Posted on 11/03/2004 4:09:38 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan congratulated President George W Bush on his re-election today.
But United Nations staffers were less sanguine after four years in which the relationship between the world body and its most influential member sank to a new low over Iraq.
Dozens of UN workers from around the world crowded around a television in the foyer of UN headquarters to listen to Senator John Kerry's concession speech, and then Mr Bush's acceptance. A few shook their heads or grimaced as they walked away.
Some refused to speak on the record, citing the world body's neutrality, but Hilary Wilson, a retired UN consultant who stopped by for Arabic language lessons, was free to express his disappointment.
"I came here this morning and it was like a morgue," Ms Wilson said. "They felt that Kerry had an opportunity to get a consensus, and he could have done it. There's no doubt in my mind that Bush cannot do that."
Relations between the US and the UN were dealt a blow in early 2003 when the deeply divided UN Security Council refused to authorise a war against Iraq and the Bush administration then invaded Iraq with its "coalition of the willing".
Through the presidential campaign, Mr Bush had warned that Senator Kerry would let "countries like France" decide when to use US force. That was a reference to France's threat to use its Security Council veto against the proposed US resolution giving a green light for war against Iraq. The US withdrew the draft resolution, so it never came to a vote.
Still, after the war, Mr Bush sought UN help in the country's reconstruction and relations have improved.
Mr Annan's spokesman, Fred Eckhard, said Mr Annan wished Mr Bush well and looked forward to working with him until the UN leader's second five-year term expires on December 31, 2006.
"The secretary-general warmly congratulates President Bush on his re-election, and the American people on the impressive demonstration of democracy they have given by turning out in record numbers," Mr Eckhard said.
He also praised Senator John Kerry for his "prompt and statesmanlike decision" to concede so quickly.
Later, Mr Eckhard said the US-UN partnership had been "solid and productive", though he acknowledged "there have been a few disagreements, at least one fundamental one, over the invasion of Iraq".
Richard Grenell, the spokesman for the US Mission, said he believed it was clear whom UN staff would have chosen for American president.
"It's been an open secret from inside the halls of the UN for quite some time that Kerry was the favourite," Mr Grenell said.
While some UN staff may not like American policies, they cannot deny its influence within the body. The US, after all, pays for about 22 per cent of the UN general budget.
Chilean UN Ambassador Heraldo Munoz pointed to the American sway when he spoke to a clutch of reporters hungry for comment on the day of the vote.
"There are so many issues involved so that sometimes we feel it is a bit unfair that we foreigners cannot vote in some of your elections," Mr Munoz said. "But we wish you the best."
Peter Anderson, a French-English translator, made no secret about his allegiances after watching Senator Kerry's concession speech.
"I woke up every two hours last night with nightmares and now the nightmares are turning into reality," he said.
In an apparent coincidence today, the UN cafeteria offered "Texas turkey burgers".
There wasn't much demand.
Now's the time to move to establish a new body of freedom-loving nations to replace this broken down relic of self-interest and corruption.
Duck and cover, Kofi.
Ms Wilson how many innocent people will be killed while you are watching out for them?
ol' pig face will be the first victim of the Bush re-election. wonder who W will want as his replacement?
Screw Kofi. Feed him to the sharks. Level the UN building and stop funding that bloated do nothing organizational debate squad. They have tiny balls and no guts to stand up to tyrants of the world. Thank God for W.
Koffecup is a hypocrite of the highest order.
now....hopefully Food for Oil will receive a full airing!
I knew under Kerry it would have been one of the first things
swept under the rug.
It is time for a real accounting , and real accountability.
Let's roll....
Kofi should be doing more then just congratulating PresBush. He should be kissing his arse. Without the huge annual monetary support from the US, the UN would be holding court in Rwandi, or in the Sudan.
The USA should withold dues until the UN admits thier involvement and fires the lot of them. Or else kick them out.
How about the Union of Republics? Only democractic nations can apply. In other words, no more third-world kleptocrats buzzing New York diners while they rack up parking tickets and denounce the "Joos".
yes, that sounds good.
they have been so duplicitous and back stabbing , to the enth degree . To they expect mercy for their evil doings now?
There should be very little.....
Bush has bent over backwards to accommodate the UN, and not a lot of people recognize that. The one thing he did not do that they cannot forgive is obey their dictates.
Unbelievable. They must think our President really is the President of the world. As if they don't get enough from us, they want the right to vote in our elections as well. Doesn't it occur to them that if they knew better than us what was best they wouldn't have to look to America for leadership?
Where does that leave Australia?
We're a Constituional Monarchy.
You get in because of your pretty girls, nice coastline, good beer and fighting spirit.
Sounds like a pretty good line-up to me!
That weird little man with the strange little voice deserves nothing but our conrempt!
How do we start a push to get rid of this mess??? We have to get out of the UN and get the UN out of the US. How can we start this??????
Professional Diplomats belong at the very bottom of the food chain, very close to the parasitic organisms...
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