Darfur: The West gives up

That's the only way I can construe this:

Report: Sudan warns of 'disastrous' consequences if president is indicted for Darfur crimes

I'm certain such action would not be taken without tacit approval by the major western countries (and I don't mean Canada). Any indictments by the International Criminal Court will guarantee that whatever hope, however perishingly slight, that the AU/UN force for Darfur will ever be able to achieve something has de facto been abandoned. Indictments will simply give Sudan the certain excuse to refuse serious cooperation in the future. And the terrible twins, China and Russia, will give the Sudanese any necessary international comfort.

So the West has effectively despaired of the UN route. And, as far as I can see, there is no other route (i.e. action not sanctioned by the UN Security Council) that anyone dares take. Though maybe certain special services are working on internal regime change. Who knows? Who really cares?

But at least we can enjoy the soothing inner moral glow stemming from criminal charges that will achieve absolutely nothing. Ain't that International Criminal Court just the cat's meow in the ever-upward march of international jurisprudence?

Mark C.

Update: The President of Sudan has in fact been charged. The former U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan reacts to the initial reports that this would happen.

Upperdate:

UN pulls staff from Darfur after world court move on Beshir

Uppestdate: It appears the NY Times editorial board believes in miracles that will make the Chinese (and Russians) agree to serious UN action against Sudan:

...the United Nations Security Council...has been unconscionably passive over the burning of villages, the bombing of schools and the systematic rape of women in Darfur. We hope it will finally be shamed into action...

Posted by markc at July 13, 2008 03:29 PM