I got an e-mail today from the office of the press secretary at the white house. It seems I’m subscribed to something there. Beats me. The e-mail consists of a press release:

Today, President Bush Announced The Expansion And Tightening Of Economic Sanctions Against The Government Of Sudan. The United States is now taking the steps the President outlined last month because the government of Sudan continues to violate its numerous commitments to stop the violence and suffering in Darfur.

The press release points out, among many things, that the US has given $1.7 billion for Darfur, and ends as follows:

The United States Will Not Avert Our Eyes From A Crisis That Challenges The Conscience Of The World

· The people of Darfur are crying out for our help – and they deserve it.

· The United Nations Security Council, the African Union, and all members of the international community must reject efforts to obstruct implementation of the agreements that would bring peace to Darfur and Sudan.

· President Bashir should stop his obstruction, allow the peacekeepers in, and end the campaign of violence that continues to target innocent men, women, and children.

OK, that’s all well and good I suppose, though claims have been made in other nations that economic sanctions actually hurt the people more than the government.

It occurs to me to ask who is going to sanction US for the mass killings Bush set in motion in Iraq. Then I think maybe we’re already being sanctioned. The world is turning its back on the dollar, and we are losing – or have lost – the world’s respect.

I saw a bumper sticker today:

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