Submitted by Rod Downing, May 16, 2007 19:12

Just wanted to clarify that as a long-time activist on the Darfur crisis, that apart from the ultimately necessary long-term solution of a "just peace" deal, via negotiations and that requires (a) a forum for the rebels to unify their splintered situation, (b) a wider Darfur-Darfur forum for all Darfuri stakeholders, to strengthen the reasonable voices, and (c) changing the calculus of Sudan so that negotiations are more than a delaying tactic, that the only action that has moved that "calculus" at all has been the link to China's 2008 Olypmics as the "Genocide Olympics." That slight movement has been inferred in a Chinese visit that later ended up with Sudan's agreement to stage 2 (additional 3000 UN troops to bolster the AU troops & agreement to allow attack helicopters . . . though will need to see if it actually happens). So, absolutely, let's try all the tools that can help leverage Sudan's "calculus", such as divestment, sanctions (let's call China's bluff on that, as it will only strengthen the Genocide Olympics notion if they block it), no-fly zones, asset freezes, etc. Anyway your article perhaps inferred the Genocide Olympics notion with the mention of Mia Farrow, but it neeeds to be clearly highlighted - it's the strongest card in the pack.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.