US special envoy to Sudan asked Bush to use military force: report
December 28, 2008 (WASHINGTON) – The US special envoy to Sudan Richard Williamson has reportedly asked President Bush to take coercive measures against Khartoum to halt killings in the western region of Darfur.
The New York Times (NYT) newspaper reported that Williamson sent a “tough” memo to Bush recommending a series of steps to pressure the Sudanese government.
Among the steps is to temporarily jam all communications in the Sudanese capital which would severe telephone communications, cell phones as well as internet access.
Furthermore the US navy would hinder access to Port Sudan by searching or turning away some ships. At a later stage a full blown embargo could be enforced to prevent Sudan from selling its oil.
The last stage would be to shoot down all Sudanese fighters that violate ban over Darfur and to use the threat of destroying air force if Khartoum does not comply with other demands such as handing over two suspects to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Williamson also suggested providing surface-to-air missiles to the government of South Sudan (GoSS) to protect the semi-autonomous South from retaliation by Khartoum.
The US has been the only country to label the Darfur conflict genocide and the Bush administration has been under intense domestic pressure to intervene.
Last February US President George W Bush has defended his decision not to send troops to the region despite strong domestic pressure.
“I had to make a seminal decision. And that is whether or not I would commit US troops into Darfur” Bush told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in an interview.
But many Darfur activists accused the Bush administration of refusing to take more forceful steps against Khartoum to avoid jeopardizing their intelligence cooperation.
US officials denied the allegations saying that the counterterrorism cooperation has not prevented Washington from taking the lead on the Darfur crisis.
The NYT said that the plans put forth by Williamson were blocked by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security adviser Stephen Hadley.
The report is likely to worry Khartoum which has last week praised Williamson for his knowledge of Sudan after the diplomat made a speech suggesting that the incoming Obama administration should test diplomatic options with Sudan before moving to “more robust steps.”
(ST)
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
US special envoy to Sudan asked Bush to use military force: report
Your right Richard Williamson the lives of those African durfurian are not just like water. I thought that Bush was fighting for terrorism in arab world why not in Sudan. Anyway his days are numbered we will see from Obama. This al bashir uses Abyei oil to kill with Southerner when he was in tight relation with those durfuriana who were used as a tool to kill their fellow Southerner, and now SPLA/M are in control of Abeyi he is turning to benefit from durfur oil. Not a wise man who deseve a development by using that oil to developed with Sudan, but spend $$$$ billion on weapons to destroy with African idenetity, corruptess man with his entire arabs (al abite). You islamic arabs who believe in shria law and comrade for terrorism will one day regret your own fualt.
cansellor
US special envoy to Sudan asked Bush to use military force: report
Thanks God you are there!!
Amen!!
mr williamson, Not all your works to be appreciate by the victims of NIF& NCP criminal regime. Because lives has already been lost. 3000 innocents people were killed and 2000,000 refugees force out of thier land fade their hope of US to help them spare their lives. But that ‘s not the case, the real issue ‘s the time it will take for the US to implement this kinds of intervention measures needed to rescue the lives of Dufurian people, because the more you applied them pressure, The more they kill. In a such circumstance I think it ‘s better to make yourself ready before trying to applied pressure. The only decission to be highly appreciate, is the decission to give south Sudan air missile to defence itself. If you are really serious about this then it will be the only US successfull strategy to help both South Sudan and dufurian people for a longer term. because this strategy work in middle East where some raddical Islamic countries demanding to wipe off Israel in Middles East, but they can’t do it due to Israel tough security defence. Mr williamson never reverse your promise, it ‘s the US duty to sprare human beeing again brutality