid that the UN,
France and Germany surely could have been sending...seeing how they aren't
exactly bleeding with troops in about 162 countries (like the USA).

(don't get me wrong...I don't think we should be in all of those 162 countries;
but the UN, France and Germany could have pitched in more for Darfur)

[vimto]

Know what you mean - Aid form UK included the 'Feed the World' aid form Bob Geldof brigade who never mentioned the reason for it other than famine.
I doubt much if any got to where it was supposed to go. The UN peace observers run whenever there was an attack.

but no Muslim country stepped in to help or educate their brothers in the wise ways of Mohamed, did they?

as you say - liberals look at how your children will be treated (if it takes that long).

[VOA]

but no Muslim country stepped in to help or educate their brothers
in the wise ways of Mohamed, did they?

I failed to mention that when there was a crisis in Chad this
last summer, our ABC NightLine show played plenty of footage of
the starving and suffering. Just ghastly.

The only aid that I heard about (in response to an urgent UN appeal)
was flown in by the UK.
AFAIK, nothing from France (former colonial masters of Chad) or
from the bordering Islamic countries.

Just incredible.

[ironwoodchuck]

We still own some of the old-fashioned kind of submarines which fire torpedos and sink ships, yes??

What the hell's so fricking hard about telling the a$$holes in Khartoom that until the persecution of Christians stops, three or four of such sill be patrolling their shores with orders to sink any ship attempting to anchor and load oil originating in the Sudan, and that their sorry little butts are gonna starve?

I mean the United States is still a Christian country but you'd never know that by observing our foreign policy.