Almost 60 years ago, the world made a pledge: in the wake of one of the most horrific and systematic mass murders humanity had ever experienced, the world agreed, "Never Again." The notion that states could not be held accountable for their actions inside their border fell apart. Never again would governments have uninhibited reign to engage in extermination of vast segments of their population. In a rare moment of unity, the world declared genocide unconditionally immoral; such an atrocity against any group amounted to an atrocity against everyone, they agreed.
The world has thus far failed to keep its pledge. In Cambodia, in Guatemala, in Bosnia and in Rwanda --the list of genocides the world pretended not to notice continues. The United States has done no better at meeting its pledge. At best, it has acted late, as in Bosnia. At worst, it has indirectly assisted the genocide, as in Guatemala. "Never Again" has transformed, according to Harvard professor Samantha Powers, into "Again and Again."
And now, once more, the world idly watches the perpetration of genocide. In the Darfur region of Sudan, a systematic campaign of extermination has taken place over the last thirty months. The government has provided air support and arms to the Janjaweed militia raping, looting and murdering Darfurians. The carnage has left, according to some estimates, 400,000 people dead; 20 more people die every hour in Darfur. Moreover, out of a population of only six million, the violence has displaced two and a half million people from their homes, and ravaged the land, leaving three and a half million individuals desperate for a minimum caloric intake. The Sudanese government still refuses to acknowledge any involvement.
Americans and the rest of the world cannot afford the moral cost of complacency. The African Union, the African peacekeeping force in the region, currently faces both military and financial overstretch rendering it virtually powerless; if no help arrives, the African Union may have to leave. Furthermore, whether we like or not, the economic and political preeminence of the United States ensure that our actions carry embedded messages to the rest of the world. Our inaction in Darfur emboldens the Sudanese government to push the limits of its disregard for human rights; it will not change if the world, and particularly the United States, will not hold it accountable. Our passivity thus amounts to tacit approval in the eyes of the Sudanese government.
Despite a near-universal consensus condemning the genocide, the United States and the rest of the world have done little to mitigate the genocide besides providing humanitarian assistance, much of which has not even made its way to Darfur. There is hope, however: the process of moving international troops into the area has finally begun. The U.N. Security Council authorized efforts to draw a plan for U.N. troops to enter Darfur; and two senators have introduced a bipartisan bill to Congress calling for NATO intervention.
While these steps represent a move in the right direction, they can only succeed with a strong mandate from the people. It is time for all of us to take a stand. We need to convince our leaders that we care about the genocide in Sudan. Start by calling New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg or Senator John Sununu or your local senator and tell them how you feel. Sure, it may be to an automated message. Most importantly though, your call -- along with thousands of other calls, e-mails and letters -- can demonstrate the strong support for intervention into Darfur.
We cannot decide that we will start trying to end genocide next time. Millions of people in Darfur face real suffering, fear and violence on a daily basis. Our complacency allows and perpetuates that fear and violence. We can no longer acquiesce; never again must start now.
