Demagogue

Why Do These Men Look Bored?

From today's Washington Post:

President Bush and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan agreed on the need for a bigger, more mobile peacekeeping force in Sudan's troubled Darfur region during a White House meeting yesterday ...

Well, that's encouraging.

... but Annan made no specific requests for U.S. military help.

Speaking to reporters after the Oval Office session, Annan said it is premature to ask for more than a general commitment from the United States until the United Nations determines what it needs for the planned peacekeeping force in Darfur.

"Once we've defined the requirements, then we will approach the governments to see specifically what each of them will do in terms of troops, in terms of equipment," Annan said.

Roughly 180,000 people have been killed, and 2 million people have been forced from their homes over the past three years. And more people are dying every week. But please don't feel there's any need to hurry, Mr. Annan.

Just take your time and make sure you all define "the requirements" for multilateral intervention.

In the meantime, let's get another photo of you and the president, smiling and telling us how much you guys care about those poor, desperate people in Darfur. We know you've made these kinds of public statements dozens of times, but try not to look bored.