November 6, 2004

So far, 594 African Union peacekeepers have arrived. These troops are used as armed escorts for UN observers. And more UN observers wandering around just see more evidence of atrocities, and continuing attacks, by pro-government Arab militias. The government blames rebels and bandits, but the UN observers say otherwise. But the UN can do nothing. Two members of the security council, Russia and China, which must authorize any kind of sanctions, refuse to do so because they have economic ties to Sudan. Two other Security Council members, Algeria and Pakistan, also refuse to do anything, because it's politically unpopular in the Moslem world to admit that an Islamic country is allowing atrocities to be committed against Moslems. The government is now blaming the UN for encouraging the rebels, and providing humanitarian aid that gets to rebel bands.