Darfur: Sen Roméo Dallaire is in cloud cuckoo-land

The retired General is not, however, lonely on his planet (full text not online); many Canadians inhabit this dreamworld too.
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Canada must play a lead role as a resolute middle power to ensure that there is sufficient political will to enforce the peace treaty and see this mission through. It is critical that Canada exert concerted political energy to head off Russian and Chinese vetoes in the UN Security Council. Similarly, Canada must persuade the government of Sudan to grant entry and free movement to this Chapter 7 mandated UN force.

Finally, Canada must demonstrate its commitment to the Responsibility to Protect doctrine it has endorsed by supporting the United Nations in this mission -- by providing not only resources and expertise but, most importantly, boots on the ground. A reinforced battle group of approximately 1,500 soldiers, with a sizable transport capability for return and humanitarian support, should be Canada's contribution to a robust UN mission to bring peace and stability to the region...

I am sure our "political energy" will stop those nasty Chinese and Russian vetoes. I wish the Senator could explain how the Canadian Forces can put 1,500 troops in Dafur without closing down our Afstan mission. And how would we get them there and supply them (Darfur is effectively as land-locked as Afstan and with even less infrastructure) given our dwindling airlift capacity?

Meanwhile, the Star's Richard Gwyn blames the American invasion of Iraq for the international failure to act. How typical.

The saga of the peace talks goes on.
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The main rebel group has tentatively agreed to a peace deal with the government during talks in Abuja, Nigeria, according to an U.S. diplomat advising the talks...

Two smaller rebel groups have not yet backed the deal...

While Kofi Annan says sternly:
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In New York, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged all countries to press the warring parties to reach agreement but warned the international community has an obligation to protect civilians in Darfur, by force if need be...

Somehow I don't think China and Russia are listening (or care). The (non-existent) international community is not going to use force without UNSC authorization--which China and Russia will not allow.

Moreover, even if some sort of "peace deal" is reached it will almost certainly be worthless. Khartoum will still not agree to any significant non-African Union force to "monitor" the deal so things will probably just continue on. While Canadians continue to fantasize.

Mark C.

Posted by markc at May 5, 2006 10:22 AM