W's ready to finish off the Security Council, too

NY Daily News ^ | 3/8/03 | Zev chafets

[chiller]

I have a feeling the sophisticated governments of the Old World have been set up by a Texas cowboy. In a matter of days, the United States and its current allies will invade Iraq and capture Baghdad. It has been evident for some time that this will likely happen without the blessing of the United Nations Security Council. But in his press conference Thursday, President Bush pushed things a step further.

"No matter what the whip count is, we're calling for the vote," he said of a new resolution that would green-light an invasion. "We want to see people stand up and say what their opinion is about Saddam Hussein and the utility of the United Nations Security Council."

Why should Bush want to force a vote he could very well lose?

Some losses are victories in disguise. And Bush is getting ready to use this defeat to finish off the Security Council.

He set the trap in September. In a speech to the UN General Assembly, he challenged the body to remain "relevant" and avoid the fate of the League of Nations. His implication was clear: No international body can survive without the approval and participation of the U.S.

The Security Council responded to Bush's threat with Resolution 1441, which calls for the disarmament of Iraq. But a lot of the hands raised on behalf of the measure, which passed 15 to 0, had crossed fingers. France, Russia, China and others were betting that Bush would be mollified by a pro forma inspection regime in Iraq.

They were very wrong, because they didn't get what Bush is really after.

The President is serious about getting rid of Saddam - but only as a first strategic step in the creation of a 21st century international order. He intends to make the world safe for the U.S. and its friends by imposing a Pax Americana that is based on American values, promotes American interests and relies on American economic and military power.

Under the post-9/11 Bush Doctrine, the U.S. claims the right to defang - unilaterally, and by armed preemption, if necessary - regimes and organizations that he regards as hostile and dangerous.

This is obviously an approach that can't live in harmony with an independent-minded and internationally empowered Security Council.

If the lesser powers, including the permanent members of the council, were willing to go along, the UN could serve as a convenient multilateral forum through which the U.S. would run the world by subcontracting spheres of influence and control to Russia, China, France, Germany and others.

Instead, these powers - with the exception of Great Britain - are aghast at the Bush Doctrine. Only now, more than a decade after the fall of the USSR, have they begun to internalize the meaning of the term "the world's only superpower." Their response is clearly visible - an attempt to turn the Security Council into a rival collective superpower.

Bush saw this coming, and he gave his answer Thursday: "When it comes to our security, if we need to act, we will act. And we really don't need United Nations approval to do so."

The President added that he wants the UN to be a "robust, capable body." By this he meant a body capable of following America's robust lead. If the Security Council reassesses the situation and comes around, swell. If not, well, look what happened to the League of Nations.

Governments that vote against America in the coming Security Council roll call are about to learn - if they haven't figured it out already - that America's cowboy President has led them into a genuine Texas ambush. War is coming to Iraq, but the real shootout is about to take place at the UN corral.

[knak]

Shootout at the UN corral. I love it.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

I have a feeling the sophisticated governments of the Old World have been set up by a Texas cowboy.

I also came to this conclusion a few days ago although up until now, I have never expressed it. When all these socialist banana republics/countries get through blabbing and as they keep digging themselves deeper into a hole, GWB is going to pull the chair from under the U.N., and it’s going to collapse like a house of cards. GWB has given them the full rope. At least that is what I'm hoping.

The United States IS the U.N. in that we tax payers pay 25% of it's expenses. No United States, No U.N.

Great post. Thank you.

[Blue Collar Christian]

Shoot-out at the U.N. Corral.

YEEHAW!

[amigatec]

Bush saw this coming, and he gave his answer Thursday: "When it comes to our security, if we need to act, we will act. And we really don't need United Nations approval to do so."

This line says it all!!

This may be the quote of the week.

[Malsua]

I'm not sure who had said it(G. Gordon Liddy or Hannity Maybe), but someone stated that once puny nations were given equal status with western nations and have voting rights over those nations, it wouldn't take long until the tryanny of the majority starts voting itself all the wealth.

We absolutely cannot allow the majority of the world to control our actions. If we submit to them, then countries like Libya and Sudan and others can form a voting block and VOTE away our assets. We cannot allow this to happen and if the UN has to take a nose dive let it go. It will crash to the heap of failed socialists instutitions and take with it scores of dictators from Africa to Asia. Good Riddance.

-Mal

[FryingPan101]

Close the doors of the UN. Take our late dues to pay for out placement services for the UN's arrogant employees. The world will be a better place.

[TheDon]

Only now, when it is too late, do they understand....

[RepublicanArmy]

I have watched our President set traps for the democrats since he took office again & again, and they have taken the bait each & every time. I have watched them fall like dominos believeing they are smarter then the "dumb cowboy" who became the leader of the free world.

Now the UN has followed in the footsteps of the democrats and underestimated our President's resolve, they have underestimated his conviction, and they have underestimated his sense of duty to the country he loves so dear.

What Bush did thursday night was nothing short of brilliant. He stood there like a poker player with an unbeatable hand calling the other players bluffs. No we shall see who will fold!!!!!!!

[ErnBatavia]

Time to show your hand, gentlemen.

Unzip and lay 'em on the bar, boys...it's measurement time.

[csmusaret]

The SC is just as effective as most committees are.

[Moonmad27]

And to think they used to LAUGH at "strategery"! Like a true Texan, he said what he meant and meant what he said, all along.

[anoldafvet]

It's about time we got out of the UN. Let's not forget also that in the current Iraq situation, the UN is raking in almost $1.5 billion a year "administering" the Iraq oil for food program. The day we go in, that "income" stops. Could this be a reason why it is against the war?

[jrd]

you know teats on a boar hog can scratch a sows back...I doubt the UN can do anything!

[Toskrin]

Hey, I was that kid.

And everybody loved me.

They really did.

[chiller]

'W' is fun to watch. He's steamrolling the whole damn bunch. None will be left standing when it's over, and they'll all be victim of their own ignorance. It gets no sweeter than this.

Ditto domestically with Rove's help. I love it to death. How many years have we been waiting for some of this comeuppance to come due? Yaaaahoooo, ride 'em cowboy!

[Toskrin]

The UN, NATO, OAS, and other 20th century international bodies were organized with the main premise of preventing global conflict between the free world and Communism. Global was was averted, and in the end, a billion people won their freedom. That battle is over, and the organizations are now irrelevant.

The new battle is freedom against rogue fascist dictators, of which there are countless. They have been given a free ride for hundreds of years. There are pobably a billion people under the jackboot of these thugs. Bush seems to be the only leader who understands where the next battleground is.

[chiller]

I have given Rove much credit for 'W''s strategery, but doubt he's had much to do with policy internationally. Which leaves me with 'W' as the man. I'm sure he's got plenty of help in setting goals and laying options on the table, but I think 'W's the key.

[chiller]

There's another post within the last hour in the NYT --would you believe-saying much the same thing about the precarious situation the UN has put themselves in. UN insiders acknowledge it, even if Kofi Annan does not.

Is this what the adage 'where the rubber meets the road' means?

[Travis McGee]

Click here to create two home-printable bumper stickers that say:

Only UN-Americans put the U.N. before the U.S.

Artwork and linkage by FReeper Howie. Stick them inside your car’s rear window with a few bits of 3M Magic Tape, the tape will peel off easily with no glue residue even after months in the sun.

[chiller]

Here it is.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/860677/posts