The NYT columnist Nicholas Kristof chides Bush on Darfur -- pointing out how even the tiniest gestures by Bush, how even minimal troops from the African Union, have saved tens of thousands of lives. The money quote:
Mr. Bush values a frozen embryo. But he hasn't mustered much compassion for an entire population of terrorized widows and orphans. And he is cementing in place the very hopelessness he dreads, by continuing to avert his eyes from the first genocide of the 21st century.Now thankfully the International Criminal Court will be investigating the claims of mass murder and widespread rape in Darfur -- one of the very tasks the UN is ideally suited for. Bush of course hates the ICC and would normally block its involvement. But even he had to concede this international body was the only one that made sense to take the lead on this case.
But not blocking something is about as far as Bush will go to "help" Africa. He's rewarding his closest ally Tony Blair by spurning any attempt to join the rest of the world on increasing aid to other countries to match the generosity of other nations or tackling the growing crisis of climate change. Yep, Blair just admitted there's no point in talking to Bush about these issues. Thanks, George, for trashing my legacy and showing that - with you -- loyalty is a one-way street.
