Darfur

I couldn't agree more with Kristoff.

Of the ongoing Darfur crisis in Sudan:

Yet while Mr. Bush has done far too little, he has at least issued a written statement, sent aides to speak forcefully at the U.N. and raised the matter with Sudan's leaders. That's more than the Europeans or the U.N. has done. Where are Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac? Where are African leaders, like Nelson Mandela? Why isn't John Kerry speaking out forcefully? And why are ordinary Americans silent?

Islamic leaders abroad have been particularly shameful in standing with the Sudanese government oppressors rather than with the Muslim victims in Darfur. Do they care about dead Muslims only when the killers are Israelis or Americans?

I've already noted that for all our failure to achieve to the fullest realization of our ideals - we are often still the nation most willing to consistently apply them.

"If America and Americans were silent about American shortcomings and those of others, who else would speak up and how forcefully?"

I can't say that Kristoff is being entirely fair in his characterization of global response to date. But I share his dismay, and I hope that we can find our collective voice. We needn't invade (and practically, we simply can't) but there is yet more we can do. It's impossible to be optimistic about our chances of having an actual impact, whatever our efforts. But if our actions elicit another angry editorial from Xinhua we can at least consider them a limited success...