Confronting Sudan

The New York Times
November 15, 2005

To the Editor:

I was heartened to read about the resolve of Robert B. Zoellick, the deputy secretary of state, in confronting the government of Sudan on his most recent trip there ("Violence and Refugee Numbers Grow in Sudan, U.S. Official Finds," news article, Nov. 11).

Mr. Zoellick was forthright in demanding answers about the nearly three-year-long government-sponsored genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.

But Sudan could not pursue this destructive course without help: China is Sudan's largest trading partner, buying up its oil and investing heavily in its petroleum industry. Oil revenue from China and elsewhere is used by the Sudanese government to buy the arms for its continuing campaign against Darfur's civilians.

President Bush will soon travel to China for a state visit. I urge him to insist that his hosts take public steps to force Sudan's leaders to end the genocide in Darfur, and to stop doing business in Sudan until they do.

Ruth Messinger

President and Executive Director, American Jewish World Service