Our (Inter)national Shame

Maryscott O'Connor (who I actually met a couple months ago) is absolutely right. Darfur has completely dropped off my radar screen; I haven't posted about it in six months, and that's recent compared to most blogs see. But it's as heartbreaking a tragedy as is happening in the world today.

Worse, we see the architects of this genocide as partners in the war on terror.

But this is not merely a national story. This is a failure among all free nations to step in and support Darfur from the merciless, thoughtless killing spree going on within its borders. With so much pre-emptive and strategic wars going on in the world, wars of humanitarian intervention have taken a back seat.

The New York Times' Nick Kristof has been a champion, trying to call the nation's attention to this madness. But he's been spitting into the wind. It seems hopeless and yet there is hope. The world can do so much to stop the killing in Darfur and bring the murderers to justice, IF THEY WOULD ONLY OPEN THEIR EYES.

Maryscott gives a laundry list of solutions:

First: Financial support for the African Union peacekeeping

Second: Expanded U.N. security force in Sudan

Third: Create no fly zone. Sudan is bombing its own people. Make it a no fly zone and tell them if they violate it we'll bomb the everloving SHIT out of their airplanes. Their AIR FORCE.

Fourth: The House should pass the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, which would impose sanctions and pressure on Sudan to stop the violence.

Fifth, Mr. Bush should use the bully pulpit. He should talk about Darfur in his speeches and invite survivors to the Oval Office. He should wear a green ''Save Darfur'' bracelet -- or how about getting a Darfur lawn sign for the White House? (Both are available, along with ideas for action, from saverdarfur.org.) He can call Hosni Mubarak and other Arab and African leaders and ask them to visit Darfur. He can call on China to stop underwriting this genocide.

Sixth, President Bush and Kofi Annan should jointly appoint a special envoy to negotiate with tribal sheiks. Colin Powell or James Baker III would be ideal in working with the sheiks and other parties to hammer out a peace deal. The envoy would choose a Sudanese chief of staff like Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, a leading Sudanese human rights activist who has been pushing just such a plan with the help of Human Rights First.

Our silence is killing innocent Sudanese who have done nothing but had the misfortune to live in the wrong country at the wrong time in history. It's a moral imperative. I support anyone who's willing to do what it takes to stop the killing in Darfur, right or left, liberal or conservative, foreign or domestic.

Thanks Maryscott. I won't forget again.