Associated Press
Washington – President Bush’s special envoy for Sudan, Andrew Natsios, has resigned, U.S. officials said Friday.
Natsios oversaw a push to end the violence that the United States calls genocide in Sudan’s troubled western Darfur region and worked to maintain a 2005 peace agreement that ended decades of civil war between north and south Sudan.
The officials who confirmed Natsios’ resignation spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to make the announcement, which was expected from the White House along with the nomination of his successor, former deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Richard Williamson.
Williamson, a senior Republican party official in Illinois, is close to current Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, whom he worked under when Negroponte was the top U.S. envoy at the U.N.
No details of Natsios’ resignation were immediately available but several officials and Darfur observers said he had been frustrated by bureaucratic infighting within the administration over Sudan policy and recently informed Bush and White House chief of staff Josh Bolten of his intention to resign. Others noted he had accepted the job for a one-year tour.
Bush appointed Natsios to the position in September 2006. From 2001 to 2005, he served as administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the U.S. foreign aid program.
After news of the resignation became public, Darfur advocates immediately called for the White House to appoint a full-time envoy to deal with the crisis that has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million since 2003 when the region’s ethnic African rebels began fighting the Arab-dominated Sudanese government and its militia allies.
“The president should appoint a full-time envoy answering directly to him, and end the crippling turf battles once and for all,” said John Prendergast of the Save Darfur Coalition.
Prendergast said Williamson, who is known as Rich, is a “hard-nosed negotiator” who cares deeply about the plight of the Sudanese people and might be more able than Natsios to break through the bureaucracy to make a mark on Sudan policy.
Earlier this week, Congress passed legislation that would allow states, localities and private investors in the United States to cut their investment ties with Sudan.
The legislation adds to sanctions already in place against the Khartoum government meant to pressure Sudan into ending the murderous violence in Darfur region of the country but the Bush administration has expressed concerns about Congress authorizing state and local divestment policies in the foreign policy area.
Bush, however, is expected to sign the bill.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Beliefnet
Advertisement
posted December 21, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Hmm…I have to admit this apparent “in-fighting” about Darfur is a bit unsettling. What is it over? I suppose different policy ideas to deal with the crisis, though as I see it there are few things America can do, other than sanctions.
God bless.
posted December 21, 2007 at 9:37 pm
It would be great to know what Natsios really thinks. Bush has talked a far better game than he’s played, but when has he played a good game?
Darfut would seem to be another lesson to the world that people need to look out for themselves because there’s not likely to be help from abroad. Iraq is the lesson be careful what you ask for; you might get it brought by a dummy.
On an at most tangentially related issue, I just saw “Charlie Wilson’s War” and I recommend it highly. Pertinent history, great acting and an important lesson about end games.
posted December 21, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Oh, and with all that it’s a lot of fun.
posted December 22, 2007 at 11:33 am
No one is pleased with the UN ideas for a dried catfood-type kibble that used to be passed out in lieu of American or Western ideas of Nutritious food for both children and adults in Sudan. The stuff is made in Albania where “artificial foodstuffs” of all descriptions are made (“space food” that causes diarrhea in humans) Nobody wants to eat this stuff or wonder why that “microwave beef stew” for your hotel room is made in Albania out of evil diarrhea-producing ingredients –
Albania isn’t a recognized country in the UN but has a rep in NYC. It considered a “rogue state”, a no-man’s land on the Adriatic not a country.
Also, the Chinese significantly reduced the birth rate with a law about “one child per family” since the 1960s and single people take a vow of abstinence from deviational sexual activity which they believe is evil and saps the chi.
How about abstinence training in Sudan instead of the crude method of population control called “genocide”??
– Just a postulation!
posted December 22, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Arlene:
You seem to have an opinion on what food is passed out by the UN to children and adults in Sudan. What source are you using for your knowledge and it’s “artificial foodstuffs” that causes diarrhea in humans?
What do you have against Albania?
Yes, the Chinese have a one child policy, so as to reduce their overpopulation. So since that is the policy, female infants are killed or thrown away or put up for adoption. Is this a satisfactory solution for you? Disposing of female children? I also suspect that abortions are done very frequently, when the gender of the child is known with untrasound.
As to that vow of abstinence by single folks? Do you really think all of Chinese singles are not having sex? That is what birth control methods are for…pill, IUD, morning after pills, condoms. In the past when sex was a taboo subject, maybe, but now? NO.
Yes, lets teach the folks who are starving in Sudan’s Darfur region ABSTINENCE! I really think they’d rather eat than listen to that. How’s about teaching birth control methods?
And what has this to do with the envoy resigning?
posted December 22, 2007 at 3:54 pm
I’m very grateful for the Chinese one-child policy. They had a serious problem (too many people and way too many to come) and instituted an effective solution. If it’s not an entirely satisfying situation that’s because it’s a hard problem to solve. Our population has gotten so large that our natural inclination to have multiple children just gets us in deeper trouble. I say “stop at two” but their problem was more obviously severe.
Considering the size of China’s population, we’d all be in a lot worse trouble if China had not made that decision. So before we complain about the solution let’s think about the problem it’s solving.
posted December 22, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Considering the impact each US citizen, on average, has on the world’s energy use and waste, the US has a serious population problem, too. We are a long way from having the political will to recognize it, let alone deal with it. And it may be with energy shortages it will become enough more expensive to have and raise children that economics will solve a lot of the problem, as it has in various other parts of the world.
Of course terrorism and the crazy idea of a war between “the west” and Islam has some foolish people thinking we need more young people as cannon fodder. Foolishness can kill us in so many ways!
posted December 22, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Since the topic of abortion of females in Asia came up, here’s a NYT article about the end of most such abortions in South Korea and why it’s happening. One can certainly hope similar trends will show up in China.
posted December 24, 2007 at 7:20 pm
nnmns:
I agree that the Chinese needed to stop exploding child wise and have only one. They seem to have gotten the population much more under control, with their 1 kid per couple. Wouldn’t it be nice if they would accept the female children as they happen and not get rid of them, trying to have a male child? I know it is a cultural thing…but I find it unacceptable to kill off the female children.
I too have the feeling the U.S. is beginning to have more than 2 children, hearing it on the news as well as noticing that many families now have 3 and 4 little people walking downd that malls!
posted December 24, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Yes, it would be far better if they accepted the female children as they happen. And healthier for their society, too. Perhaps they need to do what South Korea did. I sure hope the economic development has that effect.
posted December 24, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Often wondered how the Chinese think they can continue to reproduce if there are no more females?? Do they thing of that?