Reactions to Administration's announcement on Sudan Policy

Enough Project / Sudan Now campaign: "The Sudan Now campaign, which comprises several human rights and anti-genocide groups, commends the Obama Administration for constructing a clear statement of U.S. policy in support of a sustainable peace in Sudan. However, the Administration’s diplomatic efforts to date have led member organizations to question whether the policy, as articulated today, will be fully implemented in the days ahead. Success will require President Obama, Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Clinton to live up to campaign promises and ensure that consequences are put into practice now for committing mass atrocities and undermining peace efforts."

John Prendergast op-ed (published Monday, before the strategy was released): "The essential problem with such a policy and with the envoy's diplomacy is that neither takes on today's fundamental challenge: how to deal with a regime bent on blocking southern Sudan's independence referendum and militarily defeating Darfurian rebels, and that does so by attacking civilians and burning villages. Instead, the envoy is floating alternatives to the southern referendum and pursuing other diplomatic approaches that are damaging to peace efforts.
At five minutes till midnight, the only variable that can prevent a descent into all-out war in Sudan is U.S. global leadership in negotiating a deal for Darfur and ensuring implementation of the referendum for the south. President Obama must be willing to construct and then utilize the multilateral pressures necessary to achieve these objectives, or Sudan will continue to burn."

Save Darfur Coalition: "The Save Darfur Coalition cautiously welcomed the release today of the long awaited results of the Obama Administration’s Sudan policy review, but emphasized that its success will depend on implementation backed by sustained presidential leadership. The policy is built around a balance of incentives and pressures similar to what Save Darfur and its partners have been calling for."