Posted on 01/01/2005 3:36:16 PM PST by quidnunc
President Bush has announced that an alliance of the US, India, Australia and Japan will co-ordinate a humanitarian drive.
But Ms Short said the effect of the parallel coalition would be to undermine the UN.
She said only the UN had the "moral authority" to lead the relief work.
Ms Short resigned as international development secretary over the Iraq war.
"I think this initiative from America to set up four countries claiming to co-ordinate sounds like yet another attempt to undermine the UN when it is the best system we have got and the one that needs building up," she said.
"Only really the UN can do that job," she told BBC Radio Four's PM programme.
"It is the only body that has the moral authority. But it can only do it well if it is backed up by the authority of the great powers."
Ms Short said the countries involved could not boast good records on their response to major disasters.
The US was "very bad at coordinating with anyone" and India had its own problems, Ms Short said.
"I don't know what that is about but it sounds very much, I am afraid, like the US trying to have a separate operation and not work with the rest of the world through the UN system," she added.
The UN is the best system we have? If so, why isn't the UN in the region doing anything? On the other hand, the USA, Australia, Japan, and India are already there, doing work!!! Just how many billions more should we squander on the UN? All the UN is good at is making money dissapear, and "observing" millions of people being starved to death and slaughtered by fanatic Islamic groups. "Only really the UN can do that job," she told BBC Radio Four's PM programme.
Like the UN has done it's job in Africa? Sudan? Where the the Un gives the foriegn aid food to the fundamentalists, who in turn feed themselves, sell it to Muslims, and don't pass it out at all to the "infidels"? Other examples of the UN doing it's job are Rwanda, Ivory coast, Iraq (oil for profit scam)Niger, Zimbabwe, or in short, ANYWHERE the UN sticks it's nose. "It is the only body that has the moral authority. But it can only do it well if it is backed up by the authority of the great powers."
If you call what the UN has done "moral" you have rocks for brains, Ms. Short(of braincells)
But their contributions and pledges are small compared to those of non-muslim countries. Also, they very seldom send personnel to aid in the clean up and rescue missions.
Helen Thomas's Daughter?
Well you need experience if you are to send personnel,which most Arab nations don't have,barring Iran(thanks to frequent earthquakes).
America! F YEA!
There is a great deal of work that can be done that does not require expertise, just ordinary manpower. Those people can be placed under the direction of a government with expertise, reducing the necessity for governments such as the US to send not just personnel with expertise but support personnel as well.
Problem with my suggestion is that so many arabs refuse to work under the direction of Christians. In years gone by, I worked for a corporation owned by the Saudi government. Most of the arabs in the corporation could have been replaced by an empty office and everyone would have benefited. When you combine arab arrogance with limited knowledge in a position of authority, you have a receipe for disaster, and it was.
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