Romney Calls Global Body a 'Failure' (Withdraw from U.N. and form new coalition)

Associated Press ^ | 18 October 2007 | Jim Davenport

[Spiff]

Romney Calls Global Body a 'Failure'

By JIM DAVENPORT
Associated Press
18 October 2007

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney called the United Nations a failure on Thursday and said he would support a new coalition of the free nations of the world.

The former Massachusetts governor said the U.N. Human Rights Council has repeatedly condemned Israel while taking no action against nations with repressive regimes.

"The United Nations has been an extraordinary failure of late," Romney said in response to a question at a pancake house along the coast of early voting South Carolina. "We should withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council."

Actually, the United States doesn't have a seat on the human rights council, which it has been boycotting.

Romney also said he would support a new "coalition of the free nations of the world and bring those nations together so that we can act together."

"We should develop some of our own — if you will — forums and alliances or groups that have the ability to actually watch out for the world and do what's right," Romney said.

Romney was sharing the political attention in this state with GOP rival John McCain, who is on his second consecutive day of campaigning here.

McCain, in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, accused both Russia and China of causing gridlock in the U.N. Security Council and hindering the world body's ability to sanction Iran or address pressing matters in Darfur, Burma and other trouble spots.

If elected, McCain said he would form a league of democracies to circumvent the Security Council and enact tough sanction against Iran and other problem countries.

Romney, who has been criticized for his changing view on abortion, was also asked where he stood on the issue that is important to voters in this conservative state.

"I am pro life and I am proud to be pro life," Romney said.

The former governor also said he would oppose using federal dollars for abortions and would appoint Supreme Court justices opposed to abortions.

He said he opposes using cloning or practices that create human cells for stem cell research.

[Soliton]

How about a United States of Earth? If a country adopts the constitution of the USA and lives up to it for 50 years, then they can apply for statehood.

Why mess with alliances that can only weaken you and take your money?

The UN is like old ex-friends you haven’t heard from for twenty years and then you hit the lottery and they want to let you in on the greatest investment scheme ever!

[GOP_1900AD]

US out of the UN, UN out of US!

[stockpirate]

I like Fred too, BUT.

Several people who watched the debate all agreed that is looks sick and drawn out from the cancer.

And I too like what Mitt just stated.

[hsalaw]

I saw Fred on Neal Cavuto’s show a few days ago, and he looked and sounded great. He had good answers for all the questions, and, I have to say, I like his thoughtful style - he actually thinks before he speaks, which is refreshing - and his answers are directly to the point.

[EternalVigilance]

I would call this the ultimate pander, but with Romney, there’s always tomorrow...

[Leg Olam]

‘Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney called the United Nations a failure on Thursday...’

I’d say its pretty much the same with the UN on any day of the week.

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

Wow.... some one making sense.... just.... wow!

[tumblindice]

Works for me, too, but I would want this goal in writing, as part of the platform put to the public.
He might look good on a coin after all.

[George W. Bush]

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An anti-U.N. ping. Perhaps Mitt is beginning to articulate a positive and pro-sovereignty message.

The more the merrier. Dr. Paul has never claimed a patent on abolishing the U.N. He welcomes everyone to join him in calling for defunding this criminally corrupt and incompetetent group of international meddlers and bunglers and for expelling it from our soil.

[steel_resolve]

Oh ROmney, you just jumped ALMOST to the head of the line with those comments about the UN.

[Spiff]

Works for me, too, but I would want this goal in writing, as part of the platform put to the public.

It is and has been, to some extent, for months. Look at Romney's Strategy for a Stronger America which is his platform. In that document, you will find the following:

The failure of efforts such as the United Nations Human Rights Council has given multilateralism a bad name. America’s strength is amplified when it is combined with the strength of other nations.We need to expand alliances such as NATO and efforts among the world’s leading nations to face the new threat of radical Jihad and increase our homeland security.We need to build global and regional capacities and networks of law enforcement and intelligence officials to confront Jihadists and other transnational threats.

And later in his platform...

In the changing world we face, our alliances and engagement must change, too. Clearly, the United Nations has not been able to fulfill its founding purpose of providing collective security against aggression and genocide. Thus, we need to continue to push for reform of the organization. Yet where institutions are fundamentally incapable of meeting a new generation of challenges, the United States does not have to go it alone. Instead, we must examine where existing alliances can be strengthened and reinvigorated and where new alliances need to be forged.

What he's saying is that the U.N. has demonstrated that it is a failure. If it can't be reformed and remains incapable of meeting today's threats of jihadism, etc., then we will not go our own way but forge new alliances to replace the U.N.

[jmc813]

Nice. I’m not a Romney fan, but this moves him up a few notches in my book.

[carjic]

If he means it, I could get on board.

[redgirlinabluestate]

Good Romney quote:
"...The UN Human Rights Council, however, has a particularly repugnant record. It has repeatedly targeted Israel, while remaining virtually silent in the face of egregious violations by the world's worst human rights abusers: Iran, Burma, North Korea, Cuba, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Syria. It is time to end U.S. support for this sad spectacle... "

Another good one from yesterday:
Governor Romney: “In the face of the global radical Jihadist threat, many in the Democratic party are in the most serious, delusional and politically-driven denial since Neville Chamberlain.”

---> Not afraid to tell it like it is. What a relief.

[Spiff]

The more the merrier. Dr. Paul has never claimed a patent on abolishing the U.N.

I don't think that Romney is calling for abolishing the U.N., but for possibly withdrawing from it to form a new aliance. Of course, the U.N. would self destruct without our support. Which would be a good thing.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

FReepers need to read what Mitt really said. All Mitt would do is just replace one inefficient anti-American foreign body with another inefficient, a little-less anti-American foreign body with unspecified nations.

I don't see anything here to get excited about other than the hypocrisy of FReepers who call Paul a kook for advocating withdrawal from the UN since the 70s but when a flip-flopper from Mass. suddenly has another deathbed conversion he's praised as the 2nd coming.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I think the members of the council are appointed on a rotating basis (without regard to massive human rights abuses on the part of the nations appointed), and that the US is technically still on the list.

[Petronski]

"We should withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council." Actually, the United States doesn't have a seat on the human rights council, which it has been boycotting.

[ejonesie22]

I’d almost agree with the pandering, however he is right, though I am only for doing away with the UN if it is replaced by some entity that will replace the few things that the UN has done right over the year (disease control, agro education etc.)

But it is an odd thing for Mitt to hit on at this time.

[RightWhale]

This is the kind of thing Thompson should have started with on his belated entry to the race. Light up the scoreboard!