Darfur continues to taunt our (self)righteousness

Here's a link-heavy update on Darfur. There is no way to fully detail all that is going on in the halls of power around the world and on the ground in Sudan in this format, but I hope that you will take the initiative and educate yourself about what is happening at this very moment in relation to one of the worst humanitarian disasters on the planet.

UN fails to find "genocide" in Darfur, but alleges "crimes against humanity" and "war crimes" have been committed by both sides in the conflict.

The failure of the UN to use the word "genocide" has received a great deal of media attention in the past week. It may well be true that the Janjaweed militia and government troops have not attacked and/or murdered every civilian they have encountered - setting this conflict apart from Rwanda and the German Nazi actions against the Jews and Gypsies in WWII. Perhaps a better definition of "genocide" is needed.

Not surprisingly, the rebels in Darfur who are fighting the Janjaweed and the government disagree with the UN's conclusions.

Also not surprising - the Sudanese government accepts the UN report with open arms.

The US government still backs its own claims of genocide in Darur.

But... even though the US continues to put pressure on the UN to officially declare an ongoing genocide, it has become clear that the US will not back the UN plan to try war criminals from Darfur in the International Criminal Court. Instead of this UN backed action, the US proposes a special tribunal be set up in Tanzania for a multitude of reasons.

Amy and I had a long and interesting discussion (debate) the other day about the role of governments and their reasons for acting. My basic position is that governments always act in their own self interest, and if sometimes those interests also serve to benefit others, then all the better for the public relations spin. The US won't support taking war criminals to the ICC because the administration is afraid that US citizens and soldiers might also be prosecuted there. You and I probably have different opinions on this stance, so I won't elaborate further in an effort to keep you the reader focused on Darfur.

Meanwhile, Darfur is still unsafe and violent while the powerful blabber on.

Might we all remember that while we sit and debate safely from our position of comfort and security, people are being murdered needlessly on a daily basis. Chew on that over your TV dinner tonight.

Finally, here's a great article on the reasons behind the UN's reluctance to use the g-word.

Even though China's oil interests, Russia's arms trade, and the US's stance on the ICC continue to cloud the judgement of the United Nations and prevent real action from taking place, we can't ignore the findings of the UN report. A man's eyeballs are gouged out. A classroom of school girls is violated in public. Babies are tossed into fires as their mothers watch. Other victims are crucified, dragged on the ground by horses and shot in the head. That is Darfur today.

Keep up with Darfur here and here.