Back to Sudan

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Posted by Joel Mathis January 11, 2005 at 9:38 a.m.

Sen. Sam Brownback weighs in on the ongoing crisis in Sudan with a Washington Post op-ed cowritten with Sen. Jon Corzine, a New Jersey Democrat."It has been five months since Congress declared that genocide was occurring in that region of western Sudan," the pair write in the piece, ["Stop the Genocide."][1] "Since then, however, the situation has deteriorated. The fighting between the government in Khartoum and the rebels in Darfur has escalated. Peace talks have collapsed, and even relief organizations such as Save the Children have pulled out of the region."The pair recommend deployment of a "real" peacekeeping force, made up of thousands of troops from other African countries, with U.S. and European "advisers" to provide technical assistance, if necessary. And governments must increase the pressure to stop the ongoing violence in Sudan."Religious organizations, civic groups, student activists and many others have said, with the passion that comes with moral clarity, that the only thing that matters is whether lives have been saved," Brownback and Corzine write. "We must heed their call and stop the genocide. "Other links:Dennis Moore links [Grant to help some get to suburban jobs:][2] "U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore on Monday announced a $500,000 federal grant to continue funding a transportation program to help lower-income urban workers get to jobs in the suburbs," reports The Kansas City Star. "However, the grant announced Monday is down from last year's $2.6 million. Grants for the program in previous years were about $1 million."Jerry Moran links [Farm policy debate presents challenges, opportunities:][3] "While addressing a conference at the American Farm Bureau Federation's 86th annual meeting in Charlotte, N.C., Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said the federal budget deficit poses the most formidable obstacle" to crafting a new farm bill, according to Southeast Farm Press. "Unfortunately, many members of Congress do not see farming and ranching as something they are interested in," Moran said. "We have an urban Congress that sees agricultural spending as the place where the budget can be cut." How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation [here.][4] [1]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64425-2005Jan10.html [2]: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/10613785.htm [3]: http://southeastfarmpress.com/news/011105-policy-debate/ [4]: http://ljworld.com/extra/where_to_write.html#fed