Day Late, Compassion Short

Dubya's BS on Dafur was one big yawn and halfhearted lie. It's too little, too late to talk about genocide because it's been going on for years. Why talk about it after they've killed, raped and displaced everyone there is to kill, rape and displace? As with every other thing he says, it rings hollow.

If the definition of a gesture is "a slight movement to convey one's intentions," then President Bush has done just that today with Darfur.

In a pronouncement that ran but minutes, this morning Bush called for a "plan B" in the Sudan. Basically a twist of the screws to what had been considered "plan A:" intensifying pre-standing sanctions against the nation. Targeting specific companies and barring them from doing business with Western Financial institutions. Throw some further sanctions at a couple senior Sudanese officials and a rebel leader.

All and all, yes, that adds up to a gesture; a weak little motion to remind the suffering in Darfur that, yeah, somebody's over here. Somebody's taking your plight into consideration.

Long, slow consideration.

Such languid wringing of hands has been the tepid non-response to the crisis since the US labeled the killings in Darfur genocide back in 2004.

The lack of significant response is not wholly the Administration's fault. Khartoum and the government of Sudanese president Lt. Gen. Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir have strong strategic partners in China, which loves little Sudan for its oil.

Great. Another oil conflict brewing.