lickety jackblog

Sarge: As though he were responding to our conversation, LA Times reporter Ken Silverstein has this to say about the United States's relationship with Sudan (there is still good journalism out there):

Official Pariah Sudan Valuable to America's War on Terrorism

"As recently as September, then-Secretary of State Colin L. Powell accused Sudan of committing genocide in putting down an armed rebellion in the western province of Darfur. And the administration warned that the African country's conduct posed 'an extraordinary threat to the national security' of the United States.

"Sudan has 'given us specific information that is … important, functional and current,' said a senior State Department official who agreed to discuss intelligence matters on condition of anonymity. The official acknowledged that the Mukhabarat could become a 'top tier' partner of the CIA.

"In exchange for the collaboration, which has been largely unpublicized, Khartoum wants to be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. It is also pressing Washington to lift long-standing economic sanctions barring most trade between the two countries."

posted by Little Gordie @ 2:41 PM