More Trouble in Darfur

Passion of the Present notes that the diplomatic progress reported recently is pretty much an illusion. The permalink is apparently not working, so here is the post in full:

Activists needed--only false progress diplomatically, more trouble on the ground in Darfur, Sudan, Africa..

We must become more active, make more noise! We must rally around each other and reach out for new help!

On the ground, conditions are worsening.

The World Food Program has cut back operations in light of recent shootings of drivers bringing aid cargo, as well as the landmine killing of two Save the Children staffers this week.

The United Nations is being forced to scale back food aid in Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region due to growing violence after 20 months of rebellion, the U.N. World Food Programme said on Wednesday.

The WFP said about 50,000 people would be affected by its decision to call off operations near Ummbaru, in northern Darfur. Two aid workers from Save the Children were killed nearby on Sunday when their vehicle hit an anti-tank landmine.

Humanitarian operations in other areas have been temporarily suspended, the Rome-based organisation said.

Diplomacy is a sham.

The latest Eric Reeves summary is available, dated October 12 (yesterday).

Meanwhile, the EU has given the government two months to "improve the security situation" or face sanctions. Get real--two months? At a calculated loss of life of 10,000 persons per month, this is another twenty thousand people dead.

In any case the Sudanese FM Ismail rejected the threat. Ismail also bragged that the US effort against Sudan is "paralyzed"--which is of course true. As reported by the Chinese online news service, Sudan's ally.

Write a note to Colin Powell and tell him you want strong action--perhaps starting the day after the US presidential election, in three weeks.