In an article that did not receive very much attention, US Reps Brad Miller and GK Butterfield declared unequivocally that we must take the lead in Darfur.

Congressman Butterfield had the following to say:

As a last resort, if we must use force, we're going to have to do so in order to save millions of people being slaughtered

Congressman Miller backed him up, agreeing that the use of force must be considered.

However, unlike the President, both believe that force must only be used when other nations back the idea.

Ultimately, this is a moral question.  We have a moral imperative to stop genocide.  However, Brad Miller worries that our invasion of Iraq, and continued presence might have eroded our moral authority to the point where we may not be able to properly lead on this issue.

What type of leadership are these two providing on the issue?

They visited a refugee camp health clinic. They also decided, against the advice of their security patrol, to venture among the thatched straw huts of the camp and talk with refugees.

There, they drove fast (to avoid militia members living among refugees) through the sand and saw children clinging to their mothers. Men were noticeably absent, Butterfield said.

Brad highlighted the big problem in controlling this area, by pointing out that there are only 5,000 troops in Darfur.  For a little perspective, consider that the Darfur region is about 1/4 of Sudan.  Sudan has an area the size of 1/4 of the US.  This means that 5,000 troops are expected to protect almost a million people living in an area that is about 2/3 the size of France.

So, why did I say that these two Congressman are leading?  Well, Senators, not Representatives, are supposed to lead on foreign issues.  What do our Senators have to say?
A quick search for comments by both Liddy Dole and Dick Burr yielded the following:

Yeah, you read that right.  Nothing.  When I was young I was taught that all it takes for evil to win in this world is for "good men to do nothing."  Well, Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr are doing and saying nothing to stop this genocide.

How about some other Senators?
Over a year and a half ago, Obama and Brownback co-wrote this powerful Op-Ed.

Obama has continued talking about the crisis, and his issues page gives him credit for the US aid that was used to help fund the African troops that are there right now, and will be going later.
Obama had the following to say a while ago:

the United States should support the immediate deployment of an effective international force to disarm militia, protect civilians and facilitate delivery of humanitarian assistance in Darfur.

Edwards has not expressly endorsed force, but he does think we need to do something soon.

He asked his audience to imagine themselves being a resident of a poor country, watching the United States declare the situation in Darfur a genocide then do little to stop it, or declining to spend more of its wealth to buy inexpensive medicine to save babies dying from AIDS. "What would you think?" he said.

"This has to change."

Biden is so far the only Senator (that I can find) to call for the use of force:

"I would use American force now," Biden said at a hearing before his committee. "I think it's not only time not to take force off the table. I think it's time to put force on the table and use it."

Biden said senior U.S. military officials told him that 2,500 U.S. troops could "radically change the situation on the ground now."

Even Feingold hasnt gone so far as to say we must stop this genocide through the use of force.

So, why does this matter? Because we need Senators who will lead on this issue.  We need Senators who are not afraid to take strong stands on big issues.  In case you havent seen it, we are trying to convince Brad Miller to run against Elizabeth Dole.  

My question to you is, would you rather someone who believes in bringing the world together to stop a genocide that has already claimed 200 to 400 thousand lives.  Or, would you rather a Senator who cant even be bothered to speak out against this tragedy?

I think the choice is clear.