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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (45473)	5/19/2004 11:55:00 AM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793916

"WAR ON TERROR" FOLLIES [Andy McCarthy]- The Corner There is as we speak an Islamic government-sponsored, genocidal terrorist atrocity ongoing in the Darfur region -- even the UN High Commission on Human Rights was forced to acknowledge that at the end of last month. See New York Times report of 4/22/04. As late as yesterday, a high ranking State Department official acknowledged that Sudan (which was the home base of al Qaeda in the early to mid-1990's) continues even today to harbor Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, both listed by the U.S. as designated terrorist organizations. The Bush Doctrine states that those who harbor terrorists are equally as guilty as terrorists. So, putting all these facts together, what did the State Department do yesterday? Secretary Powell removed Sudan from the list of countries considered uncooperative in the war on terrorism. Is it any wonder that we have the problems we have? Story from The Guardian is here. Powell Removes Sudan From 1 Terror List Tuesday May 18, 2004 11:01 PM WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States on Tuesday removed Sudan from a list of countries considered uncooperative in the war on terrorism. Secretary of State Colin Powell took the action even as he demanded that Sudanese authorities allow unrestricted humanitarian access to nearly 1 million people uprooted by conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Sudan remains on the department's list of state sponsors of terrorism despite its removal from the second terrorism list, designed for countries that are ``non-cooperative'' on terrorism. Four other countries remain on the list: Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Libya. Powell's announcement, disclosed in Tuesday's Federal Register, suggested Libya's continued membership on the list may be only temporary. He noted that there is an ``on-going and comprehensive review of Libya's record of support for terrorism.'' While this process is not complete, ``Libya has taken significant steps to repudiate its past support for terrorism,'' Powell said in the announcement. U.S. relations with Libya have improved dramatically over the past six months as a result of Libya's surprise decision to dismantle its most lethal weapons. After his announcement, Powell addressed a luncheon gathering sponsored by InterAction, a coalition of U.S. relief organizations. He said ``the whole international community must come together'' to pressure Sudan on the Darfur situation, which he called ``one of the most serious crises on the face of the earth.'' Sudan must be pressured to provide humanitarian access to Darfur and to stop assisting militias ``who are doing such a terrible thing'' the poor in the area. He said the U.N.'s World Food Program expects to send up to 11,000 tons of food to Sudan this month. This will feed half a million people, Powell said, adding that many more are in need. Boucher said Sudan was dropped from the list of countries not cooperating on terrorism because of its ``remarkable'' collaboration on information sharing with the United States. Powell's action moves Sudan a step toward eligibility for receiving U.S. military equipment, but the ban on such transfers remains in effect because the country still is regarded as a state sponsor of terrorism. Boucher said Sudan harbors Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, both listed as terrorist groups. The conflict in Darfur is not directly related to the long-running conflict between the Khartoum government and southern Sudanese rebels. Ruud Lubbers, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and former Dutch prime minister, told a news conference he welcomed recent progress toward ending the North-South war. Lubbers, who met with Powell Tuesday morning, noted that reconciliation will soon encourage the repatriation of some 150,000 Sudanese refugees from neighboring countries. Still, he said, ``it is unacceptable to celebrate a peace agreement while Darfur continues being bombarded and people are terrorized.''