Good Tuesday morning! Joe Biden has inserted himself into the Darfur talks yet again
UNITED NATIONS (AP)–Sen. Joseph Biden, a contender for the Democratic nomination for U.S. president, said Monday that he would send U.S. troops to end the four-year conflict in Darfur if he could, saying countries that engage in " genocide" should forfeit their sovereignty.
Biden led a bipartisan delegation to the United Nations for talks with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, key Security Council ambassadors and senior U.N. officials, saying there was agreement that dealing with Darfur "was of the highest priority."
"The bottom line was this: There’s genocide taking place. The consensus among the American delegation…was that we cannot wait five or six or seven months for there to be any action taken on the ground," he said. "We know there’s a need for a political solution, but you must stem the bleeding now."
The conflict between ethnic African rebels and pro-government janjaweed militia in Sudan’s vast western region has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced 2.5 million Darfurians, and a beleaguered 7,000-strong African Union force has been unable to stop the fighting. The Bush administration has classified the violence in Darfur as genocide – but the U.N. has not.
Here it comes!
Asked how the "bleeding" in Darfur could be stemmed without support from the Sudanese government, Biden cited Bush’s promise of increased sanctions "if no action is taken by consent from Sudan."
"I have a different view. I think nations at some point cede their sovereignty. When they engage in genocide they forefeit their sovereignty," he said.
"Were I able to make the decision, I would impose a no-fly zone immediately, and I would commit forces to stop the Janjaweed now. But I am not making that decision," Biden said.
He confirmed that the forces he was referring to were U.S. troops.
Does that not mean he should support Operation Iraqi Freedom? There was genocide in Iraq. Many good resources also here. If we are forced out early by the Democrats, pundits both left and right are concerned about genocide in Iraq.
And genocide doesn’t even take into account the torture, rape, and murder of individuals that was a consistent part of Iraqi life under Saddam and his henchmen.
Final thought: I agree with Biden on Darfur. I would like to see us get more involved. The international community, including President Bill Clinton, turned their backs on Rwanda in the early 90’s, leading to the deaths of over 850K Rwandans in 100 days. We did little to nothing when Saddam was killing the Kurds. It is time to step up and put our money where our mouths are.
Of course, if Bush did commit large amounts of troops to Darfur, sooner or later the Democrats would find a way to bash him.
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