Posted on 01/06/2005 6:39:42 AM PST by milestogo
ElBaradei warns US against spying on IAEA
VIENNA: IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei on Wednesday warned the United States against spying on the UN atomic agency saying it would be a blow to “multilateralism and the United Nations system as we know it.”
Bush administration has listened in on phone calls between ElBaradei and Iranian diplomats, seeking ammunition to oust him as head of IAEA, The Washington Post had reported in December.
The US wants ElBaradei replaced at the crucial Vienna-based agency believing he is not being tough enough on Iran accused by Washington of hiding a covert nuclear weapons program, diplomats said. ElBaradei said he had only read the press reports and knew no more about the reported eavesdropping but “if it were true of course it would bother me a lot.”
“If it were true obviously it’s something which is a major violation of our right to independence,” he said, adding “our independence is the key to our success, to our credibility.” “If you tamper with our independence, you really tamper with the whole fabric of multilaterialism and the United Nations system as we know it,” ElBaradei said. The White House has refused to comment on the report that the United States had spied on ElBaradei. afp
...it would be a blow to "multilateralism and the United Nations system as we know it."...
Um... So?
The security of the USA belongs to the USA. When was the last time the UN ever succeeded at protecting anyone? We could help pay for social security reform by getting out of the UN and selling the land they are on in NYC.
Best reason I can think of to do it!
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