Edwards discusses detailed plan for Sudan (situation "a huge moral issue for America and the world")

Edwards discusses plan for Sudan, criticizes opponents
Monday, April 23, 2007
Associated Press
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--Democratic presidential contender John Edwards on Monday called for news steps to end atrocities in Sudan and criticized rivals who haven't offered specifics on their policies.

Edwards said the United States and its NATO allies need to impose multilateral sanctions against the Sudanese government and a no-fly zone over the country's Darfur region. He also urged leaders to put a United Nations peacekeeping force on the ground to end the fighting that has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced millions.

"This is a huge moral issue for America and the world," Edwards told liberal talk radio host Ed Schultz during a broadcast from the University of North Carolina. "We, along with others, have stood by and watched it continue."

Edwards' plan also calls on President Bush to sanction 29 companies owned or controlled by the Sudanese government and requests the United States convene an emergency meeting of NATO's leadership within 30 days to discuss plans for Darfur.

However, Edwards doesn't want U.S. troops on the ground in the volatile region.

"That would probably do more harm than good," said Edwards' deputy campaign manager, Jonathan Prince.

The Africa plan adds to Edwards' list of detailed policy proposals that include health care, global warming and rural economic recovery plans.
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"Instead of just using rhetoric, I hope that they'll have specific proposals," Edwards said. "If you don't have specific proposals, you're not ready to be president of the United States."

His remarks come just three days before the first Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina.

Prince said Edwards' aggressive policy declarations should help set the tone for Thursdays debate.

"Voters want specifics, not broad goals," Prince said. "It's very important to have details. Government is about choices and decisions, about the hard choices. If you want to be president, you have an obligation to lay those details out."

To formulate his policies, he's worked with some of the nation's leading experts in each subject. Edwards said "the best thinkers in America" contributed to his new book, titled "Ending Poverty in America"--a manifesto on how to end poverty in 30 years.
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Read the rest here.

"His remarks come just three days before the first Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina."

By the way, good for him. The Sudan crisis has been pretty much ignored by everyone...

good job at explaining all of his plans, and answered all the sudience questions clearly and without parsing his words.

I want to thank Shultz for offering an entire hour of radio time to any Dem candidate who's interested. Not very many show hosts would do that.

I'm really looking forward to the First Dem Debate this Thursday at 7PM est on MSNBC. I haveseveral that I really hope do a great job!

:sarcasm:

Although I could be wrong about Kucinich, but I don't think I am.

How about this:

Obama said he would like to shut down the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, end the violence in the Darfur region of Sudan and encourage politicians to "not lead with fear, but with hope."

http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2007/04/23/News/Obama.Campaign.Makes.Bu.Stop-2874593.shtml

I haven't found any Kucinich statements on Sudan, but they must be out there.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/strengtheningamerica/

Check under Conflict in Congo and Stopping the Genocide in Darfur. The guy knows what's going on in Africa.

I'm not used to Obama making his positions known on an important issue which he can pass laws on.