The Unknown Candidate: Osama's Crusade in Darfur

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Osama's Crusade in Darfur

Nicholas Kristof writes in today's NY Times op ed:
(non-subscribers can access it here)

"Those of us who want a more forceful response to genocide in Darfur should be sobered by Osama bin Laden's latest tape.

In that tape, released on Sunday, Osama rails against the agreement that ended Sudan's civil war with its Christian and animist south and accuses the U.S. of plotting to dispatch 'Crusader troops' to occupy Darfur'and steal its oil wealth under the pretext of peacekeeping.' Osama calls on good Muslims to go to Sudan and stockpile land mines and rocket-propelled grenades in preparation for 'a long-term war' against U.N. peacekeepers and other infidels.

Osama's tape underscores the fact that a tougher approach carries real risks. It's easy for us in the peanut gallery to call for a U.N. force, but what happens when jihadis start shooting down the U.N. helicopters?"

It's a good question, one that deserves careful thought--especially from Bush, Cheney, Rice and (God forbid) Rummy, all of whom, from what we have thus far seen, are probably not up to the task.

Nicholas offers possible solutions and solicits ideas from readers and others. Does that strike you as strangely as it does me? That we have so little confidence in our own government's judgement, journalists feel obliged to help make foreign policy decisions?

Journalists and readers alike have become, out of necessity, America's Do-It-Youself-End-Genocide-And-War-Brigade. It's not that we, as citizens, shouldn't be thinking strategically and morally about how to resolve such issues. It's just that the ones who have the power to do something about them--aren't. What's worse, they have already proved themselves incapable of doing so.

These incompetents must be removed from office. Every day they sit in power is detrimental to us and to the rest of the world. Click here to join the Impeach Bush Coalition.

Photo credit: Nicholas Kristof. ((Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times)