Omar Al-Bashir

As important as the economic crisis is around the world, another crisis situation took place recently.  It made front page news, but has since disappeared and I fear that we will not hear another word.  Omar Al-Bashir, the President of the Sudan regime that has been committing genocide and war crimes for years in Darfur, finally has a warrant for his arrest from the International Criminal Court.  The warrant stopped short of mentioning war crimes, but it is a start toward bringing this heinous man to justice.

Unfortunately, if this is the first step, it is more analogous to the first step of a baby.  It is likely to take a few more, then falter.  The ICC has no legitimate power to serve a warrant - it must rely on individuals to either turn themselves in or be found and taken into custody by somebody else's army.  And sadly, while the world is discussing what to do about this warrant, Omar Al-Bashir made the decision to freeze several of the largest humanitarian aid groups in his country.  Oxfam, for one, serves 600,000 people.

From here, there are two options.  One, internationally condemn the arrest warrant and plead with Sudan to re-instate the NGOs.  Two, internationally condemn Al-Bashir and bring him to justice.  Before his election, President Barack Obama had an exemplary track record on genocide.  Now we will see how he does.