AP: Richardson gets bleak Darfur assessment

[Eugene]

Sunday, January 7, 2007 · Last updated 7:48 a.m. PT

Richardson gets bleak Darfur assessment

By NEDRA PICKLER
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

KHARTOUM, Sudan -- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson got a bleak assessment
of the deteriorating situation in Darfur as he arrived in the Sudanese capital
Sunday, hoping to lay the groundwork for peace in the region.

On a 17-hour overnight flight, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations
worked on a plan to broker a cease-fire, continue the flow of humanitarian aide
and persuade Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to allow U.N. peacekeepers.

On arrival, Cameron Hume, the top U.S. diplomat in Sudan, laid out Richardson's
challenge. "I don't think anybody's strategy is working," Hume told Richardson
at the airport.

Richardson, a few advisers and officials with humanitarian groups flew aboard a
private jet for the trip arranged by the Save Darfur Coalition. The group asked
for Richardson's help in trying to improve the situation in Darfur because he has
negotiated successfully with al-Bashir in the past.

-snip-

Full article: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1105AP_Richardson_Sudan.html

[aquart]

1. When a nation decides to murder its own people

there is very little anyone can do. But Sudan has now begun killing across the Chad border, and there may be some window of opportunity there. Not for us, because we are mired up to our eyebrows in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the UN, possibly.

Except that I don't think the rest of the world minds if Africa depopulates itself. Our poor planning with regard to global warming is going to lead to drought, flood, and famine in places previously green and secure. People are going to be massively on the move. Making room in advance may seem like a very good idea. Let someone else kill them now so we don't have to kill them later.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. sadly

I too believe that may be the plan. :(

[applegrove]

2. Thank god for Save Darfur. Let's pray Richardson can do something.

He's the best on foreign policy.