13 UN resolutions on Darfur apparently agree on the need for a U.N. peacekeeping force to protect civilians. Nothing's happened. Until sanctions are pressed against Sudanese leaders, until the U.S. cooperates fully with the International Criminal Court to bring indictments against all of them, until the U.S., France, the UK and other European countries make clear that no other interest, economic or political, is more important than ending the atrocities, the killing will go on.

China and Russia think in terms of oil and clout. They should be persuaded they can pursue their goals by other means.

The Arab League is only a coalition of the weak. To be true to their word, western countries have no choice but to send their own troops, however overextended they are militarily. Just a reminder: exactly a year ago a UN summit adopted the novel concept of a collective "Responsibility to Protect" citizens even against their own sovereign government. So far, just another piece of paper.

Darfur is another reminder of the collapse of the international order we have pretended to build since the end of the Cold War.