The latest UN Resolution on Sudan has broken new ground:

The U.N. Security Council at the weekend adopted a resolution warning that it "will envisage" sanctions against the Sudanese oil industry unless Khartoum ends attacks on civilians in its western region of Darfur.

Great work! I never would have thought of a resolution which warned Sudan that sanctions will be imagined if they continue to kill civilians. I believe this opens up a whole new scope for future U.N. resolutions. It also means that this needs to be playing in the elevators at the NY headquarters, if it is not already.

Of course, there remain some who continue to decry sanctions, even imaginary ones:

Spokesman for the 22-member Arab League, Hussam Zaki, said sanctions would not help resolve the crisis or encourage the warring parties -- government-backed militias and two local rebel groups -- to end it. He said sanctions "will have the opposite effect."

"It is important that the international community give the parties enough time to implement their obligations and work to get the sides to resolve the crisis instead of a confrontation."

A similar message came from the Muslim World League, whose council said in a statement that the international community should give Sudan more time to solve the crisis.

Sanctions would merely increase civilian sufferings and reduce the chances of resolving the crisis, it said.

They believe that confrontation is bad, be it military or economic, a position which makes them sound like model U.N. members. To further clarify their position, I have take the liberty of putting together job descriptions for all the 'players' in this 'situation': Who knows how this situation will turn out. One thing is certain...Kofi and company have definitely set themselves up as candidates for next year's Nobel Peace Prize.