Since the Security Council mandated a military mission (UNAMID) in July 2007 to protect civilians, the UN operation stands at only sixty-four percent strength. ItÕs hampered by logistical nightmares and often stands helpless to assist the most vulnerable civilians. The joint African Union/UN Òhybrid forceÓ ironically evokes a committee concept and compromise, sending essentially a Òpolitical hybridÓ plug-in vehicle into rough terrain better served by a Hummer or a Land Rover.

Secretary General Ban asserted that the past few months Òwere characterized by a dramatic deterioration in the security situation across Darfur.Ó He conceded that the Ceasefire initiated by the government of President Omar Al-Bashir had not taken hold and that both the rebels and government forces continue to fight. Alarmingly Òtribal clashes over natural resources engulfed southern Darfur on a scale not seen since early 2008.Ó Escalating violence has simply swamped the scattered UN units.

Tragically the humanitarian situation has deteriorated too. ÒContinued violence during the reporting period increased the vulnerability of civilians in Darfur, while additional population displacements increased the number of people dependent on life saving assistance,Ó Ban stated adding ominously, ÒAs a result of the violence the humanitarian organizations have had to reduce movements by road and rely increasingly on air assets.

Militants often target humanitarian workers and abductions and killings are common.

But beyond the justifiable horror over what is happening, a reality-check is necessary. SudanÕs Darfur region is the size of France; yet without any proper roads, infrastructure or fixed population. The UNAMID force, being deployed too little, too late, even under the optimum circumstances would have a size of 26,500 troops and police. ThatÕs considerably smaller that the New York City Police department (NYPD), with an area of responsibility approximately 600 times larger and without roads and transport! Do you begin to see the picture?

Now add the fact that the UNAMID ÒhybridÓ mission is still understaffed and the Secretary General is pressing for troops form Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Tanzania to hurry up and sent their promised contingents. Never mind the Òlogistical constraintsÓ point to little air or helicopter capacity to move the troops over trackless terrain. UN peacekeeping forces are overstretched globally and the UNAMID mission has, to put it very politely, tepid support among military professionals.

While there has been renewed pressures in Washington to go beyond the already significant U.S. humanitarian assistance of the past five years and offer enhanced logistical or military forces, (recall the new American Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice is a Africa policy expert), it appears too late for meaningful intervention. Moreover the U.S. military is already overstretched too. If anything we must use diplomacy to reinforce the shaky North/South accord which ended SudanÕs Islamic/Christian civil war in 2005. The UN still maintains 9,000 peacekeepers in south Sudan.

There have been new developments. SudanÕs Islamic President Omar Al-Bashir has been indicted by the International Criminal Court to stand charges for war crimes. While richly justified, this Òfeel goodÓ measure may only enrage the Khartoum regime, embolden Sudan to stonewall cooperation with the UN on Darfur and in the neglected North/South conflict, and push Sudan into deeper collaboration with the PeopleÕs Republic of China, one of its main trading and political patrons. Given that Sudan has been elected to chair the Group of 77 (actually with 130 developing countries) the Khartoum regime can lobby additional Third World support.

Secretary General Ban stresses, ÒThe escalation in the level of violence in Darfur signals an investment in conflict rather than serious a serious commitment to peaceful negotiations.Ó Ban stated bluntly that the UNAMID operates in an area Òwhere the parties show no intent to give up the use of force.Ó Is it the UNÕs role or that of America to pursue a political mirage in Darfur?