Laura Rozen talks about how the Bush administration has softened its stance on the Sudanese government in regards to Darfur, preferring political expediency over human rights concerns. One thing thats left out of the analysis, however, is the impact of oil.
China has been cozying up to Bashir’s regime for awhile now, primarily because Sudan is teeming with underdeveloped oil stores. It’s one reason why a Security Council resolution on Darfur, even if the US or EU wanted it, would never get through. The US currently in the midst of an economic oil crunch and has been re-evaluating its energy policies and its access to stores of oil the world over, and Sudan appears to be an area ripe for further exploration. With China making the first move to control Sudan’s oil, the Bush administration is attempting to catch up as quickly as possible without further tarnishing its reputation on human rights.
A race to control unclaimed oil is on between the US and China, and it’s blatantly obvious that the Bush administration is more than willing to throw out moralistic restraints in order to satiate the country’s desire for cheap fuel.