Dear Friend,
Thank you for contacting me about the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. This ongoing tragedy must be halted, and I have worked hard in pursuit of this goal. Since joining the Senate, I have pushed for a robust international force with a strong U.N. mandate and worked to gain more funding for the beleaguered African Union peacekeepers. I have also lobbied diplomats and top U.S. and foreign government officials, including President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, to treat this humanitarian crisis with the urgency it demands.
The President's actions have not matched his passionate words on this issue. Sporadic U.S. diplomatic engagement will only reinforce the Khartoum government's perception that the U.S. is unwilling to take tough action to halt the genocide, and delay the arrival of U.N. forces. Tough sanctions and holding perpetrators of genocide accountable for their actions are essential to stopping the genocide.
It is time for the Administration and the international community to take long-overdue steps to ensure the immediate and unconditional deployment of a robust international force with a clear mandate to protect civilians and stop the slaughter. I will continue to work toward this goal and to speak out on this issue.
Thank you again for contacting me.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
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