Flapping Their Gum: Sudan Threatens U.S. Soft Drinks A Different Kind of Cola War: Sudan's Ambassador Threatens to Ban Key Soft Drink Ingredient By RUSSELL GOLDMAN June 1, 2007 — The Sudanese government's response to proposed U.S. sanctions intended to force an end to the bloodshed in Darfur was short, sweet & and fizzy. Speaking to reporters Wednesday in Washington, Sudan's ambassador the United States denied government-funded militias were killing civilians in Darfur, and threatened to cut off exports of gum arabica, a key component in soft drinks, if the Bush administration imposed economic sanctions. "See how many people are...