Darfur: America’s Plan B Has Been Launched!

Posted on February 8, 2007
Filed Under Sudan, Darfur, America, Africa |

It has begun!

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President Bush has approved a plan for the Treasury Department to aggressively block U.S. commercial bank transactions connected to the government of Sudan, including those involving oil revenues, if Khartoum continues to balk at efforts to bring peace to Sudan’s troubled Darfur region, government officials said yesterday.

The Treasury plan is part of a secret three-tiered package of coercive steps — labeled “Plan B” — that the administration has repeatedly threatened to unleash if Sudan continues to sponsor a campaign of terror that has left as many as 450,000 dead and 2.5 million homeless. But the administration has held back on any announcement of Plan B, even after setting a Jan. 1 deadline, in hopes of still winning Khartoum’s cooperation.

The delays have increased skepticism that the administration is willing to risk potential diplomatic and commercial fallout from targeting Khartoum.

The U.S. plan would put pressure on Darfur rebel leaders who have refused to participate in peace talks or who have targeted humanitarian groups operating in the region, officials said. The information on Plan B was provided by officials in four government agencies on the condition of anonymity because the administration had not planned on releasing details yet.

Some aspects of Plan B have already been stealthily launched, such as stationing four U.S. Army colonels last month as observers on the Sudan-Chad border in full view of Sudanese intelligence. The unannounced move was intended as a signal to Khartoum, which the administration accuses of launching a “quiet war” against Chad’s government to widen the Darfur conflict.

Meanwhile Bush has confirmed the plan for a US command in Africa:

U.S. President George W. Bush confirmed plans Tuesday for the Pentagon to set up an Africa Command to oversee its operations there.

“This new command will strengthen our security cooperation with Africa and create new opportunities to bolster the capabilities of our partners in Africa,” Bush said in a statement. “Africa command will enhance our efforts to bring peace and security to the people of Africa and promote our common goals of development, health, education, democracy and economic growth in Africa.”

As for US military action against Sudan, it seems unlikely (for now) at least according to this. As soon as I have some time, I’ll blog an analysis of these latest events. China won’t be left out.

Comments

3 Responses to “Darfur: America’s Plan B Has Been Launched!”

  1. Suzanne on February 10th, 2007 10:08 am

    China,.. because of the pipelines, Drima?

  2. The Raccoon on February 10th, 2007 10:37 pm

    “As soon as I have some time, I’ll blog an analysis of these latest events. China won’t be left out.”

    Looking forward to it!

  3. The Sudanese Thinker » Darfur: Something Effective Is Being Cooked Up on April 16th, 2007 6:42 pm

    […] Lately we’ve been witnessing a real push to pressure Sudan and also things that indicate the high possibility of a real push occuring behind the scenes. Firstly, the US of A (whom I thank for playing a vital role in ending the bloody 20 year old Sudanese North-South civil war) indicated that it will seriously consider building up the capacity of the SPLM’s army (aka SPLA) as part of Plan B, something which will present a real threat to the northern NCP. Secondly, the “Genocide Olympics” movement seems to be gaining momentum, something which has the potential to cause a real headache for China. Thirdly, during the recent Arab League Summit, Saudi Arabia announced that it was working on convincing Sudan to accept the UN force in Darfur. It looks like they weren’t lying and that they actually have something to do with the recent Sudanese acceptance/”acceptance”. Fourthly the Sudan divestment campaign is also gaining momentum in America. Moreover new sanctions is something Sudan defintely doesn’t want. Believe me when I say this, the NCP doesn’t want bad relations with America. On the contrary, what they want (and what I myself and many Sudanese want too) is for Sudan to be removed from the terrorism sponsoring states list, lifting of sanctions and normalization of relations. This is just a simple example of what I mean and what peope hoped the North-South peace agreement would achieve. Fifthly, when Negroponte himself and not some small time lousy diplomat goes all the way to Khartoum to discuss Darfur, something is defintely cooking. Sixthly, the new alliances forming in Darfur against the government might be a factor. I’m not so sure about this one as I haven’t really read much about it. […]

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