Tag Archives: United Nations

Sell the UN

BY RICH GALEN
Reprinted from Mullings.com

During the presidency of George W. Bush, member states of the United Nations declined to re-elect the United States to one of the seats reserved for Western States on the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

They elected, instead, France, Austria, and Sweden.

The Bush Administration was unmoved by the slight, pointing out that the UN Human Rights Commission routinely elected such paragons of human rights as Rwanda, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran, Somalia, and Uganda. Continue reading

Saving Syria from Itself

BY MICHAEL S. JOHNSON

It is striking, the degree to which President Barack Obama can do the right thing so badly.

Look at the last ten days of Syrian decision-making. He made a decision to attack Syria, unilaterally, for using chemical weapons on its own people, without the public concurrence of the United Nations or many of our allies, both Middle Eastern and European, and without consulting Congress. He made the decision before United Nations’ weapons inspectors had even started their inspection of the site of the bombings in Damascus.

In the intervening week, however, the President has consulted with our allies. He delayed a military strike until after Congress debates and goes on record for or against authorizing military intervention for him, which now won’t occur until after the UN inspectors have had time to submit their findings. His rationale, as explained in the Rose Garden Continue reading

Obama Phoning It In

BY RICH GALEN
Reprinted from Mullings.com

During President Barack Obama’s whirlwind visit to New York City, he delivered a speech to the United Nations.

In that speech Obama said, “The attacks on our civilians in Benghazi were attacks on America.”

To keep close tabs on our response to those “attacks on America” Obama played footsie with the gals on The View. And attended a reception. And Tweeted about the nature of the global issue of replacement refs in the NFL. And, for all I know, took a turn as the Naked Cowboy in Times Square. Continue reading

UN Finger-Wagging No Foreign Policy

BY RICH GALEN
Reprinted from Mullings.com

The General Assembly of the United Nations took the boldest of steps yesterday by adopting a resolution condemning the government of Syria’s on-going assault on its citizens. It was the equivalent of an international finger-wagging.

The resolution was adopted by an overwhelming vote of 137 in favor to 12 against with 17 abstentions. The 12 countries that voted against the resolution were: Belarus, Bolivia, China, Cuba, North Korea, Ecuador, Iran, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

The resolution itself contained no penalty clause. In fact, the LA Times’ reporting of the activity said it best: “Though the resolution has no force, it was seen as an important symbol of where the world stands on Syria.” Continue reading

More Kenetic Military Actions

BY RICH GALEN

Reprinted from mullings.com

 About the time President Obama was goofing it up at Google, he was also approving a fairly dramatic escalation in America’s involvement in Libya by agreeing to utilize armed Predator Drones to rain fire down on Mohamar Gaddafi’s forces.

Continue reading