Wednesday, March 04, 2009
The International Criminal Court in Sudan...Clinton?
The International Criminal Court (ICC) targeted the instigator of Sudan's horrible human rights abuses, President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir. Edmund Sunders' (The Los Angeles Times) March 4th interview with Southern Sudanese leader Salva Kiir reveals the implications of indicting Sudan's sitting president. Although critics of the ICC's action claim that it will evoke national violence, Kiir makes it clear that the arrest warrent will not inhibit Sudan's daily operations or progress because "there is no connection between the ICC and peace in the south." Accepting the arrest warrent is the best step for the international community and Sudan to bring justice to the victims (and their families) of Bashir's war crimes. The ICC's indictments eminate applicable deterrents for future human rights abuses.
But where is the U.S.? Hillary Clinton selected special representatives for Afghanistan/Pakistan (Richard Holbrooke), the Gulf and southwest Asia (Dennis Ross), and North Korea (Stephen Bosworth). The U.S. Ambassador to Sudan, Richard Williamson, is far beneath the headlines about the Bashir's arrest warrant, and rarely mentioned in international or national news publications. Clinton has strategic interests for selecting representatives for the aforementioned key conflict regions, but Africa, and especially Sudan needs attention too. Can Williamson approach the battle aggressively?
The Bush administration refused to join the ICC, and the nation's credibility with international law has since suffered. President Obama and Hillary Clinton could devote more focus to Sudan's crisis and will need to engage in African affairs more often, if they want to retain and advance U.S. integrity and influence in the region.
But where is the U.S.? Hillary Clinton selected special representatives for Afghanistan/Pakistan (Richard Holbrooke), the Gulf and southwest Asia (Dennis Ross), and North Korea (Stephen Bosworth). The U.S. Ambassador to Sudan, Richard Williamson, is far beneath the headlines about the Bashir's arrest warrant, and rarely mentioned in international or national news publications. Clinton has strategic interests for selecting representatives for the aforementioned key conflict regions, but Africa, and especially Sudan needs attention too. Can Williamson approach the battle aggressively?
The Bush administration refused to join the ICC, and the nation's credibility with international law has since suffered. President Obama and Hillary Clinton could devote more focus to Sudan's crisis and will need to engage in African affairs more often, if they want to retain and advance U.S. integrity and influence in the region.
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