U.S. cuts funds as Darfur deteriorates

[Thom Little]

Despite an unusual personal plea by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. House of Representatives voted down a bill to renew $50 million in aid to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur. The withholding of funds comes just as hostilities between Sudan and its neighbor Chad threatens to undermine the struggling peace process.

'We`re disappointed that Congress chose not to fund African Union peacekeepers,' said Amanda Rogers-Harpers, a spokeswoman for the State Department. 'We share Congress`s concern, and will continue to work with Congress and the international community on this issue.

Rice sent a letter on Dec. 15 to House members personally asking them to renew funding to the Darfur region. She and the deputy secretary of state then made personal phone calls asking members of Congress for help, Rogers-Harper said.

High-profile members of Congress, such as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., also came out in support of U.S. military aid for Darfur in the days leading up to the vote, but the House voted not to reinstate the $50 million in funding which had been stripped from a defense spending bill a month earlier.



http://news.monstersandcritics.com/africa/article_1073189.php/U.S._cuts_funds_as_Darfur_deteriorates

[pbca]

1. It's a shame but ...

In many cases when the US does send money it comes with so many strings attached (abortion, trade, economy etc) that the recipient is better off without it anyway.

[mom cat]

7. With oil in the south of the Sudan, US military presence could be a

disaster.If Condi, the Cheveron tanker lady, wants it that bad, something must be wrong.

[papau]

2. unreal - the GOP are such family value types :-(

:-(

[NC_Nurse]

3. More proof

that Kanye West was right.

More aid to the oil industry and *'s fatcat friends. No help for the poor, the downtrodden and the people of color.

[Stockholm]

5. .

n/t

[Lerkfish]

4. um lessee....house controlled by republican majority...check.

republican reps march in lockstep to executive branch...check.

I see this as a snively way to have their cake and eat it, too. have the House vote down the funding they really don't want to spend, and then have rice and mccain appear to be taking the high road in supporting the losing end of a foregone conclusion.

Republican ticket in '08: McCain/Rice.

or maybe I've just become too cynical.

[bluerum]

6. Why don't they push for an expanded UN role here?

Then the US taxpayers do not shoulder the entire burden, and the people of Africa get aid without any insane social/cultural/political strings attached, and the UN gets to do its job.

[applegrove]

8. Tax Cuts more important. What shame.