The Crisis in Sudan: A Report from the Region

Transcript

SENATOR JON S. CORZINE: I do think there are other good things that can come from such a tragedy. The global community embracing and elevating the African Union's role and leadership in dealing with sort of a repetitive crisis of political development and economic development in Africa is a great initiative. This is a great place to reinforce the instincts that are already in place among the leadership. Certainly we see that from the Nigerian president, but I think you see it across the board. And I hope that we will be forceful in taking these steps.

Sanctions, by the way, that are unenforced in my view are nice for putting people at ease, but I don't think holding diplomatic passports from Janjaweed militiamen sounds to me like anything very practical. I think we need to get real with what we're doing. I think the African Union force structure on the ground is the place that we ought to be spending most of our emphasis. It would be nice if we could talk about the interdiction of--or sanctions with regard to petroleum resources, but I don't see that happening given how the Security Council works. I think we ought to be putting most of our effort there and developing a long-run structure which Richard can talk even more forcefully about with regard to the United States supporting the African Union by naming an ambassador to it, by getting fully engaged in a diplomatic process.

Finally, though, the last thing I'll say, this is one of those situations that take constant attention of the media, of the public, of the politicians around the globe. Only through visibility and the transparency of what the situation is has there been any movement or any real help for the human beings on the ground. And so the interest we see in this room and the interest that you see through some of the amazing reporting that I've seen in the media and great efforts of folks that have been involved over a longer period than I have I think is absolutely essential. This is one of those things you don't want going off the radar screen three months from now because people say there hasn't been, during the rainy season, a real crisis or that we've taken little bitsy steps. Because this thing has the potential to be a real devastating act of violence against mankind.

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