Darfur, the Economy and Presidential Politics
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After Rwanda, the United Nations said it would step in when governments failed to protect their people from genocide. Darfur is the first test, but the government of Sudan is defiant. Is international intervention an empty promise? Also, the White House and leaders of Congress have reached a tentative deal on stimulating the economy, and Obama and Clinton in South Carolina; in Florida, the incredible, vanishing Giuliani.
Photo: Daniel Barry/Getty Images
Main Topic
Can the United Nations Bring Peace to Darfur? ()
After the genocide in Rwanda, the United Nations General Assembly accepted responsibility to intervene when governments are not protecting their own people from mass atrocities. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has reportedly said that is fundamental to the future of the UN itself. In Darfur, the western province of Sudan, the commitment called "the responsibility to protect" is facing its first test, as Sudan's President hired the man human rights leaders call "the poster child for atrocities." Is there hope for international intervention? Will it be like Rwanda all over again?
Guests:
- Opheera McDoom: Correspondent, Reuters News Service
- Edmond Mulet: Assistant Secretary General, UN Peacekeeping Operations
- Stephen Smith: Professor in African Studies, Duke University
- John Prendergast: Founder, Enough Project
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Making News
Congress, White House Reach Tentative Stimulus Deal ()
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader John Boehner and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson negotiated late last night. Tough compromises produced a tentative package for stimulating the economy. Kevin Hall, national economics correspondent for the McClatchy Newspapers, has more on the tentative stimulus package.
Guests:
- Kevin Hall: National Economics Correspondent, McClatchy Newspapers
Reporter's Notebook
Giuliani Slips in Latest Florida Polls ()
After ducking out of the early contests, Rudi Giuliani has spent big time and big money in Florida, where Republicans will be voting next Tuesday. But the latest polls show a 20- to 30-point lead has vanished, and he's now in third or fourth place behind McCain, Romney, and perhaps tied with Huckabee. On Saturday the Democrats will face off in South Carolina, where Barack Obama has a big lead. It's dropped a bit, but the big story could be John Edwards. We get a campaign update from Susan MacManus, who teaches political science at the University of South Florida, and David Corn, political editor for Mother Jones magazine.
Guests:
- Susan MacManus: Professor of Political Science, University of South Florida
- David Corn: Washington Bureau Chief, Mother Jones
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