Joint AU-UN force in Darfur still lacking crucial equipment, Ban says

The title above is borrowed from a just-released UN dispatch reporting that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "warns that the mission continues to lack crucial equipment required to enhance the capability of both its military and police units." It quotes Ban: "continuing shortfalls in terms of the self-sustainment of military and formed police units remain a challenge to the operational capability of the mission." As the dispatch notes, "Helicopters and military vehicles such as armoured personnel carriers continue to be in short supply."

Ban's diplomatic comments scarcely reflect the depth of the disingenuity required from wealthy nations to continue issuing grand statements of moral outrage over Darfur while scarcely lifting a finger to alleviate the crises through obvious avenues of action. Ban's polite words are destined to be utterly ignored, as have all his past statements on the topic.