Posted on 12/11/2006 10:26:19 AM PST by Saint Reagan
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in his farewell address, criticized the Bush administration, warning that America must not sacrifice its Democratic ideals while waging war against terrorism.
In remarks prepared for delivery Monday at the Truman Presidential Museum and Library, Annan also said the Security Council should be expanded.
“Human rights and the rule of law are vital to global security and prosperity,” Annan’s text said.
When the U.S. “appears to abandon its own ideals and objectives, its friends abroad are naturally troubled and confused,” he said.
Annan, who leaves the United Nations on Dec. 31 after 10 years as secretary-general, has become an increasingly vocal critic of the war in Iraq.
He said in the text that the U.S. has a special responsibility to the world because it continues to have extraordinary power.
Annan summed up five principles that he considers essential: collective responsibility, global solidarity, rule of law, mutual accountability and multilateralism.
He chose the Truman museum for his final major speech in part because it is dedicated to a president who was instrumental in the founding of the United Nations. His text repeatedly praised the Truman administration but never mentioned Bush by name.
“As President Truman said, ’The responsibility of the great states is to serve and not dominate the peoples of the world,”’ Annan said.
“He believed strongly that henceforth security must be collective and indivisible. That was why, for instance, that he insisted when faced with aggression by North Korea against the South in 1950, on bringing the issue to the United Nations,” Annan said.
“Against such threats as these, no nation can make itself secure by seeking supremacy over all others.”
Annan also called for a reform of the Security Council, saying its membership “still reflects the reality of 1945.” He suggested adding new members to represent parts of the world with less of a voice.
He said the permanent members, the world powers, “must accept the special responsibility that comes with their privilege.’
“The Security Council is not just another stage on which to act out national interests,” he said in another jab at Bush.
Rick Santorum would make a fine President, IMHO.
Did anyone notice how AP opened with "Democratic ideals" instead of "democratic ideals"? As thought the Democratic party has the only ideals America should hold to! Subtle liberal bias alert!
Never thought about him but you are right..would
be a solid Connservative and rep for country. It
was a shame he didn't get reelectd but he never
capitulated to the liberals agenda..no way. Hope
he comes back and challenges for Governor.if he
misses out on UN...JK
Hey Koofee! Get bent, sideways with a rusty crowbar!
(And watch your back - your enemies are many.)
The U.N. has never had a more corrupt "leader"...He should have been ousted and jailed years ago. Instead, he scolds the host country and a world leader who at least has tried to solve problems that he himself simply turned his back on, or was even involved in creating.
Hey goofy, that sentence is why we have terrorism in the world. STFU and don't ever set foot on US soil again. This is one person I despise more than any of the clintons. I'm surprised he didn't use multiculturalism in that sentence as well.
Goofi needs to go back to tending his goats. He was in way over his head at the U.N.
By Grabthar's hammer, what a statesman.
Kofi should be speaking from his prison cell.
"He said in the text that the U.S. has a special responsibility to the world because it continues to have extraordinary power."
Right and that being the case the US expects to get compensation for such "special responsibility" and when when get screwed by a bunch of nations of thugs we administer the consequences of such actions as a part of our "special responsibility".
I wondered what all that was about. With CNN being the only English channel available in my hotel, I had to sit through this entire speech whilst trying to eat my dinner.
STFU and get out, you pinko thief.
That deserves repeating. We will probably never know the full extent of the criminal acts carried out under Annan. I have nothing but contempt for him and the criminal element that has been running the UN. I can only hope that someday, in some way, justice will be served.
Note to Kofi: Nobody in the USA expected the USA to be the only superpower. It's just too bad if the other wannabee superpowers couldn't get their superpower act together. However, since the USA has gone into debt $15 trillion, which is $1000 a year since the Big Bang, it would help if the wannabee superpowers could help pay this off and acquire some debt themselves since massive debt appears to be the secret of superpowerness.
I guess he'll be the head negro when he gets home in Africa.
I'll bump that big time.
Pres. Bush still wants everyone to love him even Kofi.
Just received this from HIRC Chairman Henry Hide (R-ILL):
NEWS ADVISORY
Committee on International Relations
U.S. House of Representatives
Henry J. Hyde, Chairman
CONTACT: Kirsti Talikka Garlock, (202) 225-5021, December 11, 2006
For IMMEDIATE Release
Hyde Comments on Annan Farewell Speech
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to comments made today by outgoing
Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, U.S. Rep. Henry J. Hyde
(R-IL), Chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, issued
the following remarks:
Unsaid by Mr. Annan was any acknowledgement about the
rampant financial and moral mismanagement at the United Nations and the
near-absence of standards of decency for the thuggish regimes that are too
often empowered by its antiquated rules and procedures. The failure by Mr.
Annan to accept any responsibility for a decade of UN scandals and, instead,
to engage in a classic case of misdirection aimed at the United States, is
both understandable and completely predictable. The failure to acknowledge
the systemic management woes will accelerate that day when new ideas and new
players fill the moral void left in the wake of two decades of UN corruption
and misrule.
See Comment 1. I'm surprised no one else picked up on it.
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