[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 22991]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                 DARFUR

  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, the crisis in Darfur demands a more 
robust response. In July 2004, more than 2 years ago, the United States 
Senate declared genocide in Darfur. As the crisis has continued, as the 
death toll has mounted, it was hard to believe that the situation on 
the ground could deteriorate further. Unfortunately, it has, and the 
realities today are even worse than they were in July 2004.
  As many as 4 million civilians have been uprooted from their homes, 
and by some accounts 400,000 people have been killed. Countless women 
and young girls are being violently and sexually abused. Escalating 
violence is forcing the evacuation of many vital relief workers. These 
realities are well documented. We have United Nations, U.N., reports, 
State Department reports, reports from our colleagues who have traveled 
to the region, and countless other reports that tell us what has 
happened, what is happening, and who may be responsible.
  In the face of this crisis, the response of many citizens, officials, 
relief workers, and journalists has been impressive and inspiring. 
Their courageous efforts are testimony to the great work that can be 
done by individuals who act on their moral duty to end atrocities.
  The Senate also has taken important steps. We have provided funding 
to African Union peacekeepers and to humanitarian workers; we have 
urged NATO assistance; we have encouraged the establishment of a no-fly 
zone; we have supported sanctions against the perpetrators of violence; 
we have established Presidential accountability by requiring regular 
reports on Darfur; and we have demanded the appointment of a 
Presidential Envoy to Sudan. We must continue to shine a spotlight and 
to take action wherever possible.
  But like many of my constituents, I am disturbed that the killings 
and rapes and violence continue. I fear that our efforts and those of 
many Americans are not being complemented by equal efforts from our 
President. I again urge the administration to be more proactive and to 
turn the tables on Khartoum.
  Khartoum repeatedly has committed to disarm the Jingaweit. In fact, 
the Government of Sudan committed to do so long ago, in the summer of 
2004. To date, this promise remains unfulfilled. And this Spring, 
Sudanese officials said that U.N. peacekeepers would be allowed into 
Darfur once a peace deal was agreed. This commitment has been broken 
also. These abandoned promises may not be surprising in light of 
Khartoum's long history of intransigence. What is astonishing is that 
Khartoum has faced few consequences for these massive failures, and 
worse, that Khartoum still is being allowed to dictate the terms of 
peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts in Darfur.
  I implore the administration to learn from this grim history, and to 
get one step ahead of the leaders in Khartoum. We must prepare for all 
scenarios, not just those we seek.
  Going forward, our agreements with Khartoum must include some 
``teeth'' to incentivize compliance. We should remind Khartoum that we 
already have good records of the crimes committed in Darfur and of the 
suspected perpetrators. We also should pursue without delay all points 
of pressure that have been authorized by the U.N. Security Council. We 
must demonstrate to Khartoum that continued intransigence will be more 
painful than cooperation.
  As we pursue these measures with Khartoum, we should remind rebel 
groups that they will be held accountable for violations of 
international law. In addition, we should work urgently with partners 
to stabilize eastern Chad and the Central African Republic.
  I suspect that history will pass exacting judgment on all parties who 
have acted insufficiently to end the suffering in Darfur. But history 
is a long way off for the people of Darfur, and I will continue to work 
urgently with colleagues towards peace in Sudan and the region. I urge 
the President to work more proactively to end this unconscionable 
crisis.

                          ____________________