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Darfur Makes Sudan's Omar al-Bashir Barack Obama's Biggest African Foe

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Since U.S. Special Envoy Gration visited Sudan to "listen and learn" and concede that the 13 expelled humanitarian aid organizations were unlikely to return, the Government of Sudan has attacked neighboring Chad,bombed Darfuri civilians (according to UNAMID),blocked a major civil society peace conference from taking place while stating it is working for peace, and continues to refuse the restoration of life-saving aid to Northern Sudanese. How much longer will the Obama Administration tolerate such acts by a government headed by an indicated war criminal rather than take all necessary steps to end them?

Martina Knee of CA 2:15AM May 26, 2009

Mr. Dobson, you did not consider the possibility that the solution to the problem in Dafur will depend on identifying exactly what caused the problem in the first place? You quite correctly observe that threats and sanctions have not had the desired effect, and yet you advice more threats and more sanctions? You suggest in addition isolation, do you really believe that after Bush the US has the moral authority to tell any sovereign State what to do,that is to sever relationship with Omar al Bashir? Perhaps you should listen to your special envoy.He obviously knows something you don't know, and hopefully the solution can be worked out more effectively.

Ama Hinson 7:15AM May 23, 2009

The US at present DOESN'T support the ICC, so demanding that the US send signals to the contrary puts the cart before the horse. Job one is making the commitment to rejoin the world community by un-renouncing Bush's renunciation of Clinton's signature on the treaty.
Because such an action cannot be politically seperated from the question of Bush administration war crimes, it will remain off the table until the latter situation is resolved.

Stan Wright of WA 5:50AM May 23, 2009

During the campaign, candiate Obama called the Darfur genocide "a stain on our souls." Now President Obama extends "an open hand" to the regime responsible for the genocide. I believed Obama's eloquent words during the campaign and was convinced that once he took office there would be swift action to isolate Bashir and end the suffering in Darfur. I have been shocked by his Administration's lack of action. This is not the change I had believed in.
Bravo to Mr. Dobson for calling it like it is. It's time for Obama, Clinton, Gration and the rest to step up to the plate and do the right thing by the people of Darfur.

Susan Morgan of MA 10:30PM May 22, 2009

Darfur's problem will not go away by itself, it has to be acted upon. Albashir and his cronies will yield only if the cost of their actions is high.
One thing for sure throughout their 20 years in power, they consider nice treatment as a sign of weakness. O)n the other hand, they change behavior when the see credible threat.
The danger is that if Albashir remains free for long, other African dictators will have nothing to fear from, hence Darfur will be repeated in other countries.

Mohamed Suleiman of CA 6:30PM May 22, 2009

They should have just arrested him. That would have sent a swift message to the rest of the potential dictators. It would have given the ICC a good start and weight.
Because Darfur is not on the nightly news everyday twice a day Obama and the administration will ignor it. It is a hard thing to order military action or a kidnapping or any other enforcement.
His trip to Africa in July will avoid this, except for the general answer of support for the warrant.
You would hope that he grows a spine for doing something and move forward with helping in the capture of Bashir.
It is not really a hard choice to make, just get it done.

Alan White of AZ 3:15PM May 22, 2009