Is a direct attack against the Sudanese government an option?

An aerial assault against the Sudanese government in Khartoum has the potential of ending the Darfurian genocide without a single American life lost, writes Mark Helprin in an op-ed in Tuesday’s New York Times.

Helprin believes a direct attack against Khartoum’s war machine, or a threat there of, is the best way to end the genocide in Darfur. Khartoum’s continued aggressive tactics and clear disregard for international opinion demonstrate that some level of force must be used, he suggests. Yet the inability of the multinational troops to wage successful combat leaves the people of Darfur with no reprieve. A brief coordinated strike by American forces, however, could destroy Khartoum’s air force on the ground and their ability to supply and support the janjaweed in Darfur. Helprin says this could be accomplished without one American boot on Sudanese soil.

How fast might the government in Khartoum come to terms with the international community, Helprin wonders, if it knew this was a possibility?

For the full op-ed, click here.