Re: Bush accused of undermining the UN with aid coalition

From: Jeffrey Turner (jturner_at_localnet.com)
Date: 12/31/04 

Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 07:29:21 -0500

Gactimus wrote:

> http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3944374
>
> United States President George Bush was tonight accused of trying to
> undermine the United Nations by setting up a rival coalition to
> coordinate relief following the Asian tsunami disaster.
>
> The president has announced that the US, Japan, India and Australia
> would coordinate the world’s response.
>
> But former International Development Secretary Clare Short said that
> role should be left to the UN.
>
> “I think this initiative from America to set up four countries claiming
> to coordinate sounds like yet another attempt to undermine the UN when
> it is the best system we have got and the one that needs building up,”
> she said.
>
> “Only really the UN can do that job,” she told BBC Radio Four’s PM
> programme.
>
> “It is the only body that has the moral authority. But it can only do it
> well if it is backed up by the authority of the great powers.”
>
> Ms Short said the coalition countries did not have good records on
> responding to international disasters.
>
> She said the US was “very bad at coordinating with anyone” and India had
> its own problems to deal with.
>
> “I don’t know what that is about but it sounds very much, I am afraid,
> like the US trying to have a separate operation and not work with the
> rest of the world through the UN system,” she added.
>
> -----------
>
> In your dreams, UN. As if the United States is going to trust you with such
> a task after the oil-for-food scandal and your refusal to investigate it.

The Oil for Food Program was overseen by the Security Council,
not the Secretary General. The offices of the SG alerted the
661 Committee to over 70 instances of contracts which they
thought might evidence kickbacks, the United States didn't stop
one contract because of that possibility.

What has happened with the $8 Billion or so that was in the
OfF coffers when they were turned over to the US and why didn't
the US allow auditors to monitor the expenditures? Probably
gone to Halliburton in no-bid contracts, that's why.

Why don't you learn all the facts about a "scandal" before you
go spouting off?

--Jeff 

-- 
It is only those who have neither
fired a shot nor heard the shrieks
and groans of the wounded who cry
aloud for blood, more vengeance, more
desolation.  War is hell.
--William Tecumseh Sherman
In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.
--Jose Narosky
The urge to save humanity is almost
always a false front for the urge to
rule.
--H.L. Mencken

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