Political Quotes

“I return to the floor to discuss the ongoing genocide in Darfur. Most of the discussion on the floor of the Senate and in Congress for the last several weeks has been about Iraq, and appropriately so, yet the time spent dealing with the failed policy in Iraq is a stark reminder of how it also distracts us from so many other critical issues around the world. One issue in particular is the 4-year humanitarian tragedy in the Darfur region of Sudan. Sadly, in front of the global community's eyes, we have witnessed unspeakable horror--mass killings, rape, torture, the torching of homes and entire villages. The estimates of death are wide ranging, from 200,000 to 400,000. Some 22 million people have been displaced from their homes, and there is a mounting refugee crisis in neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic. Despite a worldwide call for action, the tragedy continues. The genocide in Sudan is becoming increasingly complicated and tragic. The violence threatens to destabilize an entire region, and without change there is little end in sight. Today, we have an important opportunity to break the cycle of violence, an opportunity that we must seize. After years of duplicity and stalling, Sudanese President Bashir agreed last month to a significantly expanded joint United Nations- African Union peacekeeping force. We have to seize that opportunity and seize it quickly. Unfortunately, there are already disturbing signs this window may be closing.”