UN resolution punishing Sudan off until next week

While Rome burns, the international crowd, once again, fiddles with indecision and bickering.   A U.S.-sponsored UN resolution was delayed until next week.

In the 15-nation U.N. Security Council, Russia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Algeria and Brazil are waiting to see what Khartoum will do. The two sub-Saharan African members, Angola and Benin, have not made their positions clear.

Chile and Europeans Britain, France, Spain, Germany and Romania either support the U.S. resolution or want the tougher measures, council sources said.

The Bush administration, will not, unlike the Clinton administration, defer to these dithering idiots.

Colin Powell visited the Sudan on Tuesday, "the first visit there by a senior U.S. official in two decades," according to China Daily.   And reportedly, the U.S. has issued deadlines of their own.   Naturally, the French object.

In Darfur, it would be better to help the Sudanese get over the crisis so their country is pacified rather than sanctions which would push them back to their misdeeds of old," junior Foreign Minister Renaud Muselier told French radio.

Mr Muselier also dismissed claims of "ethnic cleansing" or genocide in Darfur.  Cynically, the BBC chooses not to criticise the French, although there is this:

France led opposition to US moves at the UN over Iraq.   As was the case in Iraq, France also has significant oil interests in Sudan.

Really.