Russ Feingold: “Time and time again, history has taught us that preventing a crisis is much less complicated and costly than ending and…”

“Time and time again, history has taught us that preventing a crisis is much less complicated and costly than ending and repairing the damage caused by a humanitarian tragedy. The clumsy and irresolute response to the current crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan, however, shows we still have not learned this painful lesson. While the world's leaders condemn the atrocities but delay taking strong action, the vile hatred and unspeakable violence that has resulted in the death and displacement of hundreds of thousands of innocent people in Darfur has now spread to actually infect nearby areas, destabilizing neighboring countries and fueling a downward spiral of conflict and insecurity throughout the region. I am especially disturbed by evidence that the brutal tactics of Darfur--and their tragic consequences--have now, in part, been transferred across the distant western border into eastern Chad and the Central African Republic.”