Thursday, May 08, 2008

Urge Washington to take action





The Sudanese government bombed a Darfuri school on Sunday, killing at least 13 people, including seven children. The international community didn't respond for more than 48 hours.

The attack—and the miserable response—is yet another example of the world's failure to protect the people of Darfur. The U.N. approved a peacekeeping force for Darfur ten months ago. Less than a third of that force has reached Darfur.

But we have an opportunity to make sure the world keeps its promise to the people of Darfur when the U.S. assumes the presidency of the U.N. Security Council on June 1.

Help us meet our goal to send 75,000 messages to President Bush before June 1 urging him to help bring peace and security to the people of Darfur.

Last summer, the U.N. Security Council committed to send a robust peacekeeping force to Darfur. There was hope that with the arrival of additional peacekeeping troops, the worst of this humanitarian nightmare would soon be over.

Ten long months later, only 10 percent of the additional 20,000 troops have deployed. Those that are on the ground lack the basic logistical and material support they need to do their job. There is simply no reason why the most powerful nation in the world, together with its allies, can't find 22 helicopters to help save lives in Darfur.

In last year's State of the Union address, President Bush said: "The United States ... will continue to awaken the conscience of the world to save the people of Darfur."

If those words mean anything at all, the President will use the leadership of the U.N. Security Council to get the peacekeepers what they need to protect the people of Darfur.

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