The rebel commander

Here is what I have learned so far about Minni Minawi, the rebel commander I will be meeting on Friday:

He is a commander of one of the main factions of the Sudan Liberation Army, one of the two main rebel groups in Darfur. He is the only rebel leader to have signed the Darfur Peace Agreement so far (which explains why he is coming to the US - the US government wants to support the Agreement and pressure other leaders into signing).

But since the agreement was signed, lots of factions who are against the agreement have split off, and now there is lots of fighting in Darfur between the different rebel groups, those who are for the agreement vs. those who are against it.

Minawi's forces are accused of attacking civilians and murdering those who are opposed to the agreement.

So, on Friday I will be meeting my first war criminal (haven't met Bush and his pals yet).