BBC: Sudan 'to accept UN Darfur force'

[Eugene]

Last Updated: Saturday, 23 December 2006, 03:51 GMT

Sudan 'to accept UN Darfur force'

Outgoing UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has said he believes Sudan is set
to approve the deployment of a joint UN-African Union force in Darfur.

Until now, President Omar al-Bashir has consistently opposed any involvement
of the UN in the western region.

However, Sudanese officials say the government has now accepted the idea
of a "hybrid" force of peacekeepers, including UN personnel.

-snip-

The outgoing UN chief added he also expected Mr Bashir to agree to a ceasefire
and moves to restart talks with Darfur political groups.

But he added that he took nothing for granted after "so many disappointments".

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6204489.stm

[applegrove]

1. That is what I want for Xmas. Peacekeepers in numbers to big to ignore in Darfur.

[Igel]

2. Tactical retreat.

The AU peacekeepers were another tactical retreat by Khartoum; the strategy remained the same.

The peace treaty was a tactical retreat by Khartoum; they knew best how it would go, and their strategic goals were little impaired.

This is a tactical retreat by Khartoum. Wait for the details, and then watch how it all falls apart in the next month or two--with Sudan deftly avoiding the sanctions that either would have been imposed, or which would have caused opprobrium to fall upon China and other genocide-enablers.

The only time such an action will stop being a tactical retreat to be spun to Khartoum's strategic advantage is when their goals have all been met but one. The last tactical retreat will open the way for them to receive an imprimatur of respectability and remove all hint of ignominy from Sudan; the stupid diplomats will merrily grant Khartoum that one remaining goal and declare themselves and diplomacy the winners, having confused winning some pointless skirmishes and losing the war with triumph. The dead and dispossessed won't get a vote.

Gee, I seem to be experiencing a spike in cynicism. Ho-ho-ho.