President Bush calls on all nations to step up efforts to end "once and for all" the ethnic slaughter in Sudan.
Well, I would say it is about time Bush!
Bush said the U.S. is using sanctions, pressure and money to help resolve the Darfur crisis that President Bush calls a genocide. The President is frustrated at the lack of willingness of some other countries to do the same, sought to give his campaign for their increased involvement added weight by making pointed remarks on it from the Rwandan capital.
"The Rwanda people know the horrors of genocide," Bush said after meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame. "My message to other nations is: `Join with the president and help us get this problem solved once and for all.' And we will help."
Rwanda was the first to deploy peacekeepers to the violent Darfur region in a joint African Union-U.N. mission. The United States has trained nearly 7,000 Rwandan troops and spent more than $17 million to equip and airlift them into the region. The U.S. has committed $100 million to train and provide equipment for peacekeepers from several African nations deploying to Darfur.
"I'm not comfortable with how quickly the response has been," the president said.
President Bush spoke after a visit to the haunting Kigali Memorial Centre. Exhibits there tell the story of Rwanda's 1994 genocide as well as other ethnic slaughter around the world. Mass graves on a trellis-covered hilltop outside hold some remains of about 250,000 people.
"It's a moving place. It can't help but shake your emotions to their very foundation," Bush said after walking through its rooms and gardens. "There is evil in the world and evil must be confronted."
Later, by Kagame's side, Bush displayed how shaken he was by what he saw. "I just can't imagine what it would have been like to be a citizen who lived in such horrors, and then had to, you know, gather themselves up and try to live a hopeful life," he said.
"The most important thing is to get results for the agreement and that's what we discussed today, on how to help bring peace to this part of the world," Bush said.
Bush dispatched Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Nairobi on Monday to meet with Kibaki, the opposition leader, and former U.N. chief Kofi Annan, who is mediating peace talks.
The Rwanda massacre haunted the international community, including the United States under then-President Bill Clinton, for not recognizing the danger and intervening faster.
Bush, pressed about what role his successor can play in preventing genocide, said the lesson is to watch for warning signs — and act.
"I would tell my successor that the United States can play a very constructive role," Bush said. "I would urge the (next) president not to feel like U.S. solutions should be imposed upon African leaders. I would urge the president to treat our — the leaders in Africa — as partners. In other words, don't come to the continent feeling guilty about anything. Come to the continent feeling confident that with some help, people can solve their problems."
Bush stood by his decision not to send U.S. troops to Sudan, but used some of his strongest language to date in blasting the slow pace of the international peacekeeping plan.
Before leaving for Ghana, Bush and the first lady visited a school where they spoke with children, who are members of an anti-AIDS club, working to spread the word about preventing the disease. The two dozen children, all dressed in white shirts and khaki pants, chatted for about 20 minutes with the Bushes, who sat outside on a hillside in low-slung, hand-carved wooden chairs.
"Thanks for being leaders," the president told them.
( Personal Opinion ) - It's about time the United States got involved, but I will say that my opinion of President Bush, went up a few notches.
Am very much concerned about the genocide in Darfur and the relatyed issues.I feel helpless many a time when I hear /read about the same.Have to applaud this post.Have been doing my bit for the past 2 yrs or so. Cheers :) Uma helpindiatsunami
Matt !
Am very much concerned about the genocide in Darfur and the relatyed issues.I feel helpless many a time when I hear /read about the same.Have to applaud this post.Have been doing my bit for the past 2 yrs or so.
Cheers :)
Uma
helpindiatsunami