Darfur stalemate for UN (David Blair)

Telegraph Blogs: David Blair: 16 Nov 2006: Darfur stalemate for UN. Excerpt:

Today in Addis Ababa, the five permanent members of the Security Council and a multitude of officials and representatives of Sudan's regime have gathered for a big conference.

They are trying to agree on a "hybrid" peacekeeping force which would probably combine elements of the UN and of the African Union. Its mandate, deployment timetable and everything else are up for negotiation.

In other words, Resolution 1706 is being renegotiated at this moment. I know that plenty of UN resolutions have not been implemented. But 1706 was only passed 10 weeks ago and it's already being pulled to pieces.

British officials say they must be realistic and flexible. Sudan has vetoed a UN force. That's the reality of the situation. So everyone needs to find a formula for a peacekeeping force that's acceptable to Khartoum. We can't just walk away and leave Darfur to suffer. Fair enough.

But we always knew that Sudan would veto a UN force. So why pass the Resolution if you know it's got no chance of being implemented?

I wish David Blair would interview Col Gaddafi to find out what he thinks.