Sudan's U.N. ambassador challenged the United States to send troops to the Darfur region if it really believes a genocide is taking place as the U.S. Congress and President Bush's administration have determined.
| Sounds like an invitation to me... |
Elfatih Mohamed Erwa was asked Tuesday about the effect of the U.S. "genocide" designations when both Bush and his Democratic challenger John Kerry ruled out sending U.S. troops to end the 19-month conflict in their debate Thursday. "If it is really a genocide they should be committed to send troops," the Sudanese ambassador said. "This is why I don't think they're genuine about its being genocide."
| I'd say it's more an indication that he thinks U.S. troops are too tied up in Iraq and Afghanistan to actually do anything... |
Would U.S. troops really be welcome? "I won't say that I welcome them because I don't have the authority to say that, but if they want to do that, let them talk to us," Erwa said.
| "Yo, Erwa! We're gonna come into your country and kill as the janjaweed, okay?" |
U.S. Ambassador John Danforth, when told that Erwa raised the possibility of discussing the deployment of U.S. troops, said: "I've never heard of such a thing before. It's certainly an attention grabber. It's a curious idea, but I don't think it has a future."
| "But just in case it does, remember, they asked for it..." |
Danforth noted that U.S. troops are now in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hotspots and said the United States is strongly supporting the speedy deployment of an expanded African Union force to help end the Darfur conflict. "I think really the focus has been on the AU and that's where the focus should be ... because that is the most promising source of troops," he said, adding that an African force "would offer the most credible source of assurance for the people of Darfur."
| "But if they'd really rather have the 82nd Airborne and the Rangers, just let us know. I'm sure we can work something out." |
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