Neither Candidate Has Done Enough To Help Darfur Victims

According to statements made by Senators John McCain and Barack Obama in a questionnaire recently released by three leading Darfur activist organizations, both US presidential candidates are committed to bringing a swift end to the genocide unfolding in the Darfur region of Sudan. Yet, as this first genocide of the 21st century continues into its sixth year, words are cheap.

Both McCain and Obama have promised "unstinting resolve" in pursuing an end to the Darfur genocide if elected. However, we have yet to see either of these US leaders, one of whom will become our next president, flex his political muscle to bring relief to the millions of victims suffering in Darfur today.

These innocent victims cannot wait until January 2009 before the United States musters the political will to act. In recent weeks, the situation in Darfur has become increasingly grave. The government of Sudan has launched repeated attacks on civilian camps for internally displaced persons including one on September 10 at the ZamZam camp and one at the Kalma camp on August 25. Additionally, the UN's World Food Program announced that escalating violence may force it to stop food deliveries leaving millions without assistance.

The recent onslaught of government-sponsored violence seems likely to continue unabated since civilian protection is Darfur is nearly non-existent. In spite of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1769 which approved the first joint UN/AU force and the UN's largest peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) on July 31, 2007, the mission there remains woefully understaffed. Perhaps even worse, contributing countries, including the US, have not provided the urgently needed helicopters and other equipment that could make surveillance and protection a reality.

In the midst of this grave humanitarian crisis, neither Senator McCain nor Obama have stepped forward to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 660 which was introduced September 15 by Senators Bill Nelson and James Inhofe along with sixteen other co-sponsors. This resolution is a clear bipartisan statement which denounces the flow of weapons to Sudan. It calls on arms suppliers--particularly China and Russia--to cease their sales immediately, as "continued sale of arms to Sudan under these circumstances violates the United Nations arms embargo imposed by Security Council Resolutions 1556 and 1591." Co-sponsorship of this resolution by Senators McCain and Obama would send a clear signal to the governments of Sudan, China and Russia that the new president of the United States will not look away while the world community fails to protect the people of Darfur.

Further, neither candidate has spoken out in support of the International Criminal Court's prosecution of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir on charges of genocide. Bashir has launched an aggressive propaganda campaign to escape justice, including blackmailing the global community by threatening to expel UNAMID peacekeepers if the ICC issues a warrant for his arrest.

To encourage the candidates to speak out on this issue, Darfur activists launched an e-petition campaign, a related Facebook page, and sent an open letter to the candidates, signed by 33 Darfur advocacy groups from across the country. The letter and e-petition call on the candidates to speak out against any delay in the International Criminal Court's prosecution against Bashir on charges of genocide. Neither candidate has responded.

Genocide is the ultimate crime against humanity. Words like "unstinting resolve" are meaningless unless accompanied by action. Both candidates seek to portray their judgment and courage as fit to lead our country and serve as an example to the free world. As leaders, they should use the spotlight of the campaign to speak out against the genocide in Darfur. The millions of victims of what the UN has often called the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet cannot wait until January 2009 for our next president to act.

This week OffTheBus is publishing a variety of stories that cover the policy differences between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama. If you have a policy expertise and would like to participate, please see Calling All Policy Gurus.

Follow Susan Morgan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/susanmorgan

Comments

[spirojyro]

Susan- Thanks for highlighting this important issue. I feel cheated that a “foreign policy debate” has passed without, even for a minute, mention of the ongoing genocide in Darfur. Six years into a genocide that has left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced, how can a foreign policy debate be held without mention of the candidates’ Darfur plan? McCain and Obama are both at fault for not including Darfur in their talking points as well as the debate moderator, Jim Lehrer for not prioritizing the issue. As future leaders of the free world, US presidential candidates have an obligation to speak out and articulate how exactly they will bring peace, security and justice to the innocent victims of this genocide. Until then, the promise of “never again” will remain meaningless.

[Susan Morgan - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks, Spyrojyro. Agree with you 100%. It was a huge disappointment that the debate did not address any fundamental human rights issues such as genocide, global poverty, AIDS etc.

[LizM]

The candidate who understands what needs to happen in Darfur and who is most passionately determined to end the genocide there is none other than Senator Obama's choice for VP. Shouldn't that count for something?

[Susan Morgan - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks, Liz. I agree with you that Obama's selection of Joe Biden, a candidiate with a long and passionate history of speaking out for the victims of Darfur, does count for a lot. However, the impact of that decision will not will not be felt until January 2009 unless the candidates start talking about Darfur on the campaign trail.

My main point is that there are ways that both men, as candidates and Senators, can be taking specific action TODAY to help Darfur, rather than waiting until January 2009 to roll up their sleeves. Given the urgency of this genocide, I find it disheartening that neither seems willing to stick their necks out during the campaign. When China takes the lead at the UNGC next week, they should speak out against any efforts to delay the ICC's prosecution of Bashir on genocide charges.

[LizM]

Susan,

Joe Biden, as Chairman of the SFRC and as presidential candidate and as VP nominee has spoken out on the issue of the genocide in Darfur more than any of the other presidential candidates and the entire Bush administration combined! He has led the congressional effort to end the genocide by spearheading any number of initiatives. I have no doubt that this was one of the issues that ranked right up there with Iraq that motivated and convinced him to run for president in the first place.

Unfortunately, Senator Biden continues to be ignored and dismissed by the media and so his efforts remain largely unknown. I am hopeful that you will rectify that situation.

I am so pressed for time right now but I will also do my best to provide links here as soon as I can compile them.

Thanks for your response.

[LizM]

Could I just add one more thing...concerning sticking ones neck out!

During the primaries, Senator Biden warned audiences that ,if he was their President, he would commit US forces to Darfur to end the genocide. How many times do you think a presidential candidate has ever WARNED voters what he would do if elected? ...zero?

God, bless Joe Biden and please send more media coverage! Amen.

[KELLI2L]

< Now with this monetary problem - I wouldn't count on much of anything being done for anyone for many years. . . . . We're out of extra money folks !!!! - - It now should be American's first for a change >

[Susan Morgan - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for writing, KELLI2L. The good news is that it doesn't cost need to anything to speak out against war criminals and tyrants. Just a commitment to do the right thing. As Elie Wiesel wisely said, "There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”

[garyj]

Dear Ms. Morgan, thank you for this well written piece on Darfur. Coincidentally, I was just last night at a presentation and book signing by a repatriated Armenian American, who has moved to Yerevan, Armenia. She grew up in D.C and spent several years in traveling the world to visit Armenian disasporan communities to photograph them for her book. One of her photographs depicted a group of Armenians protesting the Sudan genocide in front of the White House. The 1915 Armenian genocide, still unrecognized by Turkey, is proof to all of us that apathy is often the winner while lives are lost and forgotten-even after 100 years. We must all stand together against these atrocities. Your bold public comments are exemplary. Thank you again.

[Susan Morgan - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks, GaryJ, for your eloquent comment. Armenian Americans and American Jews, two groups whose ancestors were victims of previous genocides, have been leaders in the effort to stop the current genocide in Darfur. For them "Never Again" is more than an empty phrase to be ignored when politically expedient. I hope that our next President will also see fit to finally recognize the Armeninan genocide as it is recognized by history fact.

[scientist4obama]

Susan we miss you! As usual great article. I hope they are asked about this. Last week when the former state secretaries got together, Darfur question was raised but all of them were reluctant to say anything about action inspite of acknowledging that it is a genocide. Not in interest of America was the general answer.

[sftraveler]

I agree. Our future leaders need to "walk their talk." I'd like to see them backing their promises regarding Darfur with action right now.

[LarryRich]

The failure to stop the genocide in Darfur is in part a failure of the U.S. Congress. Constitutionally the Congress has the power (and the obligation) to declare war. In practice it has ceded that authority to the executive. Constitutionally the Congress must ratify international treaties and make sure that they are enforced. In practice there is no enforcement, there are no consequences for violations and therefore there is no meaningful international law for the U.S. except at the discretion of the President. If there had been enforcement, then we would have been obligated to act by the Geneva conventions against genocide.

Since the President is in effect a dictator when it comes to foreign policy, it is on the mark to demand of our next president (Obama or McCain) that he takes action against the genocide in Darfur. Great article, Susan!

In the long run we should remove the foreign policy dictatorship of the President and give it back to the Congress, as the representative of the people, where it belongs. This means electing representatives and senators who are willing to stand up to the executive and to political interest groups for the common good.

[napajulie]

Beautifully said Susan. You are right - talk is cheap. It just once again proves that we cannot wait for our fearless leaders to take action - we must spread the word. I plan on emailing this article to everyone I know and I hope others do the same.

Julie in Napa

[Susan Morgan - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks, Julie. I'm glad you will spreading the word. If enough people read this column and agree, we can get this issue on the campaign agenda where it belongs.

[Laws456]

Can anyone imagine if Barack spoke out about Darfur in a speech and made a statement like, "We Are All Africans" and think that it would go over well with the majority of people in this country? McCain's Georgian's line went largely unnoticed and it wasn't taken seriously. As I said, another instance to prove my point about the lack of aid provided to Black Nations. Look at Haiti for instance...They were hit by every major Hurricane this year, and as a result, about 97% of their entire agricultural supplies were destroyed. I understand that we here in America are hurting from Hurricanes too, and I support taking care of home first, but Haiti didn't do anything to provoke mother nature into sending 4 Hurricanes to their small country but our contributions have been small in comparison to what we sent Georgia. And Georgia played a major role in the situation with Russia, in other words, they brought it on themselves. Haiti is in dire need of help, and not just a check, but actual physical help from men and women in our armed forces who could help them out tremendously. But we continue to allow our government to fund wars that only kill people, not to save lives. The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are nothing more than occupations, similar to what the English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese did back in the 15th century. Please someone bring some attention to the plight in Haiti as well as Darfur.

[Laws456]

THANK YOU FOR THIS ARTICLE!!! We waged a pre-emptive war to "keep America safe" but we do absolutely nothing about genocide. I heard McCain say once that he will make sure another holocaust never happens but yet the silence on Darfur is defeaning. Although I am a Barack supporter, it upsets me that he doesn't speak out on this issue more. We have been using the military completely wrong for the past few decades. But this goes right into race and how it is viewed in this country. Very few white people in this country care about the ills of Africa, but yet many of those same people will buy their jewelry from that country. It is absolutely outrageous that AIDS has spread through Africa like fire does through Northern California, but yet no one does anything about this. The help that is given is not enough. And although I hate to say it, it's because it is a nation full of Dark people. If you don't believe, there are other examples that will help prove my point. Bush sent 1 billion dollars to Georgia, during their little skirmish with Russia, and all I heard from McCain was, "we are all Georgians."

[kitod]

Thank you Susan for your inspirational expertise and leadership on this issue. I also have been working to end this and am very frustrated that there are so few deeds backing all our leaders' (and would be leaders') words.

It's up to us to push this crisis front and center in the weeks and months to come.

[DGA]

The link did not go through on the last post!

Please meet the people of Darfur:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30344191@N05/

[FredBreolen]

Here is a flickr link that should hopefully work:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/4bgnut

[FredBreolen]

It is true that neither candidate is doing enough, but what are you (yes you, the person reading this comment) doing to help? A growing number of us are getting sick of business as usual and we're stepping up our activism. You can find us on Facebook -- search for "Darfur Guerilla Action"

[DGA]

The genocide in Darfur needs to world's attention and action as Susan has outlined above. For the past 6 years we have off and on brought the media and world's attention to this part of humanity. It has not been enough. People are still dying. Dying because of who they are and the group they were born in to. It needs to end, we need to ask our leaders to step up, speak out, and follow it with action.

see their faces: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30344191@N05/2861364888/

[Susan Morgan - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks, DGA. You are right. Thanks for the excellent photos.

[Shugars]

Great article! Ending the Genocide in Darfur should be a high priority issue for both candidates, and I hope that we start seeing more action from both camps. Thanks for highlighting this important issue.

[Susan Morgan - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for reading this post and your support for the view that the candidates can and should do more to stop this genocide.

[McBama]

With the presidential campaigns in full negative swing, the economy who knows where, a right track rating of 18% and our President's approval rating hinging on his family's support, it is refreshing to read an article by someone who understands that this is a humanitarian problem, not a Democrat or Republican problem.

With the debate on foreign policy coming up this week, it is vital that Darfur be addressed and both candidates answer specific questions as to what they would do. Biden has said he would create a no fly zone by force if necessary. McCain has called al bashir a liar which is something that bothers the Government of Sudan and is making this "get out of jail free" UN resolution something the GOS believes it must accomplish while Bush is in the White House. So it appears that tough talk does have some place in the mix. The debate can solidify this tough talk with promises of tough action from both candidates.

I urge all to write to the candidates and to PBS and Jim Lehrer that you want to know the answer to the specific question of how each candidate will handle this ongoing genocide.