Blog Chatter on Obama's Pick for Darfur Envoy

So, at long last, we have a US Special Envoy to Darfur. Much of the chatter in the blogosphere is focused on the significance of Major General J. Scott Gration's Air Force background --- a bit unusual, given that envoys are often picked from the ranks of career diplomats, but uniquely suited to the task at hand with Bashir.

Tim Fernholz at The American Prospect comments:

"One general rule of thumb about special envoys, who exist somewhat outside the typical State Department bureaucracy, is that they are only as successful abroad as they are influential back in Washington. At first glance, it seems that Gration passes that test. Gration actually grew up in Africa and has spent substantial time there as an adult. But he isn't a career diplomat, so there is some concern that the tricky political situation in the region may prove a challenge. On the other hand, if anyone could argue successfully for a no-fly zone over the conflict-ridden territory, it would be a former Air Force general. Appointing a military man to speak for the U.S. in the region is certainly a pointed sign to the Khartoum regime."

Dave Young echoes this last point on the Save Darfur blog:

"The appointment of an experienced combat pilot and military leader also sends a not-so-subtle message to the Bashir regime-the Obama administration has chosen to send a warrior instead of a bureaucrat. Bashir has a lengthy history of attempting to mislead or intimidate international representatives-neither tactic is likely to work with General Gration."

John Boonstra at UN Dispatch sees the appointment as an indication that the administration takes Sudan seriously, as a matter of national security and national interest:

"And as a testament of how important Sudan is to American foreign policy, not only in a moral sense, but in a fundamentally interest-based one, this is an appreciable development."

Other responses to the appointment:

Stop Genocide Now has a great video with Darfuri reactions to the appointment

Will Inboden, writing at ForeignPolicy.com, reminds us not to "confuse an appointment with action" (and offers several other useful pieces of advice.)