Senator (Kerry) to make rare Darfur visit

[Barack_America]

Source: Reuters

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Kerry, will lead a delegation to Sudan's Darfur region, U.S. officials said on Monday, in a possible sign of a growing willingness to engage with Khartoum.

"This is significant," a U.S. diplomatic source told Reuters. "It is the first Congressional delegation to Sudan we have had since 2007. Like the U.S. envoy's current visit, it is a new tack."

The new U.S. special envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, who is currently touring the country, made an unusually positive statement on his arrival in Khartoum last week, telling reporters he was looking for friendship and cooperation from the Sudanese government.

Gration said he had arrived "with my hands open," echoing a phrase used by President Barack Obama during his inauguration that was widely seen as an offer of greater engagement with the Islamic world.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/usPoliticsNews/idUKTRE5351G720090406

[applegrove]

1. Very brave of them to go. They deserve accolades for planning such a trip.

[Barack_America]

2. Agreed.

I'm not sure how I feel about being "friendly" with the Sudanese government, but if it saves lives, it's worth it.

[karynnj]

8. I doubt they are "friendly" in any really sense of the word,

since Bush - cordial and willing to talk is defined as friendly. Every day aid is not allowed in, people starve. Changing that alone would be a major accomplishment for the US.

[Neo Atheist]

3. Unless we're going to start wholesale slaughtering innocents in Darfur

I don't think we're going to get any cooperation from the war criminal government in Khartoum.

[wisteria]

4. I am pleased by this development and really hope good things come from this visit. n/t

[Barack_America]

5. I am pleased that you are pleased.

;)

Today I'm trying to post "good news" stories. Good news is as important to recognize as the bad, but for some reason is often overlooked on DU.

[wisteria]

6. We can be very negative can't we? n/t

[MessiahRp]

7. Just about any news involving John Kerry is good news...

That man sure knows how to fight for the right things...

Rp

[blm]

10. It also has REAL impact on people's lives - that matters to those of us unconcerned with whether or

not our first lady wears a sleeveless dress.

[BlueIris]

9. I know he will be thorough and fair in his evaluations.

The Darfur crisis will be one of the world's biggest ever, I think.