Well at least there doing something... not waffling around like Canada or the US:mad:

Sending 200 troops to effectively accomplish what?

Well more than our countries have so far... the 200 troops while a pitiful amount, is still greater than our collective commitment so far. Ideally they will provide security for fleeing refugees, and deter the infiltration of more arms or guerrillas (well by that route).

I agree that the amount is pitiful. It is sad that other countries have not committed forces to this. But why is France offering such a pitiful force to an operation that obviously needs a greater response for anything noticable to happen?

So...China and Pakistan abstained from voting on a UN resolution, right? a UN Resolution that is tantamount to shaking a finger in disapproval (and not even the finger it SHOULD be.)

China, i can't believe you. i thought you were cool...but to think... that you...CHINA...would have a problem with HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS...i mean, i expected this kind of thing from Pakistan...but not you. i'm apalled. i was wrong about you. consider yourself un-invited to my birthday bash, China.

i feel like we've become complacent after arguing about who'll be better in the oral office come november. as if that were an issue so urgent of my attention, that kids die of diarrhea and other ailments so preventable, like lack of water, while their mothers and sisters were being raped and murdered. i was so sure that the world wouldn't stand by and watch it happen, again...and to allow Sudan to have a seat...it's ****ing sickening.

i don't want to diminish the good that can come from France sending 200 humanitarian soldiers, but why is the number so small? what is the rest of France's army doing, that they're too busy?

This does not improve my feelings towards the Arab-Muslim world.

Arabs kill more blacks
 

Reports of Arab militia attacks continue in Darfur -UN
07 Sep 2004 14:17:50 GMT

Source: Reuters

By Opheera McDoom

KHARTOUM, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Arab militias have attacked two villages in the Darfur region of western Sudan in the past week, the United Nations said on Tuesday, despite the government's commitment to disarm the militias and protect civilians.

"Most recent reported attacks by Arab militias included the attack on Ishma, an SLA (rebel) controlled village, on Sept. 3 ... and attacks on the village on Golgol, south of Thur, on Sept. 2," the U.N. situation report on Darfur said.

The report also said security had deteriorated in Darfur with recent incidents of banditry, including the armed robbery of cash and communications equipment from two clearly marked U.N. vehicles in South Darfur state on Sept. 2.

A U.N. Security Council resolution deadline has expired for Sudan to start disarming the Arab militias known as Janjaweed, whose raids have helped drive more than a million people off their land in Darfur over the past 18 months.

The United States is preparing a new U.N. resolution on Darfur but diplomats say sanctions are unlikely at this stage.

"Agencies fear the security situation may further deteriorate. Reported clashes between GoS (government of Sudan) and (rebel) ... forces have been compounded by increasing incidents of armed robbery including on humanitarian workers mainly in North and South Darfur states," the report said.

The insecurity has closed two main roads in Darfur to U.N. traffic, it added.

The United Nations said the detention of Ministry of Health staff and other aid workers by rebels had delayed a vaccination programme, now expected to resume on Tuesday.

After years of low-intensity conflict between Arab nomads and African farmers over scarce resources, rebels launched a revolt in February last year, accusing the government of arming the Janjaweed to loot and burn African villages in a campaign of ethnic cleansing. Khartoum denies the charge, saying the Janjaweed are outlaws.

The report said it would conduct a thorough investigation into reports in South Darfur that the government was forcing displaced persons to return to their homes, which would violate a joint U.N.-Khartoum agreement signed last month.

But it said West Darfur state remained relatively calm and the World Food Programme (WFP) reached about 940,000 displaced people in August, 260,000 short of the number in need, despite logistical problems and heavy rains which made many roads completely impassable.

"We won't feel at all comfortable until we have the capacity to reach every last person who is in need of our assistance in Darfur," WFP country director Ramiro Lopes da Silva said. "The number of people that remain to be reached is worryingly high and we simply have to do better in September."

"In Darfur we are still only two-thirds funded for our food needs in 2004, and our special operations to carry out food distribution are still urgently in need of further support," he added. WFP needs $252 million for its Darfur operations in 2004 and has so far received $158 million, a 37 percent shortfall.

The government and the Darfur rebels have been holding peace talks in the Nigerian capital Abuja but progress has been slow. The rebels have refused, pending a deal on security, to sign a humanitarian agreement reached with the government last week.

Analysts said on Tuesday the peace talks have reached an impasse due to weak diplomatic pressure on the rebels and the government's fears that Darfur will secede. (additional reporting by Tume Ahemba in Abuja)



AlertNet news

-Rudey

France and the UK refuse to acknowledge that there is a genocide, or even ethnic cleansing. The French (and British) position is holding the International community back.

I recenyly heard this from an interview with Samantha Powers on Charlie Rose.

Okay now I'm confused.... so you say that the French, the only western power to commit troops (before the UN got involved) refuses to acknowledge the situation?

As for the comments about the UK, here is a comment by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw:
"The United Kingdom is calling... for clear benchmarks to be set, detailing what steps the Sudanese government must now take towards meeting its responsibilities and resolving the conflict," Straw told parliament.

"The situation is one which has rightly shocked the world. For our part, we are determined to do everything we can to resolve the humanitarian disaster and help secure a political settlement across the country as a whole."

"Ten years ago, the world turned away from the horrors of Rwanda and Bosnia. We all know the appalling result."
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...n_040907184422
Hmmm... that looks like he covered both genocide and ethnic cleansing....

So have you hopped on the French/Europe bashing bandwagon too?

I didn't say it. Samantha Power said it. BTW, are you able to post just one single message without invective?

You always pot these claims about Europe and France. It's really funny when I would come in and show where you lied. That's why so many people like you.

As for Sudan, I think it's an even bigger shame that Arab countries have supported this genocidal regime.

-Rudey

Put up or shut-up.. I'm tired of your petty attacks and hateful nature. If you accuse someone of posting lies please post something confirming your acusation... because if you don't, guess what that makes you the poster of lies.

What??? I've corrected and told the truth on your lies in the past. You are a liar. You are a straight up fairy-tale telling kinda guy Cooper.

-Rudey

Well, the LRA has moved from northern Uganda to Southern Sudan. Last thing that country need is another wacked organization running around inside Sudan.

Oh yeah, lay off the attacks.

So will the world and Europe take a tougher stance and help the Black Sudanese? Perhaps France will show it's true self and let the Arabs keep killing, raping, and mutilating the blacks.

-Rudey

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/09/in...a/09sudan.html

U.S. Urges Security Council to Take Tougher Stance on Sudan

By WARREN HOGE

Published: September 9, 2004


UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 8 - The United States circulated a draft Security Council resolution on Sudan on Wednesday threatening penalties on its oil industry, expanding an African Union force monitoring violence in the Darfur region and calling for the United Nations to create an international commission to determine whether genocide had occurred.

Stuart W. Holliday, a deputy United States ambassador, said the measure would be formally introduced Thursday - the day that Secretary of State Colin L. Powell will testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on a new State Department report accusing the Sudanese government of promoting systematic killing based on race and ethnicity. To get around the reluctance of some Security Council members to use the word "sanctions," the language of the resolution substitutes a reference to an article of the United Nations Charter that lays out punitive economic and diplomatic measures as the likely consequence of noncompliance with the demands of the resolution.

A similar resolution on Sudan with that formulation passed the Security Council on July 30 by a 13-to-0 vote, with China and Pakistan abstaining.

Genocide is declared at the United Nations
 

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/09/in...D-SUDA.html?hp

Powell Declares Genocide in Sudan in Bid to Raise Pressure
By STEVEN R. WEISMAN

Published: September 9, 2004


WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 — Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, seeking to raise pressure on Sudan to stop the atrocities in Darfur, declared today for the first time that the killings, rapes and destruction that have forced 1.5 million people from their homes amounted to genocide and should be treated as such by the United Nations

-Rudey