April 15, 2004

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH

Iraq is just too icky for the United Nations, according to always-concerned Kofi Annan:

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday that the violence and anarchy sweeping Iraq will prevent the world body from re-establishing a major presence in the country anytime in the near future.

"For the foreseeable future, insecurity is going to be a major constraint for us. And so I cannot say right now that I am going to be sending in a large U.N. team," he said.

Way to help, Kofi. Hey, how’s that deal going in Rwanda? Issued any more statements lately?

Posted by Tim Blair at April 15, 2004 03:57 AM
Comments

Well, it's a shame that the President has to ask this useless, self-serving, corrupt organization for help just to appease some people.

Posted by: marie at April 15, 2004 at 04:55 AM

Kofi Annan is the leader of a pack of rat-nosed, lily-livered rock slugs, and what we really need from the UN is for it to stay the hell out of the way. We've got a job to do.

Posted by: Rebecca at April 15, 2004 at 05:02 AM

Someone please tell me why we still pump money into this useless organization.

I mean, I'm all for a group of countries voluntarily getting together to discuss their problems, but no one should rely on that group for more than anything besides a thinktank.

Posted by: Robb at April 15, 2004 at 05:23 AM

Hey, Tim, I invite the good folks commenting on your blog over to mine for the new "naming" of the UN Oil-for-Food Program. Best so far: UNISE The U.N. Iraqi Starvation Effort. BUt we're only just getting started!

Posted by: Roger L. Simon at April 15, 2004 at 05:46 AM

At the very least, the Security Council should issue a nonbinding resolution. That'll show 'em!

Posted by: Dave T. at April 15, 2004 at 06:44 AM

I don't get why Kerry and his ilk all seem to think getting the U.N. involved will solve all our ills in Iraq. It's plain that:

A) the U.N. doesn't want to be there (The U.N. Our motto: Bringing peace to places that are pacified since 1948).

B) The Iraqis themselves don't trust the U.N., seeing them as the organization that helped keep Saddam in power. See:
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/rubin200404141147.asp

Posted by: SPC4 at April 15, 2004 at 07:08 AM

IIRC, the last time we went to the UN on the Iraq matter, it went something like this:

Bush - "You know, UN, Saddam keeps thumbing his nose at our resolutions and is in material breach. Can you give us a little diplomatic cover and a few troops to help out in taking care of this problem once and for all?"

UNSC - "Uh, we're not too sure. Let's mull it over, but we have to say that at this point, we're not too excited."

Bush - "I want to get rid of this scumbag, and we have all kinds of reasons to do so, despite the UN's hesitancy to enforce its own laws. Tony, you in?"

Blair - "Yeah, but if it's not too much trouble, can you go back one more time to the UN and give it a go?"

Bush - "OK. Here goes: Hey, UN, let's take this guy out, he's a criminal, he brutalizes his own people, has a cavalier attitude towards his borders, he sponsors terrorism in Israel, and he's been known to seek out WMDs, and we're pretty sure he's doing so now."

UNSC - "Uh, not only no, but HELL no."

France - "And not only HELL no, but there are no circumstances under which we will ever authorize force."

Blair - "Bollocks."

Bush - "Interesting that the more we asked, the more they backed away. Gotta keep that in mind for the future ..."

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Time passes
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Kerry - "Bush sucks! He went in with a fraudulant coalition that was unilateral. And when I'm president, I'll go back to the UN over and over and over again until we get their help."

People with brains - "Hey, um, JK - did you see what happened last time we tried to get their buy-in? Or are you suggesting that groveling is in order? Because if so ... pass."

Posted by: Steve in Houston at April 15, 2004 at 10:04 AM

Steve - That was the best summary of the months leading up to the Iraq War that I've ever read !!

As far as I'm concerned, the UN can go condemn Israel as much as it wants. Its given a green light for African dictators and tyrants to massacre populations, and for Arab despots to bitch about Israel while they haven't got the faintest idea about modern human rights.

Posted by: Jono at April 15, 2004 at 10:49 AM

Yeah he totally sucks and so do Cheney and Rumsfeld. Lets not reelect them.

Posted by: online bingo mom at May 1, 2004 at 08:56 AM