Security Council passes Darfur resolution

With China, Russia, Pakistan, and Algeria abstaining, the U.N. Security Council passed the U.S.-sponsored resolution yesterday threatening to consider oil sanctions on Sudan, calling for an expanded African Union force in Darfur, and calling for the establishment of a commission to investigate charges of genocide and human rights violations. This is the watered-down version of the resolution that merely threatens to consider sanctions. While abstaining this time, China has promised to veto any attempt to actually impose sanctions on Sudan's oil industry (of which China is a major customer) effectively rendering the sanctions provision useless. However, if this resolution gives the African Union the top cover necessary to put 3,000 or so troops into Darfur, it will have done some good.