Chris Dodd: “Today is a day of remembrance, but in remembering, we are also called to action. This week, we are debating the…”

“Today is a day of remembrance, but in remembering, we are also called to action. This week, we are debating the President's emergency supplemental request. To his credit, the President has included in that request substantial funds to support the African Union peacekeeping operation in Darfur and new humanitarian assistance. Moreover, the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations is scheduled to brief the Security Council tomorrow, on potential U.N. missions in Darfur. It is my hope that they will advocate a strong United Nations Peacekeeping force, despite Sudanese objections. It is also my fervent hope that we in the Senate actively support an increased international role in Darfur. Because only with our support can any international force hope to meet the enormous challenge of protecting the civilian population and providing a safe environment to supply humanitarian relief. Finally, just as at Nuremberg the international community enforced justice where justice had too long been blind, I call on the Bush administration to actively support the work of the International Criminal Court in prosecuting those individuals who have committed crimes against the people of Darfur and against all humanity. I know the ICC is not popular in some circles of the Bush administration, but I believe it is the best tool we have to enforce the vision of universal justice that was inspired by Nuremberg.…”