When Kerry Snubs the UN

FrontPage Magazine ^ | 4-28-04 | By Joel Mowbray

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Although the answer changes from week to week, the general consensus of John Kerry’s comments over the past 18 months indicates that the Democratic presidential candidate believes the United States should make every effort to work through the United Nations before acting to defend itself.

Kerry, however, does not believe Israel should be burdened by such a requirement.

It’s not entirely clear why, but then again, nothing with Kerry is.

No one is sure what Kerry’s exact position is on the question of Iraq and the UN, but when asked on “Meet the Press” by the incomparable Tim Russert if Bush was right to go to war, Kerry responded, “I think the way the president went to war was a mistake.”

He didn’t think attacking Iraq was a “mistake.” He did, lest we forget, vote to give President Bush the authority to go to war.

But Kerry made it clear—as he has repeatedly in recent months—that the “mistake” was Bush’s decision to go to war without the seal of approval of the UN.

Kerry told Russert, “If I'm president, I will not only personally go to the UN, I will go to other capitals” if ever in a similar position.

For Kerry, removing Saddam Hussein has less legitimacy if not endorsed by the group that gives the same moral standing to Fidel Castro’s Cuba and Kim Jong-Il’s North Korea as it does to the United States.

But when it comes to Israel, suddenly the UN need not be consulted.

When Israel began killing the leaders of Hamas, the UN rushed to condemn the Jewish state. All that stopped a Security Council resolution was the United States veto.

After Israel continued its campaign by killing Abdel Aziz Rantisi, the “international community” roundly condemned the Middle East’s sole democracy.

But Kerry didn’t follow suit.

In uncharacteristically unequivocal language, Kerry applauded Israel for acting decisively, wholly ignoring the wish of the UN that it sit back and watch its innocent civilians die at the hands of mass murdering suicide bombers.

“I believe Israel has every right in the world to respond to any act of terror against it,” Kerry said when asked about the Rantisi assassination.

It seems that Kerry holds the US and Israel to different standards when it comes to defending national security.

After all, Kerry himself believed that taking out Saddam was defensive. Last January, he said, “Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation.”

The way Kerry described the threat posed by Saddam, in fact, is not that much different than the justification he offered for Israel’s assassination of Rantisi: “Hamas is a terrorist, brutal organization. It has had years to make up its mind to take part in a peaceful process. They refuse to.”

And where did Kerry make these bold statements in support of the pariah of the “international community”?

On the very same “Meet the Press” episode already discussed, in which he also proudly proclaimed, “Within weeks of being inaugurated, I will return to the UN and I will literally, formally rejoin the community of nations and turn over a proud new chapter in America’s relationship with the world.”

This is more than a mere contradiction. It goes to the core of one’s political philosophy. Either you believe that a free society must act to defend itself regardless of how impacts popularity, or you don’t. Kerry doesn’t, at least not for the US.

A cynical observer could note that Kerry supports a nation defending its security without UN approval—only as long as there are Jewish voters more likely to support him as a result. Maybe that’s a low blow, but what evidence is there to refute the appearance of pandering?

Russert did not press Kerry further on the Israel issue—the segment was out of time—but it would have been fun to watch if he had.

At least Bush did everything short of putting France and Germany in a headlock to get the UN’s blessing. Israel, understanding the concept of futility better than Bush, didn’t even bother asking for permission.

In hindsight, Bush probably would have been better off bypassing the UN. Who knows, maybe then he would have received Kerry’s support.

[GeronL]

don't believe it. He will change his mind tomorrow.

[Lokibob]

Not a deep thought, but it is the early morning hours:

Kerry will say anything to get a vote. If Jewish people are listening to him, he panders to Israel, if left wingers, he panders to the U.N.

The old joke about a politician lying if his lips are flapping is sooooo true about him.

[iopscusa]

What an idiot is John F(raud) Kerry!

[PogySailor]

John Kerry, political opportunist.

[kitkat]

BUMP

[Just mythoughts]

"It seems that Kerry holds the US and Israel to different standards when it comes to defending national security."

Interesting, wasn't old Saddam sending $25,000.00 to the families of the Pali homicide bombers????

[sgtbono2002]

John Kerry is saying that his first major effort in America will be to turn our Sovereignty over to the UN. If we had waited for the UN to endorse our trip into Iraq we would still be waiting and they would still be cashing the Oil for Food checks. His approval of Israel doing what is necessary is merely a play for the Jewish vote, John Kerry isnt hard to see through at all, Its clear as a crystal.

[Waco]

America does not need the "shittin-on" that J fing K has in mind for it.

[joesnuffy]

When he repents...confesses he was wrong..spitefull...a user of his fellow veterans for his own selfish & arrogant power fetish

When he confesses atheism and communism are evil and anti American...and Islam is evil...and that our borders should be closed and evicts all terrorists and their enablers from U.S. soil

When he goes after all narco terrorists both foreign and domestic (instead of playing Ken Starr as he did during Iran-Contra-Mena)

When he upholds the second ammendment as being an individual right

When he condemns the killing of unborn children and calls it murder..instead of 'a womans right to choose' as though he were comparing murder to shopping at the mall

When he confesses that the USA was meant to be a nation of Christians & by Christians from its formation...

When he denounces the United Nations and announces that he holds US sovereignty sacred

When he is willing to get his hands dirty working...without worrying about 'his nails' or his haircut...

when he starts getting $10 dollar haircuts

When his photo ops arent an opportunity for him to show off his ability 'to accessorize'

Then he might be fit for the office of POTUS

And Rats will fly

imo

[joesnuffy]

When he repents...confesses he was wrong..spitefull...a user of his fellow veterans for his own selfish & arrogant power fetish

When he confesses atheism and communism are evil and anti American...and Islam is evil...and that our borders should be closed and evicts all terrorists and their enablers from U.S. soil

When he goes after all narco terrorists both foreign and domestic (instead of playing Ken Starr as he did during Iran-Contra-Mena)

When he upholds the second ammendment as being an individual right

When he condemns the killing of unborn children and calls it murder..instead of 'a womans right to choose' as though he were comparing murder to shopping at the mall

When he confesses that the USA was meant to be a nation of Christians & by Christians from its formation...

When he denounces the United Nations and announces that he holds US sovereignty sacred

When he is willing to get his hands dirty working...without worrying about 'his nails' or his haircut...

when he starts getting $10 dollar haircuts

When his photo ops arent an opportunity for him to show off his ability 'to accessorize'

Then he might be fit for the office of POTUS

And Rats will fly

imo

[Stultis]

Bump!