President Bush announced last night that he will take steps to pressure the government of Sudan, which he called "a disaster area for all human rights," to end its war against Christians and others unwilling to convert to Islam.
A variety of Republican constituencies, including Christian conservatives, have called on the administration to do more to stop persecutions by the government of Sudan, Africa's largest country in size, where civil war and famine have cost millions of lives.
Bush said he has appointed the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Andrew Natsios, as a special humanitarian coordinator to ensure that U.S. aid to Sudan "goes to the needy, without manipulation by those ravaging that troubled land."
"We must turn the eyes of the world upon the atrocities in Sudan," Bush told the American Jewish Committee.
Bush's action was praised by Elliott Abrams, a former assistant secretary of state and now chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, a government commission that has called Sudan "the world's most violent abuser of the right to freedom of religion."
"Clearly, more will be needed, because food aid is only one part of the Sudanese puzzle, but this is a terrific first step," Abrams said.
The commission has called for the appointment of a special envoy of the caliber of James A. Baker III, the former secretary of state.
Bush made the announcement in a speech calling for greater religious liberty worldwide. He criticized China, Iraq, Iran, Burma, Cuba and Afghanistan.
The president began by describing the marvels he discovered during a visit to Israel in 1998. "At the first meeting of my National Security Council, I told them a top foreign policy priority is the safety and security of Israel," Bush said.
Bush held discussions earlier in the day with Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, assuring the veteran politician that the United States remains involved in trying to reverse the spiral of Middle East violence.
Peres, who has urged U.S. officials to help arrange a truce after eight months of clashes between Israelis and Palestinians, said Israel would welcome the Bush administration as a "facilitator" in any upcoming peace talks.