To say that I am disappointed in him, is to put it mildly.
It has to be overwhelming to be President of the United States of America. Especially after Cheney, Rumsfeld. And George W Bush.
However, he was brave and articulate about the Darfuris situation while a U.S. Senator. And now that he could do something and make a difference, he is being...well, certainly not articulate about the situation. Leadership has turned out to be a political choice of using will or not using will for our new President to be relevant on this defining issue.
A sad situation for us who believed President Obama would act on principles and not on what is politically safe, directed. A matter of life and death for the Darfuri families.
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April 30, 2006
Senator Barack Obama speaks boldly and resolutely about the Darfur situation in rally on the mall in Washington, D.C.
Links to more speeches at this rally
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Uploaded by liberatormag
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Darfur: the Biggest Test for Obama's Africa Policy?
Source: www.standnow.org - Darfur-biggest-test-Obamas-Africa-policy
In an opinion piece in U.S. News and World Report today, William J. Dobson of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace urges the Obama administration to stop dragging its feet on Darfur:
Like it or not, the Obama administration now faces an important test. Foreign policy challenges are typically of the thorniest variety, and in many cases, decisive action is precisely the wrong choice. That isn't the case here. It is vital that the administration recognize the danger of muddling along. More than two months since Bashir decided to victimize his people once again, the administration has yet to respond and the clock is ticking for Darfur.
Click here to read the entire article.
One of Dobson's major recommendations involves reaching out to key international stakeholders. "In some respects," he writes, "there is less a need to apply pressure on Bashir's regime than to apply pressure everywhere else."
Based on reports today, it seems that the Obama administration may finally be thinking (or at least finally be acting) along the same lines. This week, U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration plans to visit China, Qatar, Britain, and France in an effort to "align positions on the Darfur peace process under the leadership of United Nations-African Union joint chief mediator Djibril Bassole."
Here's to hoping that this signals the beginning of a real, long-term commitment to U.S. leadership on the issue.
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War - No More Trouble
Uploaded by PlayingForChange
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"The United States has a moral obligation anytime you see humanitarian catastrophes.. we have the most stake in creating an order in the world that is stable...and when you see a genocide whether it's in Rwanda, or Bosnia or in Darfur - that's a stain on all of us, that's a stain on our souls.... We can't say 'never again' and then allow it to happen again and as President of the United States I don't intend to abandon people or turn a blind eye to slaughter… I was the first along with Senator Brownback to focus on ratcheting up sanctions and getting an envoy in there who was serious. We worked diligently to get the Darfur Peace and Accountability act passed…I think the level of commitment and the way that I’ve spoken out on this issue indicates not only knowledge but also passion in bringing an end to this crisis. It’s very encouraging to see activism based not on self-interest but on moral imperative…We can't say 'never again' and then allow it to happen again and as President of the United States I don't intend to abandon people or turn a blind eye to slaughter.” November 2007 The video is below - Hear Barack Obama say these words.
Leadership based on Barack Obama's own words is yet to happen regarding Darfur. We need a President to show the political will to find ways that result in ending the crimes that define genocide.
Genocide never has happened without the complicity of the rest of the world. And it never happens at a convenient time.
The World Population Chooses Silence
Five Letters to President Obama
Letter 5
ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/2009/05/letter-5-to-president-obama-will-he-be
Letter 4
ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/2009/04/dear-president-obama-here-is-my
Letter 3
ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/2009/04/dear-mr-president-our-best-asset-is-our-asset
Letter 2
The letter is at the bottom of this post
ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/2009/03/president-obama-general-scott-gration
Letter 1
ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/2009/03/we-are-gambling-lives-and-deaths
Link to me reading my first letter to President Obama on Youtube
Other blogs posts of mine about this issue:
i've-never-been-to-genocide
dear-president-obama-can-you-hear-me
WHAT DO THE PEOPLE OF DARFUR HAVE TO DO TO GET OUR ATTENTION?
ALL DIE? That is what is happening as we wait. They die of thirst, starvation, sickness, rape, cruelty.... and lack of a world's interest.
COULDN'T WE DO BETTER, MR. PRESIDENT?
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Call your Senators and Representative
Find your elected politicians contact information at this link:
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Barack Obama the Presidential candidate speaks about Darfur
Uploaded by savedarfurcoalition
November 2007
Write President Obama
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
You can also call or write to the President:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments to President Obama:
202 - 456-1111
or
1-800-GENOCIDE
The White House comment line is available
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekdays
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The USA State Department public comment line
works 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.Genocide Ends
When Enough of Us
Stand Up Against It
JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org
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