Bush Team Rejects U.N. Plan to Condemn Anthrax Attacks

NY Times ^ | 31 Oct 2001 | ELAINE SCIOLINO

[white trash redneck]

November 1, 2001

DIPLOMACY

Bush Team Rejects U.N. Plan to Condemn Anthrax Attacks

By ELAINE SCIOLINO

ASHINGTON, Oct. 31 — The Bush administration has rejected a proposal by France to win Security Council condemnation of the anthrax attacks in the United States, senior administration and European officials said today.

The administration told the French government that a United Nations condemnation would be appropriate only if there was clear proof that the origin of the anthrax or the plot behind the outbreak was foreign, a senior administration official who opposed the move said.

"Let's assume this was the work of a bunch of right-wing nuts or a Unabomber kind of thing," the official said. "That would make it a domestic criminal matter. The Security Council just has no legitimate role in this."

The rejection came after a debate inside the State Department, with officials disagreeing on whether the anthrax attacks violate the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention, administration officials said.

"The French told us this was a clear violation of the convention, but I don't know how it would be if it's a domestic nut case," said the official opposing the initiative.

But another senior administration official said, "I'm not going to deny that there were two schools of thought on this."

The Biological Weapons Convention, which 143 nations, including the United States, have ratified, prohibits the development, production and possession of biological weapons. But when that treaty was negotiated, it had no provision for verification, a major drawback since most of the nations suspected of making biological weapons have signed the accord.

The Bush administration has rejected a draft agreement supported by its European allies and a host of other countries that would have created new measures to monitor the ban. The administration argued that the agreement would have granted foreign inspectors too much access to American installations and companies, and that a nation determined to cheat would find a way to do so.

Much to the dismay of America's allies, the United States is now trying to introduce alternate ways of implementing the convention.

European officials called the administration's rejection of the French proposal condemning the anthrax outbreak shortsighted and a missed opportunity.

"This was the first time that a biological agent was used against a civilian population, and we felt that it was important at the very least that the international community say something about it," said one senior European official. "The goal was to reaffirm the value of the convention and assure solidarity. But the answer clearly was `No.' "

The resolution would have noted that the use of biological weapons under the Biological Weapons Convention was prohibited, and that the United States had the unilateral right of military self-defense against a biological weapons attack under the United Nations charter.

Experts have said that the United States, the former Soviet Union and Iraq are the only countries known to have made the dangerous, high- grade anthrax powder that was found in the office of the Senate majority leader, Tom Daschle. But the techniques used in those programs are believed to be common enough that a well-trained scientist in a well- equipped private laboratory could have produced similar results.

[white trash redneck]

Looks like even Bush's administration is concerned about the VRWC.

[Ratatoskr]

"Let's assume this was the work of a bunch of right-wing nuts or a Unabomber kind of thing," the official said.

What the hell is the matter with these people? Why say something so divisive without good proof? Divisiveness at home is a dangerous, dangerous thing right now.

[Shermy]

What's VWRC?

[GoredInMich]

yer kidding, right?

[MJY1288]

I think it is more likely that the Bush Administration does not need the U.N. involving themselves in our problems, we do not need the U.N. for nothing.

President Bush...Tell the U.N. to go to hell

[DoughtyOne]

Let's assume this was the work of a bunch of right-wing nuts or a Unabomber kind of thing," the official said. "That would make it a domestic criminal matter. The Security Council just has no legitimate role in this.

Dear Mr. Public Official;

Let's assume this was the work of a bunch of expletive deleted blacks, hispanic bastards or devious homosexuals" the official said. "That would make it a domestic criminal matter. The Security Council just has no legitimate role in this.

Get it?

With love;
 

Mr. Doughty

[ArGee]

Shermy: What's VWRC?

GoredinMich: yer kidding, right?

No, he's point out that the acronym is misspelled. It should be VRWC.

Some peepul are so pikie they just sit aroun and look fer spelleng errurs.

Shalom.

[browardchad]

"This was the first time that a biological agent was used against a civilian population, and we felt that it was important at the very least that the international community say something about it," said one senior European official. "The goal was to reaffirm the value of the convention and assure solidarity. But the answer clearly was `No.'"

Thank God it was "No." Do we want UN inspectors crawling around our country, or the perps, when we get them, tried at the Hague? We are a sovereign nation, and we reserve the right to obliterate the country responsible, without the UN's permission.

[white trash redneck]

Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, so named by Hitlery Clintoon.

[Dog Gone]

That's just it. The UN has no business passing any resolutions about what happens in America, unless we say so. If we can pin this on Iraq, we will go back and get that resolution and then stuff it down Saddam's throat.

Until we're ready to act, though, the UN can just butt out.

[epluribus_2]

... a bunch of left-wing nuts... would get Bush skewered in the press, esp. the NYT. (If course, it would also accurately describe much of the UN and France in particular)

[Slim Pickens]

Well, I'm not so sure about that.

You have to admit, there IS evidence suggesting that that could be the case. I mean, look who the letters were sent to: Daschle, Brokaw, Rather...

Besides, while they did mention "right-wing nuts," they also mentioned the Unibomber- definitely a left-wing nut.

[epluribus_2]

I am feeling rather spun at this moment.

[Slim Pickens]

Please elaborate, kind Sir.

[Grampa Dave]

Both of you are right on! Until proven otherwise this Anthrax being released on Americans is our problem!

The last thing that we need nor want is get the UN involved in America.

I find it amazing that posters who hate the UN and rant and moan about on a regular basis, are upset with GW telling the UN to keep its nose out our business!

[lady lawyer]

The administration did exactly the right thing, whatever phraseology they used to sell their position to the left wing nuts running Europe.

They have been so careful to keep the UN in its place and preserve our sovereignty in this matter. I'm so thrilled.

[George W. Bush]

I'm glad France and the U.N. were told to butt out.

We still don't know who is mailing the anthrax. It could be domestic terror. Like McVeigh and OKC.

Bush officials are still soundly fact-based in this matter. My confidence in their levelheaded conduct is pretty strong despite my impatience for broader revenge against terror elements around the world. I note that Bush officials are steering a steady course despite Wolfowitz's willingness to declare global jihad and start nuking Baghdad, to finally rectify Spook Daddy's failure to oust Saddam Hussein.

[Grampa Dave]

The actual comment was, ""Let's assume this was the work of a bunch of right-wing nuts or a Unabomber kind of thing!"

Er, the unabomber kind of thing remark includes the left wing envirals and outfits like ALF/ELF!

The remark seemed to be open to include right wing nuts or left wing terrorist nuts!

I don't know about you, but I really don't want the UN or the EU telling us what to do in America when Americans are attacked!

[johnny7]

PETA people. Bet on it!