I certainly hope the current summit between the government and rebel groups can be salvaged--the potential collapse of talks is a very troubling development.

I have some friends who attended this event, and I challenged them to explain the seeming incongruity between their views on military intervention in Iraq and Darfur.

To my surprise and relief, my friends seemingly had good answers. They were not advocating unilateral military intervention to promote human rights and democracy in a Wilsonian/neo-conservative fashion. Instead they advocate U.N. and international military action to bolster the African union troops who have the inclination but not the resources to prevent genocide.

As an American and a Jew who abhorrs genocide but fears open-ended U.S. military comittments (especially those wage unilaterally), I think this is probably the wisest course to follow. Questions American might and international genocide are always difficult and discomfiting.