Karmelized writes a good piece on Sudan that raises important questions--and points to this article in The Nation, by Salih Booker & Ann-Louise Colgan. An excerpt:
...Washington has an obligation to act. One reason is its treaty obligations under the Genocide Convention. Another is its involvement in Sudan's peace process, supported by an eclectic domestic constituency, including groups ranging from the evangelical right to the Congressional Black Caucus. A third is the unique US intelligence capacity to track militia activity in Darfur as well as the movements of the displaced. Finally, it has 1,800 troops in nearby Djibouti, some of whom could be mobilized quickly to lead a multinational force to secure the region, to facilitate humanitarian assistance and to enforce the cease-fire until a UN peacekeeping force can be assembled.
Karmalised also points to this Afrol article on the troops in Djibouti, and their missions across Africa.
Eric Jon Magnuson writes
...here are a few more articles concerning Musa Hilal; the more I look at them, the more I think that these stories (as well as the Guardian piece that you feature) are the result of a public-relations effort by the Sudanese government that backfired…
“Sudan warlord denies charges of war crimes” (from Knight Ridder) – http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/9163536.htm, http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/world/9163470.htm, http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/world/9163470.htm (among others)
“A 'Big Sheik' Denies Crisis in Darfur” (from the Washington Post) – http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58171-2004Jul17.html, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5457377/
I tend to agree with Eric about Hilal being made available by the government--and the move backfiring. I appreciate the articles because they seem to tell the truth--a truth that, in context, does not seem to bother Musa Hilal.
Rebecca Lesses produces a very thoughtful blog and writes regularly about Sudan, often from a Jewish perspective.
Sudan Peace Online contains uncommented links to an eclectic and fascinating mix of sites, including those originating in African and Arab Sudanese communities. I will need a guide to make real sense of this. Check it out.
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