Jesus, Mary and freakin' Joseph.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Thursday he was planning to travel to strife-torn Sudan, adding that the UN was pressing the Khartoum government to allow humanitarian workers freer access to Darfur. "I myself expect to visit Sudan soon," Annan told reporters at UN headquarters in New York. He called on the Sudanese government to protect its own civilians, saying: "It is the responsibility of the government to protect the population, and we need to encourage it and must insist it does it."{emphasis mine}
What the hell?
Crikeys, Kofi, it's the government of Sudan that's providing air support to the Janjaweed militias. They're in on the action.
It's pretty darn clear to me. Why isn't it clear to you? Be logical: do
you honestly think that the militias, which predominantly use horses
as their main source of transportation, have access to bombers and
helicopters? That they just use the horses because they choose to? Like
its a matter of personal preference? No, I don't want to drive around in a jeep! I much prefer my trusty Arabian steed to get me to the killing!
Horsemen have access to helicopters? Maybe in the movies, because it
makes for a compelling graphical rendition, but in reality? I think
not. Do you honestly think the legally recognized government in
Khartoum gives a flaming rat's ass that people are being killed in
Darfur? No. The legally recognized government of Sudan, the one headed
up by General Omar Bashir, the same one you think should be protecting
the average black muslim in Darfur, wants these people gone and they're
willing to help the Janjaweed militia do just that. Furthermore, do you
think that your arrival on the scene will actually do
anything? Obviously, you do because you're delusional. They'll provide
you with a fine place to stay. They'll set up a room at the Khartoum
Hilton for talks. They'll make sure there are children with flowers to
greet you so you don't think they're complete barbarians. But when you
actually sit down to talk with them, they'll nod politely, they'll
pretend that what you say actually matters, they'll reply in a
concerned, yet respectful voice by saying, "we understand your
concerns," and then they'll kick your ass out the damn door, Kofi,
because it's not in their interest to follow the dictates of
international law, nor do they think it's necessary to follow
the dictates of international law. They just don't care, Kofi, and you
just don't get that, do you? They don't care about your diplomacy, your
definition of human rights, your worldview---none of it means a damn
thing to them. They don't recognize anything that you care about. When
are you going to learn this?