[Jean S]

Well, this is interesting.

[Mo1]

Last year the Conference was not able to reach agreement on a program of work -- the fourth consecutive year during which it was unable to do so -- and so was unable to start work on substantive issues.

4 Years they haven't done squat???

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A U.N. spokesman Friday night said, without explanation, that Iraq has relinquished its four-week turn as president of the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament, making way for Ireland to take up the slack.] Well dang. Don't they have a sense of humor? I was looking forward to many "Animal Farm" moments over the next four weeks. Like putting Joseph Mengele in charge of the Council of Humanitarian Affairs, or Castro in charge of the Council on Economic Development. Let the UN commit suicide in our time. LOLOLOL.

[Hannibal]

"Iraq relinquishes disarm panel chair"

They know they will be on the run by then

[kayak]

How interesting!

[Liberal Bob]

The Iraqi Mission to the United Nations informed the Secretary-General today that the Iraqi government had sent a letter to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva saying that they would not be assuming the rotating presidency of the Conference, which they were scheduled to assume on March 17

That's because you're be assuming room temperature by then.

[McGavin999]

While there was agreement on most of the elements of a program, the main differences remained on the matter of prevention of an arms race in outer space

They're worried about arms in outer space while not the least bit concerned with the massive proliferation of illegal arms right here on earth. The UN has got to be the biggest joke in the world.

[Pinch]

if the UN had found some backbone and not allowed Iraq and Iran not chair these committees - and had not let Libya chair the Human Rights committee, then I *might* say there was some hope for this international clown convention. I don't believe that is the case, though.

[Boiler Plate]

Iran, Iraq, Ireland. They pick who's in charge by alphabetical order?! Sounds kinda grade schoolish.

[LayoutGuru2]

Following in the presidential rotation were to be, in English alphabetical order, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Ireland, and Israel.

I am amazed that they were actually able to agree to rotate in "English alphabetical order" - Probably after years of debate.

[Grampa Dave]

The UN had received so much negative publicity on Iran chairing the Disarmament Conference, that they probably asked their cash cow Iran to back down.

This Disarmament Conference is typical of what the UN does.

They go to an expensive place like Geneva and spend a small fortune on holding the meeting.

Then, we find out that for 4 years they have done nothing at this conference.

Of course we know that the UN has done nothing for over 50 years re disarming the bad guys who are members of the UN. The rich cash cows like Iraq and Iran have armed themselves with whatever they can buy in the open. Then the UN does nothing just like their latest fiasco this week with Iraq.

[RippleFire]

BUMP

[cake_crumb]

"Last year the Conference was not able to reach agreement on a program of work -- the fourth consecutive year during which it was unable to do so -- and so was unable to start work on substantive issues."

FOUR YEARS?? WANNA BET THE MEMBERS STILL GOT PAID BY OUR TAX DOLLARS TO DO NOTHING??? Proof positive that the U.N. is an irrelevant debating society.

[George W. Bush]

Yes. I expected this. The French got them to do it to avoid the embarassing irony of Iraq effectively chairing their own disarmament. The French are also behind Saddam's ban on WMD and probably Asiz's little trip to hide behind the pope's skirts. Damn frogs. They have no shame.