Richardson Pushes Sudan On Darfur Crisis

New Mexico Governor With White House Aspirations Pushes For U.N. Peacekeepers Admittance

(AP)  The governor also met earlier with Sudanese foreign minister Lam Akol, bringing along humanitarian workers that included one representative of the Save Darfur Coalition. The coalition organized the trip and has been instrumental in bringing attention to the crisis and criticism on al-Bashir's government.

Sudanese troops and the Arab tribal militia known as the janjaweed have been fighting Darfur's ethnic African rebels, who revolted against what they saw as decades of neglect and discrimination by the Khartoum government. More than 200,000 people have been killed, and President Bush has labeled it a genocide.

Save Darfur brought Richardson to Sudan because the governor has successfully negotiated in the past with al-Bashir. In September, the governor persuaded al-Bashir to release a New Mexican journalist imprisoned in Darfur. Richardson also worked with al-Bashir in 1996 to negotiate the release of three Red Cross workers held hostage by Sudanese rebels.

Richardson's goal on this trip is infinitely more complicated. There is broad skepticism around the globe about al-Bashir's willingness to cooperate on Darfur, given his record of supporting local militia attacks on innocent civilians.

Richardson also has a challenge to make progress with other parties in Darfur, where he plans to travel Tuesday. He's going to meet with rebel leaders, but has been warned that it is growing more difficult to determine who controls the increasingly fragmented people. He also plans to meet with the commander of the overwhelmed African Union force, which is having difficulty controlling the growing violence.

But Richardson remained upbeat. "I have to tell you, my record with Bashir is pretty good," the governor told beleaguered humanitarian officials Sunday night.

Richardson warned his traveling delegation not to get frustrated by inevitable schedule changes during interactions with the Sudanese government. He got them at every turn Monday — the foreign minister moved up their meeting, Minnawi kept him waiting for about 20 minutes and when he reported to the presidential palace for a scheduled appointment with the president, a guard told him al-Bashir wasn't there.

"Then let's get into the cars and go where he lives," said Cameron Hume, the top U.S. diplomat in Sudan and a former adviser to Richardson when he was U.N. ambassador under President Clinton.

With that, Richardson made the brief drive to al-Bashir's residence, led by a police motorcycle clearing traffic and followed by a pickup truck with seven gun-toting soldiers.

[victoriarum]

There is so much hatred in the world and the mortal minds focus on the areas they feel is most important to them. Regardless what country a soul is attempting to survive compassion within each of us should be presented forth. Those that fight for this cause are children of God and they have the intellect to reconize that someone has to fight it.

Quite fighting for oil and look at the souls trying to survive in the madness of it all. Pray for one another it is as simple as that.

God Bless.

[bluestardad]

No American Troops you pimps!