South Sudan

Woke up today and was thrilled to hear of South Sudan's independence.

This is good news overall, I think. I've followed news from Darfur and the Sudan region for years, so it means a bit to me.

But this also concerns me. First of all, I think this will isolate Darfur even further. I'm worried that the South Sudanese will be too busy beginning their own government to help the rebel cause in Darfur. I'm also worried that the North may try to up the violence in Darfur, or even begin fighting the South.

My other worry is that the new government may fail -- whether because of inexperience or violence, I do not know. But I don't think the United States needs to get involved at all, beyond sending them support. If we have a relationship with them, it should be fair and it should be symbiotic. We give them money in exchange for oil, or something. They have a lot of oil. I don't think we should just give them money or anything because that could bite us in the ass later.

Also. I don't know much about Palestine and its fight for independence. But I think the US's support of South Sudan makes us look very bad to whoever supports a Palestinian state. That may also create tension.

So.

Any thoughts, my colleagues?