Posted on 09/11/2002 9:10:08 PM PDT by USA21
Annan Urges No Unilateral Action Against Iraq
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan will tell President Bush on Thursday that only the United Nations can sanction the use of force against Iraq.
Annan, without mentioning possible U.S. plans to attack Iraq, says any country can defend itself when attacked.
"But beyond that, when states decide to use force to deal with broader threats to international peace and security, there is no substitute for the unique legitimacy provided by the United Nations," he will tell the U.N. General Assembly, according to prepared remarks.
Annan, who also challenges U.S. policy by renewing a call for an international conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, speaks shortly before Bush sets out for the assembly his case for action against Iraq.
Bush is expected to challenge the United Nations to enforce post-Gulf War resolutions demanding Iraq disarm. The United States believes Iraq is developing chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
"I'm going to the United Nations to give this speech for a reason, because I believe this is an international problem, and that we must work together to deal with the problem," Bush said on Tuesday.
A U.N. official said Annan's speech was being released early so it would not be overshadowed by Bush's address. A copy of his remarks was given to U.S. officials.
"The more a country makes use of multilateral institutions -- thereby respecting shared values, and accepting the obligations and restraints inherent in those values -- the more others will trust and respect it, and the stronger its chance to exercise true leadership," Annan says.
He says member states had shown they were willing to take actions under the authority of the U.N. Security Council they would not be willing to take without it.
"Even the most powerful countries know that they need to work with others, in multilateral institutions, to achieve their aims," Annan says in a carefully crafted speech.
Many European, Arab and other nations have voiced dismay at a U.S. drive to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and halt his alleged attempts to acquire weapons of mass destruction -- with or without approval by the U.N. Security Council.
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Annan himself said this month it would be "unwise to attack Iraq" and that it would raise international tensions.
IRAQI DEFIANCE
Annan will tell the General Assembly that Iraq is defying Security Council resolutions, saying the return of U.N. arms inspectors is the "indispensable first step" to assuring the world that Iraq's deadly weapons have been scrapped and toward the suspension and eventual ending of U.N. sanctions.
"If Iraq's defiance continues, the Security Council must face its responsibilities," Annan declares, in a formula that clearly does not rule out U.N.-authorized military action such as that mounted by the U.S.-led coalition that drove Iraqi occupation troops from Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War.
The Bush administration worked closely with the United Nations to get support for a struggle against terrorism after last year's Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
But on other issues it has irritated many of its European and other allies by spurning global initiatives such as the Kyoto protocol on greenhouse gases and treaties against biological weapons, nuclear testing and land mines.
It has fiercely opposed the new International Criminal Court, sided with conservative Islamic states on women's health issues and cut off funds to the U.N. Population Fund.
The United States continues to accrue new debts to the world body and is now $1.2 billion in arrears for dues and peacekeeping expenses, despite an agreement in December 2000 from U.N. members to reduce the American contribution.
MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCE
Annan will call for an international conference "without delay" to seek a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East conflict, saying Israel and the Palestinians accept the vision of a two-state solution and an end to terror and to occupation.
"We can reach it only if we move rapidly and in parallel on all fronts," Annan says.
The United States has stopped advocating an international conference that it had proposed, and in a June 24 speech, Bush laid the onus on the Palestinians to change their leadership and halt violence before political progress could be achieved.
On Afghanistan, Annan says President Hamid Karzai's government needs help to extend its authority throughout the country and that donors must honor their aid pledges.
"Otherwise the Afghan people will lose hope -- and desperation, we know, breeds violence," the secretary-general adds.
Translation: I'm not asking you how to deal with this problem, mind you...I'm telling you, and you better finally listen up...
...Kofi, if you want to keep that (U.N.) illusion going...you had better get on board and sanction the use of force.
Annan's speech was better than I expected, actually...sounded like he already knows the U.N. is an ineffectual organization but didn't want to lose face (I mean, what can the U.N. do without the U.S.? even Kofi's not that delusional, and if he is, George will straighten him out right quick!)...
(Rush is saying similar right now, I think) ;)
How about this quote from the President's speech???
Oh one can dream can't they....
Translation:
For your defense, go through me.
For justice, go through me.
For redress, and for restraint of your enemies, go through me.
For independence, go through me.
----BZZZZZT! Contradiction in terms!
Ol' Kofi is just another power junkie. People who have ideas that the UN can be used to overcome the U.S. and turn us into their lapdogs are going to find the experience very similar to John Wayne Bobbitt's.
I think that would exclude every country on earth then! :-)
We cannot expect perfection, but at least a few ground rules, like: Respect freedom of speech, right to worship, have a system of laws, the right to own property, dont engage in torture or holding political prisoners, and have a representative Republican form of Govt (Was corected on that "Democratic" is a general term these days we use to mean Republics, as there are no nations that are direct Democracies. It's a Republic that works, not Democracy, but the latter term is "popular" with the Demos :-) )
Maybe 2 levels. The first level gets you in, make it easy enough that only the ral outlaw states get booted, like North Korea etc; the second level gives you voting rights. You need some real representative Govt. sorry, Mugabe, Saudis, Pakistan, Syria, Cuba, etc. etc.
Democracy is popular with (and necessary to) the demon-crats because they need majority rule to gain (and retain) power, most of which is obtained by robbing Peter to pay Paul. They would be shackled if they were forced to adhere to the constitution (as would most "republicans"). Under our constutional form of government, any power not specifically authorized to the federal government by the constitution is forbidden. To gain new power the federal government must submit an amendment to the states, and 3/4's of the state legislatures must authorize the new amendment. Any other acquisition of power by the federal government is illegal usurpation. The demon-crats know this well; but by stacking the courts with liberal judicial activists (who ignore the constitution in their rulings), the demon-crats are able to create unconstitutional law rather easily.
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