US Congress 'Deeply Concerned' About Darfur, Approves More F-16s for Israel
Aid agencies in Sudan's Darfur region are facing a horrific dilemma, forced to choose who to save amidst escalating violence and insufficient resources, according to The New Arab. This grim reality unfolds as the US Congress, fresh off approving aid for another ongoing conflict, expresses its 'deep concern' about the humanitarian situation in Sudan, a classic DC move. While Darfur grapples with
genocidal violence—a term the US itself used in 2004 for the same region—the Biden administration recently approved a massive $14.3 billion military aid package for Israel, with a chunk earmarked for sophisticated F-16 fighter jets. One might wonder about the timing. Just last year, several members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who now bemoan Darfur's plight, took significant donations
from groups heavily lobbying for increased aid to Israel. For instance, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX 10th District), a vocal proponent of 'humanitarian principles,' received $92,000 from pro-Israel groups in 2023, per OpenSecrets.org, while advocating for aid 6,000 miles away. So, Darfur's children starve, but Washington ensures military superiority elsewhere. Priorities, apparently, are a matter of
geography and lobbying power.