Meet The New Boss, Same As The Old Boss?

Barack Obama famously was against intervention in Iraq from the beginning. He famously said we should have consulted our allies, and particularly the UN before acting. He said we should not have acted alone.

So, how does his nominee for UN Ambassador, Susan Rice, feel about intervention in Darfur?

History demonstrates that there is one language Khartoum understands: the credible threat or use of force....

After swift diplomatic consultations, the United States should press for a U.N. resolution that issues Sudan an ultimatum: accept unconditional deployment of the U.N. force within one week or face military consequences....

The United States, preferably with NATO involvement and African political support, would strike Sudanese airfields, aircraft and other military assets. It could blockade Port Sudan, through which Sudan's oil exports flow. Then U.N. troops would deploy — by force, if necessary, with U.S. and NATO backing.

If the United States fails to gain U.N. support, we should act without it. Impossible? No, the United States acted without U.N. blessing in 1999 in Kosovo to confront a lesser humanitarian crisis (perhaps 10,000 killed) and a more formidable adversary....

Others will insist that, without the consent of the United Nations or a relevant regional body, we would be breaking international law. Perhaps, but the Security Council recently codified a new international norm prescribing "the responsibility to protect." It commits U.N. members to decisive action, including enforcement, when peaceful measures fail to halt genocide or crimes against humanity.

So, maybe those guys leaving Iraq will end up in Sudan. If those voting for Obama thought he would bring the troops home and keep them home, this nomination may give them pause.