Top U.S. administration officials often repeat that the United States has no leverage with the government of Sudan, and this belief has directly influenced the administration’s policy toward the troubled country. This has led to sharp debates within the U.S. government about whether pressures or incentives, or a combination of both, could possibly affect the calculations of the conflicting parties in Sudan. The debate has led to gridlock in U.S. policy, and absent clear guidance from President Obama, it has diminished U.S. leverage dramatically.

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