Discuss “Darfur: more complicated than it seems”

There has been increased interest among Americans in recent months in the ethnic conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan. Following a visit by Colin Powell, millions of Americans who had little previous knowledge of Sudan now recognize the words Janjaweed and Khartoum. Yet there continues to be significant misunderstanding of the nature of the conflict, the U.S. role in the conflict so far, and most importantly, what the correct course of action for the U.S. should be.

Firstly, what is occurring is genocide. Over a million people have been forced from their homes, many herded into refugee camps where they face severe malnutrition. Tens of thousands have been killed. Even with this, the Bush Administration will not refer to it as genocide. In...