July 15, 2008 3:16 PM

Dare We Arrest Omar Hassan al-Bashir?

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has thrown down the gauntlet to the international community by seeking an arrest warrant for Sudan's president - Omar Hassan al-Bashir, on counts of genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Arresting him will no doubt provoke a violent reaction. Not arresting him will demonstrate the continuing helplessness of more powerful countries in preventing genocide (or, for that matter, election theft in Zimbabwe, or an illegal invasion of Iraq!).

Russia and China have vigorously opposed either tough sanctions or prosecution, arguing that such actions jeapordize the peace process. The peace process was taken off life support months ago, giving lie to any interest by Russia or China in addressing the ongoing genocide.

Some have reported that Omar Hassan al-Bashir may be planning a trip to the UN in September. Stay tuned.