Posted on 09/20/2001 2:26:20 PM PDT by Bald Eagle
US to take revenge without telling UN |
FROM ROLAND WATSON IN WASHINGTON |
AMERICA will exact military revenge on terrorists for years to come without consulting the United Nations, Washington made clear yesterday as it suggested that the 19 hijackers had been supported by several states. Donald Rumsfeld, the Defence Secretary, insisted on the United States’s right to a free hand when it came to force in the pursuit of individuals, networks and states implicated in the loss of more than 5,000 lives. President Bush used a fresh tack to try to persuade Arab states traditionally wary of dealing with America to co-operate. He said they could share information with Washington covertly and their citizens would never know. However, the White House’s rejection of the need for future UN consent raised concerns that Mr Bush was heading for immediate diplomatic trouble as he tries to piece together a shifting, multilayered pattern of alliances to support a global battle with terrorism lasting years. China has said that it believes firm evidence should be laid before the UN before any military action. Russia has yet to show its hand on the issue, but US diplomats fear that Moscow will demand thorough discussion at the UN Security Council, where it holds a veto. In another day of hectic diplomatic activity, Mr Bush met Megawati Sukarnoputri, President of Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country. Sitting side by side, he extended a new offer to leaders in Arab states, saying he would respect their local sensitivities in dealing with the US. Although some moderate Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia have sympathised with the US after last week’s attacks, none has agreed to co-operate fully. Mr Bush said he understood that some countries would be nervous of being seen to deal with their traditional foe. “I understand that,” he said, adding that they could share information in private. The President said: “This will be a different kind of battle, a series of battles. They will be fought visibly sometimes, and sometimes we’ll never see what may be taking place. “We fully understand that some nations will be comfortable supporting overt activities, some nations will be comfortable supporting covert activities, some nations will only be comfortable in providing information. Others will be helpful and only feel comfortable helping on financial matters.” Washington widened its list of possible culprits yesterday, saying it believed that more than one overseas government may have supported the suicide hijackers. John Ashcroft, the Attorney General, said it was “pretty clear” that a “variety of foreign governments” were involved in supporting and protecting “the networks that conduct these kind of events”. Mr Ashcroft, visiting the blackened rubble of the Pentagon, said that those governments should understand that “America will not tolerate that kind of support”. American intelligence suspects a possible Iraqi link to last week’s attacks, based on a meeting between Mohammed Atta, the hijacker believed to be at the controls of the first jet to smash into the World Trade Centre, and the head of Bagdhad’s intelligence service earlier this year. But Mr Ashcroft pointedly referred to governments in the plural. |
has the UN been nuked yet?
hmmmm....I wouldnt be suprised if they did have Kofis approval...I do recall reading an article just recently where Kofi Anus stated that "the United States can go to hell"!
As for backing away from the UN on the long term, some may be right about this not meaning much. Still it's a start. And it doesn't bode well for a UN that thinks it's in the catbird's seat.
Getting permission would have been a precident setting act. So is this! I think Bush has been wise to stiff arm the UN. Keep it up George.
Ahum, want to make it a two-fer? Clamp down on illegal immigration, without which this incident would have been much harder to execute.
Remember when the Chinese Embassy was accidently bombed in the Kosovo action? The U.S. bellied up to the bar and agreed to pay damages. This was an accident. The terrorist attacks were intentional barbaric attacks. How many Chinese nationals were killed in the WTC attack? You would think China would think more of its people than that.
I can't escape the eerie feeling that, while this tragedy is absorbing all our national attention, creepy deals like Vicente Fox's border-porosity will slip through Congress for the sleaziest of reasons. Possible? I haven't heard anything yet, but what is underhanded business is being done behind the opaque doors of the Senate while nobody's watching?
He did that a long time ago.
Since the Korean War the Soviets were on the Council and we passed our military plans through them before implementing them. Until Gen. MacArthur planned and executed the Inchon landing, successfully, because they were caught off guard!
Chinese history has shown exactly what the Chicom Govt. thinks of its people. ie, cultural revolution, forced abortions, extermination of religious groups, Mass executions. Just wait until the Chicoms have a chance to put a UN general in office.
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