Tuesday, May 29, 2007

US Finally Imposes Sanctions on Sudan

"Why is it that we have little or no regard for the UN when it comes to military action yet we must stop and wait on UN deliberation before humanitarian action can be taken?"

I asked that question just nine days ago - today my prayers have been answered.

Bush has called the situation in Darfur a genocide - only 4 years late - and has imposed the first new economic sanctions on Sudan since 1997. He has also called for various allies within the UN to force Sudan to allow international aid efforts.

The new action enforces sanctions, bars more companies in Sudan from using the U.S. financial system, and clamps down on individuals suspected of violence in Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million people driven from their homes in four years of fighting.

The President said: "For too long the people of Darfur have suffered at the hands of a government that is complicit in the bombing, murder and rape of innocent civilians." (Yes, he said this part with a straight face...)

"My administration has called these actions by their rightful name: genocide"

Bush should probably inform his Sudan ambassador, who claimed just last month that "there is very little fighting between rebels and the government and very few civilian casualties going on in Darfur right now."

It's about time.

::update::

I take back what little praise I've given. Apparently these sanctions don't affect Sudan's oil industry, amongst others; and then Natsios, US Ambassador to Sudan, actually stated that "the purpose of these sanctions is not sanctions." WTF? Four years, and this is what "help" we give.

Posted by Publius @ 5:37 PM

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3 comments:

  1. Sanctions are not humanitarian. Sanctions kill people, usually the poorest.
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  2. I don't know if you're aware of this, but HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS have died already. I am generally very much against sanctions, but until the UN disallows Sudan from stopping international aid workers into the country there isn't much else we can do, short of barging in without permission, which would constitute an act of war and/or a violation of Sudan's sovereignty.
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  3. Four years later? Wow, by Bush's reflexes, he's early.

    One thing that the international community can do without imposing hardships on the local Sudanese populace is applying pressure on the Chinese government. They're in bed with current regime, and are helping keep them in power while reaping the their oil. If anything China should ought to be the recipient of sanctions, for their foreign and domestic policies, and not 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
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