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| U.S. GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT | Greater Support for Darfur | ||
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AMERICANS SUPPORT GREATER EFFORTS TO March 30, 2006 -- As the crisis in Sudan worsens by the minute, an increasing number of Americans have expressed their support for greater and more collaborative efforts to stop the killing in Darfur. A new poll by Zogby International found that a majority of Americans not only support limited U.S. military action through the enforcement of a no-fly zone over Darfur, but also believe America has a responsibility to end the genocide in Darfur. The survey found that 70% of the public supports the U.S. implementation of a “no-fly zone” over Darfur to prevent aerial attacks on civilians. This measure is strongly supported by both Republicans and Democrats concerned over the conflict that has displaced over 2 million people and killed over 400,000 people in the past three years. Additionally, 62% of Americans agree that the U.S. “has a responsibility to help stop the killing in the Darfur region”, and 58% believe more can be done diplomatically in order to help end the crisis in Sudan. The broad support among Americans for action in Sudan is consistent with findings observed in previous polls by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA). In 2005, a PIPA survey revealed that a majority of the public (71%) supported NATO and U.S. involvement in Sudan by providing assistance to the African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur. Due to the small size of the African peacekeeping force and lack of resources, this force has been unable to protect the large number of citizens suffering from the systematic violence incited by the Janjaweed militia. The American public strongly favors military involvement by the United Nations and its members to stop the ongoing genocide. President Bush has called for greater UN and NATO involvement in Sudan, and NATO is preparing to support a future UN force in Darfur. In recent developments, the African Union agreed to extend its peacekeeping force mandate through September of 2006, at which time it will be merged into a larger UN force. The U.S. and the UN have a responsibility to ensure that such a transition occurs in order to ensure the security of thousands of Darfuris and to prevent an expansion of the conflict to neighboring Chad. At the same time, the U.S. has an obligation to continue working with the African Union and NATO, to provide technical and military assistance to their peacekeeping forces, and to aid in the peace process. Measures such as the enforcement of the no-fly zone and other diplomatic tools are extremely valuable and desperately needed. The American public supports these efforts, and the United States has a unique opportunity to ensure that the promise of “never again” does not continue to be overlooked.
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