U.N. Opted For Less American Security to Present A 'Friendly Image' (Brit Hume)

FoxNews ^ | 08/21/03 | Brit Hume

[bedolido]

U.N. Opted For Less American Security to Present A

[Lexington Green]

Martyrs to naivete

[DoughtyOne]

No kidding! If this doesn't reveal the stupidity of the United Nations mindset, I don't know what will.

[WestPacSailor]

[PaxMacian]

Typical utopians!

[Republican Red]

This morning ABC continually scrolled across the bottom of the screen that the US knew of these attacks on the UN and failed to tell the UN.

At the same time, a UN bigwig was being interviewed and he was asked "did the UN turn away security from the US". He answered no. Later, in the same interview, when asked if security would be tightened in the new UN location he stated that the UN is an open environment and will always be a soft target. He went on to say that Iraqis are intimidated by coalition forces and he didn't want them guarding the building.

Say what?

[Schnucki]

If this doesn't reveal the stupidity of the United Nations mindset, I don't know what will.

I don't know about that. Until now, you could pretty faithfully argue that everybody who hates the United States seems to love the United Nations.

[WestPacSailor]

He went on to say that Iraqis are intimidated by coalition forces and he didn't want them guarding the building.

I don't want the bad guys to be intimidated by my security force so I've decided to hire Girl Scouts to protect my next shipment of gold to Ft. Knox.

[DoughtyOne]

There is a certain amount of truth to that. I think it's been pretty clear to most thinking people that any foreign presence in Iraq was going to elicit the wrath of the Saddam loyalists and the Islamic radicals. I can't imagine anyone thinking it wise not to take precautions.

The U.N. failed to see any danger (to his own people or others) in Saddam Hussein remaining in power. They failed to see any danger to them from being on the ground in Baghdad. Both were evidence of flawed logic in my opinion.

Let's remember that Hussein loyalists tortured and killed their own citizens at will. Why should we think they would use reasoned logic now?

[.cnI redruM]

Some people just don't appreciate friendly images.

[twigs]

I would personally like to see another world body, one that will really accept world problems and try to do something constructive to help other nations, develop. Maybe composed of and guided by the US and Eastern European nations. Competition would certainly not hurt. The UN as it is today is a non-functional organization, but the world does need a body that the UN was created (and failed) to be.

[Schnucki]

I can't imagine anyone thinking it wise not to take precautions.

I'm with you on that, but I was wondering if maybe this explosion was a "thank you" from the many Iraqis who were upset about the U.N. turning a blind eye to Saddam's atrocities over the many years.

I'm sure that a lot of Iraqis were especially happy about how the U.N. opposed every attempt to get rid of the Saddam. ;)

[Prodigal Son]

Hopefully, this story will get some legs beneath it. Kofi said "the security question is not one for the protected to make in the first place, that the UN should never have been making that decision- it's all the USA's responsibility". He didn't seem to realize he was just admitting that the UN isn't competent to make important decisions, not even ones regarding their own safety- and they want to run the world?

[DoughtyOne]

It's an honorable goal. It will never be achieved the way you would like it to be. While these organizations are started with the best of intentions, after a few decades they tend to think they should be omnipotent.

There's no reason why leading world states can't combine efforts to bring services to the third world needy, without an organiztion like the U.N. or anything near it.

NEVER AGAIN!

[DoughtyOne]

The real gem was later in the press conference when he admitted the U.N. had also made some mistakes. After trashing the U.S. for not forcing security on his group, he was asked what mistake the U.N. might have made. At that point he said it wasn't the right time to be finger pointing and quickly wrapped up the press conference.

This man is unqualified to be head dog-catcher. I'm just amazed the Clinton administration didn't offer him a job.

[DoughtyOne]

I agree with these comments. Who knows what the real reason was.

"Have bomb materials, will travel." It's a play off Paladin's business card, "Have gun, will travel."

[twigs]

I think you're probably right about that. I just think that the US cannot realistically back out of the UN without becoming involved in a similar type or organization. Or if a loosely-held organization of sorts would serve the purpose, so much the better.

[twigs]

I'm just amazed the Clinton administration didn't offer him a job.

They're planning to yet have that opportunity. Not if I have anything to do with it! Thank goodness for communication forums like FR!

[DoughtyOne]

If you think about it, there's no need for our government to be involved at any level in providing food or aid to foreign nationals. This should be done by the private sector or not at all.

We have many private organizations that provide outreach care to foreign nations. I don't know about you, but it's gotten to the point that if other nation's can't wipe their own posteriors and keep them clean, I'll be damned if I think we should be doing it for them.

We are cursed the world around by people who wouldn't be alive if it weren't for us.

I used to think our efforts on other's behalf were a good thing. After Somalia and other instances, I've given up on that approach. We give hundreds of millions to the Palestinains, what respect has it garnered us?

We provide billions of dollars in commerce to middle eastern states through our purchases of oil. Does this trickle down to the masses? Are we appreciated for pumping this money into their region. No, we are cursed for it.

Nope, the days of the free gravy train should come to an end.

[DoughtyOne]

Agreed.