[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H7347-H7350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE UNITED NATIONS AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN 
                            DARFUR (UNAMID)

  Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1351) expressing support for the United Nations 
African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and calling upon United 
Nations Member States and the international community to contribute the 
resources necessary to ensure the success of UNAMID, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1351

       Whereas on July 8, 2008, 7 peacekeepers serving under the 
     United Nations/African Union Hybrid operation in Darfur 
     (UNAMID) were killed and another 22 wounded, including 7 
     critically, while carrying out UNAMID operations in Sudan in 
     an effort to bring stability and security to the region;
       Whereas the attacks on July 8, 2008, were the latest, and 
     most severe, in a string of attacks on UNAMID peacekeepers, 
     which include an attack on June 30, 2008, when 38 
     peacekeepers were taken hostage by rebels and on April 9, 
     2008, when a UNAMID police officer was beaten and UNAMID 
     vehicles hijacked;
       Whereas on June 25, 2008, the United Nations announced that 
     UNAMID lacked critical resources, including troops, police 
     officers, and air transport, hindering UNAMID's 
     effectiveness;
       Whereas the United Nations announcement on June 25, 2008, 
     restated concerns recognized in October 2007, that the 
     shortage of resources could ``jeopardize its efforts to 
     stabilize a region'';
       Whereas on July 31, 2007, the United Nations Security 
     Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1769 authorizing the 
     deployment of 26,000 peacekeeping troops to the region;
       Whereas on December 31, 2007, UNAMID formally assumed 
     control of peacekeeping operations in Darfur, but did so with 
     only approximately 9,000 troops and police on the ground, far 
     short of the necessary levels;
       Whereas since that time UNAMID efforts have been thwarted 
     by the Sudanese regime and rebels, including by Khartoum's 
     refusal to cooperate on issues such as the force composition, 
     the authorization of night flights, communications, land 
     access, and visas for staff, as well as its recent threats to 
     force the complete withdrawal of the UNAMID mission;
       Whereas government forces, militias, rebels, bandits, and 
     others continue to prey upon the people of Darfur and 
     humanitarian workers, increasing the urgency of both 
     deploying the full complement of peacekeepers

[[Page H7348]]

     and police and reaching a lasting political settlement;
       Whereas following attacks on its supply trucks, the World 
     Food Program announced a 50 percent cut in urgently needed 
     food rations in Darfur, despite a United Nations assessment 
     that revealed that acute malnutrition in Darfur increased in 
     2007, exceeding emergency levels in some regions;
       Whereas UNAMID has been hampered not only by obstruction on 
     the part of the regime in Khartoum, but also by the failure 
     of the international community to commit the resources, 
     equipment, aviation and transportation assets, and personnel 
     needed to carry out the peacekeeping mission;
       Whereas UNAMID requires the 26,000 troops authorized by 
     United Nations Security Council Resolution 1769 and at least 
     18 utility helicopters and 6 tactical helicopters and crews, 
     among other critical mobility needs that have not been met;
       Whereas in a report to the Security Council dated December 
     24, 2007, the Secretary-General said these helicopters were 
     indispensable and necessary for large distances and rough 
     terrain, and stated, ``Without the missing helicopters, this 
     mobility--a fundamental requirement for the implementation of 
     the UNAMID mandate--will not be possible'';
       Whereas a large number of countries possess the military 
     assets that could help to fulfill this requirement;
       Whereas the United States continues to lead the world in 
     its contributions to efforts to end the genocide in Darfur, 
     including by providing more than $4.5 billion of assistance 
     since 2004 in response to the Darfur crisis;
       Whereas continued failure on the part of the international 
     community to take all steps necessary to generate, deploy, 
     and maintain an effective United Nations and African Union 
     joint peacekeeping force will contribute to the continued 
     loss of life and further degradation of humanitarian 
     infrastructure in Darfur; and
       Whereas the success of the mission is dependant upon the 
     support and contributions of Member States and the 
     international community, including by providing the 
     helicopters needed to meet UNAMID's critical mobility 
     capabilities, as well as the will of the parties to the 
     conflict to find a lasting, inclusive, political solution to 
     the crisis: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) condemns in the strongest terms the attack on the 
     United Nations/African Union Hybrid operation in Darfur 
     (UNAMID) peacekeepers and expresses its condolences to the 
     people of Rwanda, Ghana, and Uganda, and to the families and 
     friends of those killed and wounded;
       (2) calls for the parties responsible for these heinous 
     attacks to be brought to justice;
       (3) expresses its commitment to the Darfuri people;
       (4) expresses support for UNAMID and the UNAMID 
     peacekeepers;
       (5) deplores the efforts of the regime in Khartoum to 
     manipulate and obstruct the deployment of a credible 
     peacekeeping force, including the recent threats by Khartoum 
     to force the complete withdrawal of the mission;
       (6) urges the President to continue to personally intervene 
     by contacting other heads of government and asking them to 
     contribute the aircraft and crews for the Darfur mission;
       (7) urges the Department of State to organize a special 
     meeting of the United Nations Security Council, the Friends 
     of UNAMID working group, and the United Nations Department of 
     Peacekeeping Operations to resolve outstanding force resource 
     and equipment issues;
       (8) urges the members of the international community, 
     including the United States, to contribute the resources 
     necessary to ensure the success of UNAMID, including tactical 
     and utility helicopters; and
       (9) calls upon the parties to the conflict in Darfur to 
     immediately commit to and respect a binding cessations of 
     hostilities agreement and seize upon the opportunity that has 
     been afforded by the deployment of UNAMID to find a political 
     solution to the crisis in Darfur.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Berman) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I first want to thank Congressman Steve Chabot for 
introducing this resolution which expresses the outrage of Congress 
towards recent attacks on the peacekeeping forces in Darfur and for the 
shameful lack of resources still experienced by these brave shoulders 
trying to protect innocent civilians.
  On July 8, just 3 weeks ago, seven peacekeepers serving under the 
United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur were killed and another 
22 wounded while carrying out UNAMID operations in Sudan. These 
operations are designed to bring stability and security to the region. 
One week later, a Nigerian peacekeeper was shot and killed by 
militiamen while on patrol in Western Darfur.
  This recent violence sponsored by the Sudanese Government and 
targeting UNAMID forces is one more justification for the recent 
indictment of Sudanese President Al-Bashir as commander-in-chief of his 
armed forces.
  A shameful part of Darfur's unrelenting nightmare has been the 
failure of the international community to make available to UNAMID the 
resources, equipment, aviation, and transportation assets and personnel 
needed to carry out the peacekeeping mission. UNAMID requires the 
26,000 troops authorized by the U.N. Security Council and at least 18 
utility helicopters and six tactical helicopters and crews. These needs 
have not been met.
  Years ago, Congress and the President declared the crisis in Darfur a 
genocide. As a result, we have a moral duty to commit sufficient 
resources to protect civilians in Darfur. The President and the 
Secretary of Defense must marshal U.S. Defense Department assets, 
including helicopters, and immediately deploy them to UNAMID.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly support this measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of this resolution, H. Res. 1351. I would 
like to also thank the distinguished gentleman from California, the 
chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, for his support and his 
leadership on this, as well as the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. 
Capuano) for his leadership and their hard work in making this 
resolution possible. I also want to thank Ranking Member Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen from Florida for her support.
  Each day that passes without the full support of the international 
community for the U.N.'s peacekeeping mission in Darfur is another day 
that these innocent people, and now the peacekeepers assigned to 
protect them, have to live in fear.
  Last year I had the opportunity to travel to Darfur with 
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee of Texas and Congressman Adrian Smith 
of Nebraska to witness firsthand the devastation of this region. The 
refugees with whom we met, mostly women and children in the refugee 
camps, described harrowing experiences of escape from the Janjaweed and 
the Sudanese Government. They're descriptions that I will never forget. 
Many of these women had been raped. Many of their husbands, brothers, 
sons, and fathers had been brutally murdered.
  We met with them in refugee camps in Darfur just weeks following the 
unanimous decision by the United Nations Security Council to deploy 
26,000 peacekeepers to the region. Yet progress in Darfur has been 
jeopardized, as H. Res. 1351 points out. Almost a year since Security 
Resolution 1769 passed, the mission lacks more than 16,000 troops and 
police officers as well as essential communications equipment and 
helicopters. That's one of the things that they need the most, all of 
which are critical to the mission's success.
  The skeleton mission has been met with continued roadblocks from the 
Sudanese government which has thwarted it at every step, refusing to 
cooperate on the composition of the hybrid force, refusing to authorize 
night flights, refusing to issue visas for necessary staff, or to 
provide access to certain areas.
  The lack of international support for the mission and the opposition 
that it faces in the region has and continues to compromise the ability 
of UNAMID peacekeepers to secure the region--not only leaving the 
Darfuri people vulnerable to continued attacks but now the peacekeepers 
assigned to protect them.
  As the chairman indicated, back on July 8 of this year, this month, a 
couple of weeks ago, the world witnessed

[[Page H7349]]

the deadliest attacks yet on our peacekeeping mission which resulted in 
seven deaths and 22 wounded. On July 16, another peacekeeper from 
Nigeria was attacked and killed. These attacks come on the heels of 
pleas from the U.N. that shortages of resources could ``jeopardize its 
efforts to stabilize the region.'' U.N. member nations and the rest of 
the international community must not sit idly by and watch the mission 
in Darfur fail at the expense of the millions of innocent people who 
have already survived one genocide.
  I think it is important to note that while the United States is often 
criticized for not doing enough, $4 billion or 72 percent--let me 
repeat that, 72 percent--of the cost of peacekeeping, development, 
reconstruction, and humanitarian efforts in Darfur have been paid for 
by the United States. So 72 percent is being funded by the American 
taxpayers. It is past time for our European allies, and especially the 
wealthy Arab countries, to assist in this effort.

                              {time}  1200

  If we're paying 72 percent, I think you have to consider that we're 
sending literally hundreds of billions of dollars now to the Middle 
East, the wealthy oil countries there. And most of the people that have 
suffered in the Darfur region are Muslims, and the Arab countries have 
done little or nothing, many of them, despite the fact that we have 
hundreds of millions of dollars going over there for their oil 
revenues.
  And so, rather than building another expensive hotel or buying 
another yacht or some other luxury item, some of these dollars ought to 
be diverted to the poor people in Darfur, perhaps to buy some 
helicopters so that we can get the U.N. troops in to help these people 
that have, as I indicated, already survived one genocide and are 
essentially in the middle of another if the world doesn't act.
  So, for those who criticize the United States for doing enough--and 
yes, we always should do more--remember, we're supporting 72 percent of 
the effort there. The rest of the world is providing the other 28 
percent. And let's urge, to the extent that we're able, those wealthy 
Arab oil countries to foot a fair portion of the bill to help out in 
this effort.
  And I urge my colleagues to support this critical mission by 
supporting H. Res. 1351.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to acknowledge the contribution not only of Mr. Chabot in 
offering this resolution but of our colleague Mr. Capuano, the 
gentleman from Massachusetts, whose own resolution, a great deal of the 
language in that was incorporated into this resolution. And it is truly 
a collaborative effort, and I wanted to thank him as well.
  I have no further speakers at this time, and so I reserve the balance 
of our time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), who's the ranking member of the 
Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health. He's been a long-time, strong 
advocate for the people of Darfur and somebody that I consulted with, 
along with Mr. Wolf, before I went over there to get advice from people 
that had been there and knew the best way to spend our time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I 
want to thank Mr. Chabot for authoring this very important and very 
timely resolution.
  I rise in support of H. Res. 1351, which condemns the July 8, 2008, 
attack on UNAMID peacekeepers deployed in Darfur, Sudan, and expresses 
the support of Congress for this critical mission. According to the 
United Nations, seven peacekeepers were killed and an additional 22 
were wounded when their patrol was ambushed by unidentified assailants 
utilizing 40 vehicles mounted with heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft 
weapons.
  This is the worst attack against the A.U. mission since it first 
deployed in July of 2004. Unfortunately, it does not appear to be the 
last.
  Given continued deterioration of security in Darfur and the upsurge 
in deliberate attacks against humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, 
it is now more critical than ever to ensure that the U.N. peacekeeping 
mission is properly equipped.
  I would note parenthetically, Mr. Speaker, that I've been to Darfur. 
I've met with the A.U., African Union, troops before it came under the 
blue helmet auspices, and I was shocked and dismayed during my visit 
there how underpaid, how they lacked needed materiel, the command-and-
control equipment was lacking even then. And now, regrettably, to 
discover or to find out that there are huge gaps in their capabilities 
because that has not been provided by the international community is 
unconscionable. They lack critical air assets, armored personnel 
carriers, and even the pilots to fly the helicopters.
  Anyone who has been in Darfur knows how hard it is to move across 
that terrain. There are huge gaping potholes. They are not even 
potholes--it looks like craters on the moon--moving from one place to 
the next. And if there's a torrential rain, bridges and roads are often 
completely washed out.
  And obviously, it is very difficult to get the critical resources to 
the camps--and I've been to two of those camps, Mr. Speaker, Mukjar and 
the Kalma camp. And again, if it wasn't for the U.S., as Mr. Chabot 
pointed out, it is the U.S. and the generosity of the U.S. taxpayers 
that contribute most of the food and most of the medicine that is 
utilized by those beleaguered refugees.
  I, again, want to thank him for his leadership in bringing this 
newest concern which needs to be reiterated over and over again. We 
have to make sure that those troops have the capability, have the 
wherewithal to carry on this battle with those who would subjugate and 
hurt and kill the Darfurians.
  Responsible nations must come together and do everything we can to 
end the violence and restore peace to Darfur. You know, just because 
it's not on the front burner and it's not in the news media the way it 
was for a while doesn't mean that the issue has gone away. If anything, 
it has actually gotten worse in many aspects.
  Finally, I'm one of those Members of Congress who actually met with 
General Bashir, the dictator to Sudan, in Khartoum. We had a very 
contentious meeting. He was denying that these kinds of atrocities are 
actually going on, and all he wanted to do was lift the embargo that 
the United States Government, through the work of Congress in a 
bipartisan way, had imposed upon Sudan. That's all he wanted to talk 
about. I wanted to talk about the atrocities and the ending of those 
atrocities.
  Well, now we know the chief prosecutor of the War Crimes Tribunal at 
the Hague has asked for an indictment against Bashir. So he will join, 
in a very similar fashion, Joseph Coney and Charles Taylor, who is 
being held to account by the tribunal in Sierra Leon, for the crimes 
that he and like-minded individuals have committed.
  We've got to send the message unmistakably by backing this U.N. force 
and by doing everything humanly possible to bring the perpetrators of 
these crimes to justice that ``never again'' will mean never again. We 
keep saying that, and genocide just keeps going from one part of the 
world to another. And certainly, the Darfurians are suffering genocide 
today.
  In line with what we just discussed about the Olympics resolution, 
the Chinese Government, Mr. Speaker--and it's not necessarily in this 
resolution but it's germane to the issue--the Chinese Government has 
enabled the dictatorship in Sudan to carry on the atrocities in Darfur 
by providing the materiel so that the Government and the troops have 
the guns and the helicopters to strafe and kill and maim in Darfur.
  Let's not forget, 2 million people died in southern Sudan with the 
full complicity of the Chinese dictatorship, and now upwards of 
450,000--the high estimate, some put it at a lower number--have been 
killed and over 2 million made homeless in Darfur as a direct result of 
the Chinese enabling and facilitation of this terrible series of 
atrocities.
  Again, at the minimum, the African Union troops that have put their 
lives on the line need to have the support, they need to have the guns, 
the ammunition and the air lift capabilities and all the other assets 
in order to carry on their mission.
  Again, I thank Mr. Chabot.

[[Page H7350]]

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and so 
I will reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 4 minutes to the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) who's been a long-time leader in 
world human rights issues over his career.
  Mr. SHAYS. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleagues for introducing this 
resolution.
  It is a pretty stunning to think that the United States, with all its 
obligations around the world, has to step into the void and provide 70 
percent of all the funding, in spite of the fact that Europe has a 
gross domestic product basically equal to the United States and a 
population greater than the United States.
  Given that Europe isn't doing the heavy lifting it needs to do in 
Afghanistan and wants nothing to do with Iraq, you would think at least 
in Darfur Europe would say we should provide far more assistance.
  And what about wealthy Middle East countries that would have the 
capacity in a heartbeat to provide all the money necessary, why aren't 
they stepping in as well?
  In my only visit to Darfur, I get down on my knees in gratitude to 
the non-government organizations that are there to distribute the food, 
paid for in large measure by the United States; providing education to 
young people so when they can eventually go back to their homes they 
will not have lost 3, 4, or 5 years.
  This is genocide in Darfur. Europe doesn't want to acknowledge it. 
The United Nations wants to be silent about it, but this is the wiping 
out of people.
  We need to be there providing the assistance for domestic help, the 
financial aid that needs to be provided for not just food and education 
but for the troops who are trying to maintain security. I appreciate 
that Africa is waking up to this need, willing to send more troops, but 
they need the equipment to make sure that they can do the job they have 
to do.
  This is a human tragedy of gigantic proportions. I appreciate those 
in the United States, particularly in our universities, that have been 
pushing this issue, and frankly, many in the Jewish community who have 
stepped up and said ``never again'' applies to what happens in Africa.
  The world community needs to wake up and do more. The United States 
can't do everything.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1351, a resolution 
expressing support for the United Nations African Union Mission in 
Darfur, UNAMID, and calling upon United Nations Member States and the 
international community to contribute the resources necessary to ensure 
the success of UNAMID.
  The attack on the UNAMID peacekeepers is deplorable and I want to 
express my condolences to the family and friends of those killed and 
wounded.
  Resolving the crisis in Darfur must be one of our Nation's highest 
priorities.
  The world collectively agreed to ``never again'' allow genocide after 
the 1994 mass murders in Rwanda.
  Tragically, genocide is again taking place.
  I believe the United States must take all reasonable steps to end the 
killing, including pressuring others in the international community to 
do more.
  The security, human rights and humanitarian situation in Darfur has 
continued to deteriorate since the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed in 
May 2006.
  We must do a better job supporting the mission of the UNAMID who, 
despite being critically under-funded and under-equipped, are serving 
an important role in protecting.
  It is also hugely important we continue to provide humanitarian 
assistance to the Darfuri people.
  I will continue to advocate for tough sanctions, humanitarian aid, 
and for an international peacekeeping force that can effectively stop 
the violence.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to 
wrap up. I will be brief.
  One of the previous resolutions that we had talked about China and 
the human rights abuses that have occurred, and they're just having the 
Olympics coming up. And the fact is, it hasn't been mentioned yet in 
this particular debate, but China has played a particularly unhelpful 
role, quite frankly, in Darfur and Sudan. They have been very much 
involved behind the scenes, particularly with respect to oil interests 
in Darfur and have made it possible for the government in Darfur to 
continue to flaunt world opinion, who basically has been indicating to 
the Sudanese Government you need to cooperate here. This is an 
embarrassment to the whole world, how people in Darfur are being 
treated. It makes you, the Sudanese Government, look bad; why don't you 
get with the program, reform, cooperate, and help these people.
  Unfortunately, again, China who has considerable influence that it 
could act upon if it chose to do so, has, in some minor instances, been 
somewhat helpful but for the most part has failed to step up to the 
plate and actually put pressure on the Sudanese Government to do 
something finally about Darfur.
  So I would strongly urge, once again, that China, in this particular 
instance, do the right thing, put pressure on the Sudanese Government 
to do something to relieve the terrible conditions that the people of 
Darfur have suffered under, whether it's genocide, whether it's 
literally starvation in some instances. China, do what's right and help 
the people of Darfur.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of this measure, I rise in 
support of H. Res. 1351. In 2004, I led the first congressional 
delegation to Darfur with Senator Sam Brownback, and witnessed the 
nightmare there first hand.
  In July 2007 the United Nations' Security Council passed resolution 
1769 which authorized a joint African Union/United Nations Hybrid 
operation in Darfur to take necessary actions to support the Darfur 
Peace Agreement and to protect its personnel and civilians. However, to 
date, only 10,000 of the 26,000 peacekeeping troops authorized by 
resolution 1769 have been deployed. They are in desperate need of 
proper equipment and air transportation and have increasingly become 
subject to attack by various rebel groups.
  It has been widely acknowledged in the international community that 
these troops do not have the necessary resources to effectively carry 
out their mandate. On July 8, seven UNAMID peacekeepers were killed and 
22 were wounded in a rebel ambush in the northern region of Darfur. The 
peacekeepers on the ground in Darfur have become demoralized by the 
impossible conditions on the ground.
  I am pleased to support H. Res. 1351 and reaffirm the commitment of 
the United States of America to the people of Darfur and the 
peacekeepers who are putting their lives on the line to protect them.
  Mr. CHABOT. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Serrano). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1351, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``Resolution expressing support 
for the United Nations/African Union Hybrid operation in Darfur 
(UNAMID) and calling upon United Nations Member States and the 
international community to contribute the resources necessary to ensure 
the success of UNAMID, including troops and essential tactical and 
utility helicopters.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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