Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Regarding the Jan. 13 news story "Attack Seen as Setback for U.N. in Darfur":

Reporter Colum Lynch described the challenges facing the "ill-prepared peacekeeping force" in Sudan. Outmanned, outgunned and outspent, a hoped-for total of 26,000 blue helmets will try desperately to bring peace to a war zone in which hundreds of thousands have died. Tragically, the United States has largely ignored the genocide while the United Nations looks elsewhere for troops.

While I refuse to join President Bush's fiasco in Iraq, I would gladly serve as a peacekeeper in Darfur. The United States should send an all-volunteer force there immediately -- I would be the first to sign up.

ALAN KENNEDY-SHAFFER

Williamsburg