A reader points me to this Reuters dispatch reporting that Sudan will issue arrest warrants for six French aid workers who were released from custody in Chad after being pardoned by Chadian President Idris Deby for abducting 103 children. (In case you missed the story when it came out, the short version is that a French humanitarian group tried to "rescue" Darfuri orphans from refugee camps in Chad and deliver them to adopting families in France. It turned out that many of the children were not orphans, nor from Darfur.) The Reuters article notes that Sudan will ask interpol to issue the warrants, so the exasperated reader remarks, "It would be laughable if it weren't so infuriating. The idea of Interpol arresting "criminal" aid workers at the behest of the Sudanese regime boggles the mind."

Just one point of fact. Presumably, Sudan is asking Interpol--the international criminal police organization--to issue what it calls a "Red Notice" for the six aid workers. In many cases, the Red Notice is a functional equivalent to an international arrest warrant because many countries have bi-lateral extradition treaties with each other. But in this case, I sincerely doubt that Interpol will issue a Red Notice at all because the organization's charter prohibits it from issuing Red Notices for people targeted for arrest for anything that smells like political reasons. It would be one thing if these were car thieves, but becausel'affair Zoe's Arkis so wrapped in political controversy, it's hard to imagine any red notices being issued on these aid workers.

In describing the hard political trade-offs that must be made in negotiating peace in Darfur, longtime Sudan expert Alex De Waal, in his aptly named blog, Making Sense of Darfur, offers this insightful nugget into the operations of the young ICC:

Arguably the main role of the ICC is less to mount prosecutions itself and more to push nations to take the rule of law and accountability seriously. We are a long long way from possessing an international rule of law in which it would be possible routinely to enforce justice against perpetrators.

In the cases of both Darfur and Northern Uganda, I have argued that bringing perpetrators to justice -- at least eventually -- is a key aspect of achieving peace and reconciliation. Alex correctly identifies the scale of the difficulties faced by the ICC and the importance of infusing a culture of justice into societies marred by conflict. However, I am not swayed by the implication that the ICC's involvement in Sudan will push that country's government to "take the rule of law and accountability seriously." The system of kangaroo courts that it has implemented to try suspects involved in the Darfur genocide is proof enough that, without a credible threat, the regime will pay only lip service to the notion of accountability. ICC prosecutions are important in their own right -- they need to at least initially be used as sticks, even if, later, they are turned into carrots.

>>Zimbabwe - Despite reports yesterday that President Robert Mugabe would step down after 28 years in power, Zimbabwe's state-run newspaper has reported that a runoff will be held as opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai failed to garner over 50 percent of the vote. Yesterday's reports had suggested that Mugabe thought a runoff would be "demeaning" and that he would rather step down. Both parties have denied the existence of a deal or any negotiations in an attempt to broker a deal. Meanwhile, reports continue to suggest that Zimbabwe's ruling elite is fracturing and has begun to reach out to the opposition for an equitable solution.

>>Olympics - Amnesty International has released a report that says China's human rights record has been getting worse not better in the run up to the Olympics, citing the pre-Olympics "clean-up" of Beijing and crackdowns in Tibet. Nancy Pelosi, who just met with the Dalai Lama, suggested on Tuesday that President Bush should consider skipping the opening ceremonies. Meanwhile, China has accused the Dalai Lama and his followers of building arsenals in preparation for an escalation of the conflict, which the Chinese say could include suicide attacks. China's president Hu Jintao ordered his security forces to place top priority on the Olympic games in August because "without security guarantees the national image will be lost." India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee warned the Dalai Lama against damaging political activity directed at China.

>>NATO - In remarks prior to the opening of a three-day NATO summit in Bucharest, President Bush reiterated his support for Georgia's and the Ukraine's membership in the body and pressed France and Germany to do the same. This sets up a potentially contentious discussion at the opening dinner where the Summit's agreements will be decided. NATO decisions require unanimity among the members.

• Even More Iraqis Are Displaced Than Previously Estimated
• ICC Movement in Darfur
• "You've Got to Have Faith to Build a Better World"
• Possibly stunning news out of Zimbabwe
• Bankok Update

Africa

• Rwanda - Kagame's fury at Spanish warrants
• Sudan - Chad accused Sudan on raid
• Sudan - Chad: Army Battles Rebels Near Sudan
• Nigeria - Nigeria's immorality is about hypocrisy, not miniskirts
• Somalia - Briton shot by kidnap gang in Somalia
• Egypt - Egypt shrugs off slowdown but faces inflation risk
• Kenya - Kenyan police fire teargas at protesters
• Egypt - Egypt seizes German magazine over Islam portrayal
• Kenya - Nobel winner tear-gassed in Kenya

Americas

• Ecuador - Ecuador assembly OKs ban on foreign military bases
• Argentina - Argentina: Huge March for Kirchner
• Argentina - Architects of the new Argentina
• Colombia - Colombia sitting on big oil reserves
• U.S. - American dream hit by dollar's decline
• Cuba - Cubans rush to buy DVD players, electric bikes
• Argentina - Argentina says making routine checks of beef trade
• Colombia - Sarkozy urges Betancourt release
• Mexico - Administration moves to bypass laws to complete Mexico border fence this year
• Jamaica - Jamaica poor 'at mercy of gangs'
• Mexico - Mexico: American-Owned Bank Bombed
• Ecuador - Ecuador Sues Colombia Over Coca Spraying

Asia

• Russia - Russia sends aid to Kosovo Serbs
• Afghan - Bush Urges Patience in Afghanistan
• China - Paulson urges China to have dialogue on Tibet
• Myanmar - Myanmar opposition says "No" to new constitution
• China - China confirms Xinjiang protests
• Korea - US envoy calls on N Korea to act
• Afghan - Afghan Taliban say attack Dutch over anti-Islam film
• Pakistan - Pakistan nuclear scientist hopes to be freed: paper
• India - For India, Tibet Poses Some Delicate Issues
• Korea - South Korea asks angry North to stop firing insults

Europe

• France - France to send Colombia mission
• Hungary - Hungary Free Dems reject call to stay in govt
• Hungary - Hungary's Socialists rejected PM resignation
• France - France sets out Afghan deployment
• France - EADS probe finds insider dealing

Middle East

• Iraq - From a Beirut Cell, an Iraqi Watches as the U.S. Finally Takes His Advice
• Iraq - Iraqi Deaths Are on the Rise Again During Clashes With Militias
• Iraq - In Baghdad, Iraqis Take Their Humor Extra Dark
• Israel - Gaza: 2 Killed as Violence Declines
• Yemen - Yemen: Tanks Sent to Quell Riots
• Iraq - Iraqi casualties at highest level since August
• Israel - Sick Gazans die in "avoidable tragedies": WHO
• Iraq - Medal of Honor for Navy Officer in Iraq