This morning, Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick -- who coordinated the Bush administration's efforts to stop genocide in Darfur, Sudan -- announced his resignation. Zoellick's resignation leaves a huge hole in the United States' response to a situation declared by President Bush to be "clearly genocide" in which "the human cost is beyond calculation."

Please tell the president to take the next steps toward protecting civilians in Darfur by appointing a special envoy to Darfur.

www.GenocideIntervention.net/DarfurEnvoy

Last month, Deputy Secretary Zoellick helped broker a peace agreement in Darfur, an important first step. Yet with hundreds of thousands in Darfur already dead, millions more displaced and many more at risk every day, we must continue to press for a protection force that can disarm the militias, maintain the ceasefire and enforce the peace.

Tell President Bush to appoint a special envoy to Darfur and press for a UN peacekeeping force on the ground no later than October. We cannot wait any longer!

www.GenocideIntervention.net/DarfurEnvoy

There is no better person for the special envoy to Darfur than Michael Gerson, the president's chief speechwriter and one of the "25 most influential evangelicals in America," according to Time magazine. Gerson will soon be leaving the White House, where he has been a notable force for strong involvement in Darfur. Rarely do we find such a passionate advocate for peace so close to the president -- we must do what we can to make sure he stays involved on this issue.

Please encourage the president to retain Gerson as the United States' voice in Darfur, pressing for civilian protection from genocide as a special envoy.

www.GenocideIntervention.net/DarfurEnvoy

The people of Darfur cannot wait any longer. With their most influential advocate in Washington gone, the United States must recommit itself to stopping genocide.