Posted on 09/13/2006 7:47:30 AM PDT by Froufrou
Governments ruling more than half of U.N. member states will be asked this weekend to sign a declaration pledging to work to "transform the present unjust international order" dominated by a "hegemonic" power -- a clear reference to the United States.
Adoption of the statement, drafted by Cuba's communist regime, is to be a highlight of this week's summit of the 118-member Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
The summit, in Havana, draws together countries ranging from U.S. allies such as Singapore, Pakistan and India, to its harshest critics -- including Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Syria and Zimbabwe.
The grouping was formed during the Cold War, as developing nations sought to steer a "non-aligned" path between the West and the communist bloc. It frequently was derided for failing to achieve that stated goal - Cuba, a Soviet satellite, was a founding NAM member, and communist Vietnam joined during the 1970s.
Since the end of the Cold War, NAM has struggled to carve out a role for itself. In its draft text, Cuba, which assumes the chair for the next three years, makes it clear what role Havana and its allies envisage for the movement.
"The absence of two conflicting blocs in no way reduces the need to strengthen the NAM as a mechanism for the political coordination of underdeveloped countries," the document says.
"Now more than ever it is essential that our nations remain united and steadfast and are increasingly active in order to successfully confront unilateralism and actions by any Power aimed at imposing hegemonic domination."
The 2,800-word document is entitled "Declaration on the Purposes, Principles and Role of the Non-Aligned Movement in the Present International Situation."
Without naming the U.S., it makes numerous references to "unilateralism," "hegemony" and attempts to impose a "unipolar world."
Among the summit's purposes, it says, is "to condemn all manifestations of unilateralism and actions marked by attempts at hegemonic domination."
Principles guiding the NAM include "non-interference" in other states' affairs, "abstention from ... exerting pressure or coercion on other countries" and "abstention from resorting to the threat or use of force."
The document calls on NAM members to strengthen "multilateralism" and to work together at the U.N. and other international agencies on issues of priority to the movement.
These priorities, as listed, include "the rejection of unilateralism and the attempt to impose a unipolar world," "the condemnation and rejection of the imposition of coercive unilateral measures" and "the support of the Palestinian cause."
Support for Chavez, Iran
Apart from the statement on the "present international situation," NAM representatives also will adopt other statements, including a final summit declaration which - according to its draft - expresses support for Venezuela's populist left-wing president, Hugo Chavez, and concern about "aggressive" U.S. policies against his government.
The draft also says NAM members "totally reject the use of the term 'axis of evil' by a certain state to target other states under the pretext of combating terrorism."
President Bush in his 2002 State of the Union said states like Iran, North Korea and Ba'athist-ruled Iraq, along with their terrorist allies, constituted an "axis of evil" that threatened world peace.
Since then, a U.S.-led coalition has removed Saddam Hussein from power in Baghdad, while North Korea and Iran are embroiled in disputes with the U.N. Security Council over their nuclear programs.
The standoff over Iran, which faces the prospect of sanctions over its refusal to stop enriching uranium, also will come up at the Havana summit.
In an opening speech on Monday, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said the gathering "happens to coincide with the tightening of pressures against Iran for the exercise of its sovereign right to develop a program for the peaceful use of nuclear energy."
The draft final document also stresses the right of developing nations to use and produce nuclear energy.
NAM members have generally backed Tehran in the standoff, although the bloc's backing in recent months was not as solid as Iran would have liked.
Last February, when the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors voted to refer Iran to the Security Council, of the 16 NAM countries represented on the 35-nation board, eight -- Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, India, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Yemen -- voted in favor of the resolution.
Of the remaining NAM members, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria voted against the resolution while Algeria, Belarus, Indonesia, Libya and South Africa abstained.
Is Howard Dean attending this meeting?
It's just the next phase in the UN's pipe dream of world domination. Hey Kofi - if you want to beat the US, you ought to pick someone besides Cuba, NK, Iran, etc. to bend over for.
If the UN even votes on this tripe it seems that would be the best reason this week for the US to withdraw from the UN and kick it the hell out of our country.
Obviously we need to turn u the heat on Cuba right now.
I am sure Jimmy Carter will be there.
Nope.But Soros is financing it.
We should just annex Cuba, they have always been an issue, just get it over with.
Bolton is always picked last for the UN dodgeball team.
Only Democrats care if the US is disliked by these countries. They have a need to be liked by the MSM and dictators.
And Screamin' Dean and all the other Commiecrats. Evidently, Kofi thinks he's got some big ones...countries, too!
The NYT and the MSM are chairing the meeting.
Now that you point it out, Dems always seem to have this need to be liked. It brings to mind that atrocious tan Kerry had. How I laughed and laughed! ~sigh!~ Good times.
"Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm -- but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves."
T.S. Eliot's 1950 play "The Cocktail Party"
ACK! I had plenty of Eliot, but I do love Prufrock!
We need to publicly draft a hegemonic "to do" list and put these countries on it. If they are going to nip at our heels, maybe they need to learn to fear us.
After the vote, the Republicans, who I have heard (but am not sure) control both houses of Congress (for now) and the Presidency, should work to pass legislation eliminating any and all aid (yes, including "humanitarian" aid, which often ends up in the hands of tin-horn dictators and various assorted despots anyway) we provide to those countries who sign on to such a "resolution". Then close our borders to anyone from those countries who want to come here. And then revoke the diplomatic passports of any representatives they have here.
If these countries won't stand with us, then they can try to stand without us, and our aid and assistance and open borders. Let them run to Castro or Chavez for help.
Niiiice....when can we implement this plan, which would no doubt be termed diabolical by the demoncrats??
Now comes the time of the winnowing.
Look, it's time this country stood up to these peanuts who are going out of their way to make things miserable for us, especially while they are taking the money of our hard-working, honest citizens. They are sovereign countries and are free to do what they want on the international stage, but you make your choices, and live with them. They can't be sucking us dry financially all the while they are bad-mouthing us. That's a lesson in life I learned very, very early on, thanks to honest, moral parents who instilled in me a sense of fair play and honesty. If they want to tell us to f-off, fine, we will, and they can try to make it on their own without our help, or run off to moneybags countries like Cuba or Mozambique (yeah, right) for help.
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