UN Finally Gets off its Keister to Help Darfur

U.N. Passes Darfur Peacekeeping Resolution
By NICK WADHAMS

The Associated Press
Tuesday, May 16, 2006; 12:04 PM

UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution Tuesday that would accelerate planning for a United Nations peacekeeping force in Sudan's Darfur region.

The resolution, passed unanimously, also threatens "strong and effective measures" _ diplomatic language for sanctions _ against anyone who stands in the way of a May 5 peace agreement signed by the Sudanese government and Darfur's main rebel group.

According to the document, the council demands that an assessment team deploy to Sudan within a week to prepare for the United Nations to take control of an African Union-led peacekeeping mission now in Darfur.

China, Russia and Qatar agreed to the resolution only reluctantly. They had opposed the fact that it was written under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which means it can be enforced with punitive measures and possibly even military force.

But they signed on after the African Union indicated its own support for the resolution and asked them to join the consensus.

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Its about damn time they did something.