Senator Kerry is back in Sudan trying to follow up on work done in October

[karynnj]

he U.S. senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee made a previously unannounced visit to Khartoum, his second one to the country in a little over a week.

JPEG - 25.9 kb
John Kerry, U.S. senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Sudan official news agency (SUNA) quoted the foreign ministry spokesperson Muawiya Osman Khalid as saying that Kerry’s visit aims at continuing his talks on a number of issues particularly sticky issues such as the deadlock over Abyei and borders as well as implementing the outstanding items in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article36841

[Mass]

1. I read that and my reaction was " Is there not a government department in charge of these things

?". :sarcasm:

No, seriously, MA needs its senator to have time to talk with people from Massachusetts and understand their concerns (because our junior senator is busy whining about how it is not his fault that MA Repugs got a beating).

But still very proud of our Senior Senator.

[karynnj]

2. The sad thing is that many in Massachusetts have no idea he is there - and did not read anything

of his taking time to work with the people impacted by flooding - that will keep occurring if a solution is not found. There problem really does show why government - including government about the city or county level has to be involved with fairly low level things that effect just a small number of people.

It is hard to say which Scott Brown would be less helpful at - and what connects them is Kerry's ability to listen to everyone and try to find a solution that meets the needs of everyone. Brown would likely be bored as soon as each stopped talking about his favorite subject - himself.

Here is an update on what he did on this trip. He presented an Obama road map on solving some of the problems. It is interesting that Obama is using Kerry so heavily in Sudan - especially as he has a special envoy there. To me, it suggests that Kerry in his first trip back in 2009 and his more recent trip must have had a level of success that the administration people haven't. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jfMAPT0CXXmzCWkXLUY5pui709mg?docId=CNG.0b501ba9b6151316abd971aeb6972625.cb1

[karynnj]

3. US Catholic statement that this referendum needs to happen

This is a case where Obama could gain bipartisan support. There are Republicans who spoke out on Darfur as quickly as Democrats.

Here is the US Catholic statement:

“When the massacre in Rwanda happened, you said no one had told you, no one had warned you. We are here now telling you what could happen in Sudan, we are warning you.”

Bishop Paride Taban, emeritus bishop of the Torit diocese in South Sudan delivered that message to a delegation at the United Nations recently. He was trying to express how crucial it is that a referendum on the future of South Sudan, scheduled for January 9, comes off peacefully and with integrity, its results respected by all.

If it does Sudan could enter into a time of peace and prosperity unlike any in its half century of independence. Many are working hard to make that happen and the Catholic Church in an ecumenical partnership is at the center of those efforts.

Bishops speak out. Clergy on the ground build bridges between divided communities. The entire Sudanese church is in the midst of 101 Days of Prayer for Peace in Sudan, a daily devotional that goes until January 1.

http://www.uscatholic.org/blog/2010/11/sudan-needs-our-solidarity

[Mass]

9. The Boston Herald has other aspirations for our junior senator.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x514502

[karynnj]

10. Well - I hope some see the word "CUCKO" in the corner at the top at the same time they see the call

for him to run. The arguments in the article are strange and not compelling.

They also had this weird op-ed - at least on line, "Scott Brown keeper of the GOP flame"

Where have you gone, Sen. Scott Brown? The commonwealth turns its lonely eyes to you.

In the wake of Massachusetts voters flat out rejecting the largest surge of Republicans elected to Congress nationwide since the Japanese signed surrender papers on the deck of the USS Missouri, many pundits are still scratching their heads. And they’re wondering, where do we go from here?

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view.bg?articleid=1294781

Scott Brown is no Joe Dimaggio - the person Simon picked to mean someone of authenticity. I guess this means they see Brown as their only hope - a weird contrast with the other article pushing him to leave MA.

[TayTay]

13. That is a very negative article

It basically states that Scott Brown has a giant target painted on his back in MA and he should get out now while he can. Brown has no future in MA and should seek the Presidency in order to save his own, personal future.

Wow! And that from the Herald. My, my, my!

[Mass]

14. I agree that the arguments of the columnist are very weak

Here is a summary from http://www.bluemassgroup.com

1) Having endorsed Jeff Perry and Bill Hudak, Brown can't credibly claim the "independent" mantle any longer and therefore, if he runs for reelection, will probably suffer the same fate in 2012 as every other MA Republican did in 2010; (2) Ayla Brown is a better singer than Bristol Palin is a dancer; and (3) the Tea Party might not ♥ Mitt Romney.

But for this to be frontpage material, even for the Boston Herald? This is just crazy.

[karynnj]

18. There is an update an Blue Mass - this was written as a gag, but apparently the BH editors didn't

understand that. Here is a twitter exchange:

joebattenfeld
Apparently @benpolitico doesn't have sense of humor. "Obsequious" Brown supporter? Ben, ask Scott if that is true

benpolitico
@joebattenfeld I was putting you in the enthusiastic category ... just making general point that all these guys are hearing they should run.

joebattenfeld
I would also say to @benpolitico - Brown's chances of running about same as John Edwards staying in pres. race in 2007


(from Mass's link - http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/21478/boston-herald-bringing-the-crazy )

Question - How long will the BH keep the writer if the twitters are true? (He actually overstates Brown's chances - Edwards DID stay in in 2007 - leaving in 2008 - only when it was clear that he could not win and would incur huge debts if he advertised much for Super Tuesday.

[Luftmensch067]

15. Furthermore

It's almost a parody front page! It actually kind of looks like something that would be printed on the front page of the National Enquirer, the way it's set up and on the top left in RED it says "Dead Wrong" and on the top right, also in RED, it says "Cuckoo"! Also, is it just me, or is Brown beginning to look more and more like George W. Bush?

[karynnj]

16. Went back to look - I think the thing in common with Bush is a der in the headlights

look of confusion. It also seems that he lost a lot of hair - it is receding more than a year ago - which makes him look a bit more like the older George W Bush. They both do seem to have similar features, though Brown was better looking when he was young. Brown does have a better smile.

Doesn't the Herald tabloid often look like the front page of the National Enquirer?

The more I think of what was said - I agree with Tay Tay. I wonder if the BH knows some insie numbers we don't. Could his repeated, doubled down endorsement of Perry have made independent women think twice about him? I clicked on one of the MA media's "man on the street" segments after the woman spoke out and the visual disgust by some was unusual and stronger than the words they used.

[Democrafty]

17. Agreed. And I'd rather see Conan as POTUS.

Seriously.

[karynnj]

4. One of Sudan's newspaper's coverage - very positive

He reported that a package of proposals had been carried to Khartoum by John Kerry regarding resolution of outstanding issues constraining the plebiscite.
"The proposals have yet to be studied," said the advisor, describing Kerry as one of the supporters for peace course in the Sudan.


According to Ghazi, the US Senate member reviewed Darfur situations, in general, while conveying the American views regarding the issues outstanding between the two partners.


"During the visit, we were able to communicate to him that we are moving in our maximum political will to implement the remaining components of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, along with our vigorous effort to achieve a final settlement of Darfur question through the Darfur Peace Strategy we put in place, along with the Doha peace negotiations," he said urging the American Administration to follow the proper path leading to Darfur peace.


"We have run productive discussions on a set of issues and matters relative to the referendum and Darfur peace. And, on how to settle issues disputed," reported Senator Kerry, adding that the presidential advisor Salah Addeen has presented an informative account of the developments in Darfur.

http://www.sudanvisiondaily.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=63060

[karynnj]

5. Two more interesting articles

The first has a nice Kerry statement and a great photograph :

"Over the past several days, I had a very productive series of meetings in Sudan," Kerry said in a statement Sunday. "At this pivotal moment in the peace process, President Obama asked me to meet with Sudanese leaders, including South Sudan President Salva Kiir and Vice President Ali Osman Taha, to convey America's strong commitment to achieving lasting peace for the people of Sudan."

"Sudan now has the opportunity to define itself for the world and create a better, more peaceful, and more prosperous future for all the Sudanese people," Kerry continued. "President Obama made clear in the proposal conveyed this weekend that if Sudan's leaders take concrete steps to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, including recognizing the results of the referendum in January, he is prepared to immediately take significant steps to begin to transform the bilateral relationship. This would be the beginning of a new roadmap for addressing key bilateral issues as post-referendum issues are resolved."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44804.html#ixzz14eIS28vl

This was followed up by:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/1110/Kerry_in_Khartoum_to_convey_Obama_offer_.html?showall

[MBS]

6. Boston Globe on the Sudan visit (with photo : ))

http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2010/11/08/us_offers_to_pull_sudan_from_terror_list/
pg 4 of hard-copy paper, and also flagged as an "in the news" highlight on front page

. . . The offer, which is aimed at avoiding a renewed war in Africa’s largest country, was conveyed to the Sudanese government in Khartoum by Senator John F. Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat who heads the Foreign Relations Committee. Kerry flew to Sudan this weekend to deliver it in person.

The previously unannounced trip to Sudan was Kerry’s second in two weeks, illustrating his growing role in the Obama administration’s attempts to head off a crisis between the mostly Muslim and Arab north and the mostly Christian and animist south.

“President Obama made clear in the proposal conveyed this weekend that if Sudan’s leaders take concrete steps to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, including recognizing the results of the referendum in January, he is prepared to immediately take significant steps to begin to transform the bilateral relationship,’’ Kerry said in a statement. . .

. . .Kerry traveled to Sudan on Friday with Obama’s special envoy to Sudan, J. Scott Gration, and Michelle Gavin of the National Security Council, and left Khartoum yesterday. They met with a number of Sudanese officials, including Vice President Ali Osman Taha and South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir. . .

also in NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/world/africa/08sudan.html?ref=world

[karynnj]

7. This is nice coverage

It will be incredible if these actions can avoid the likely resumption of hostilities.

The one area that remains firmly under Presidential control is foreign policy. While it may be tougher to approve treaties or to approve the foreign aid bills, there is a huge amount the President can do. It was not just liberal Democrats who were concerned about Darfur, it was some of the staunchest Republicans. If a solution is found that ends the hostilities here and includes some way to use the oil wealth (that will come only when they are politically stable) to help not just the South, but the entire current country, this could be a major Obama success - at a time that Republicans don't want him to have any.

Watching Obama's awesome speech in India, where he spoke of possibly not be President if it were not for Ghandi's influence over Martin Luther King. He quoted Ghandhi's exhortation to be the change you want to see. He praised India's democracy and spoke of the ties between the US and India, acknowledging that their were times we were not on the same side. He spoke of both of our terrorism tradgeies. He spoke of how both India and we need a stable and peaceful Pakistan and Afghanistan.

What is clear from this entire trip - from Michelle and Barak Obama dancing with Indian kids for Diwali to this speech, is that Obama is winning not just the respect and support, but the love of Indians. With that likely comes some very real measure of success. Given that he (with Kerry and others) has worked hard to earn the trust of the Pakistani government, he could well be the first President in a position to really help resolve that flash point.

It very well may be that Obama's next two years might be able to reduce our commitment in Afghanistan by improving relations between India and Pakistan, moving Pakistan to concentrate on fighting terrorism - not India.

[Mass]

8. Cant believe it made it in the Globe and particularly at the top of the In the News section.

[MBS]

12. Miracles do happen!! : ) n/t

[Mass]

11. Next steps: Lebanon and Syria

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5girNOlomoKpUV3PoaQ78knyP2CSQ?docId=CNG.18e25ead919f653c1748be76101cbaf5.01

Lebanon is powerless to stop a UN-backed probe into the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri despite a campaign by Hezbollah to torpedo the court, visiting US Senator John Kerry said on Monday.
"This is a tribunal that was not created by the United States, not created by any individual entity in this region," said Kerry, chairman of the Senate's foreign relations committee, after meeting with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri, son of the slain ex-premier.
...
he request of this country."
Kerry, who headed to neighbouring Syria after his brief stop in Beirut, said it was not within Hariri's power to change the course of the international investigation, despite calls by the powerful Shiite militant group Hezbollah for Lebanon to disavow the tribunal.

[karynnj]

19. Kerry's official statement on the Sudan trip

"Over the past several days, I had a very productive series of meetings in Sudan. At this pivotal moment in the peace process, President Obama asked me to meet with Sudanese leaders, including South Sudan President Salva Kiir and Vice President Ali Osman Taha, to convey America's strong commitment to achieving lasting peace for the people of Sudan. The Obama administration is focused intensely on this issue, and I was pleased to be accompanied on the trip by General Scott Gration, the President's Special Envoy for Sudan, and Michelle Gavin, a senior member of the National Security Council staff.

"Sudan now has the opportunity to define itself for the world and create a better, more peaceful, and more prosperous future for all the Sudanese people. President Obama made clear in the proposal conveyed this weekend that if Sudan's leaders take concrete steps to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, including recognizing the results of the referendum in January, he is prepared to immediately take significant steps to begin to transform the bilateral relationship. This would be the beginning of a new roadmap for addressing key bilateral issues as post-referendum issues are resolved.

"Darfur remains a critical issue to the U.S. relationship with the government and to the future of Sudan. I made clear in every meeting that many steps on the road to improved relations could only be taken with real progress in achieving lasting peace and security in Darfur.

"The United States stands ready to help, but the choices necessary to move forward ultimately lie with the Sudanese leaders. I believe a broad agreement is within reach if they act with the sense of urgency that is necessary to seize this historic opportunity."

http://politicalnews.me/?id=6481&keys=Senator-John-Kerry-ForeignRelations

[karynnj]

20. Kerry tells WP that he is optimistic on Sudan

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkpoint-washington/2010/11/kerry_optimistic_on_sudan_brea.html

[karynnj]

21. NECN video of Kerry speaking in Sudan

http://www.necn.com/11/09/10/John-Kerry-presents-proposal-to-Sudanese/landing_politics.html?blockID=348923&feedID=4212

[karynnj]

22. McClatchy has an article on Sudan - it is a powder keg

It is a long shot that hostilities can be avoided. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/11/09/103450/with-breakup-looming-will-sudan.html