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September 22, 2004
I used to not hate the UN
Roger L. Simon quotes Claudia Rosett in a damning indictment of the UN oil for food scandal. Here is a brief excerpt:
Translation: In late 2002, while Mr. Annan was lobbying against U.S.-led removal of Saddam, he was running a U.N. program in which money meant for baby formula, among other goods, was very likely flowing into the pockets of Saddam and his sons and cronies.
I used to be a big fan of the UN. When I was in high school shortly after the end of the cold war I was in the model UN class one semester. We studied current events and history and in class I got to represent Israel and my friends represented countries like Iraq and Russia and we would make rude hand gestures while the other was speaking. In the one competition we went to our school was Iran and we gave the first world schools hell.
I used to think the UN could be useful in solving major problems and that people who thought we should leave the UN were nuts. I do not think so any longer. While I am not sure we should leave the UN, I am sure that it is a cesspool of corruption and that it does more to support oppressive and corrupt tyrants than it does to prevent atrocities, oppression, and the taking of innocent life. It values stability and the status quo over justice and freedom. I am sure that Kofi Annan is a horrible person who probably knew exactly what was going on with the Oil for Food program and was quite willing to let Iraqis starve and be murdered in order to keep the oil money flowing to his friends and allies. I am also pretty sure this money is one of the main reasons he opposes the U.S. liberation of Iraq.
The only thing is I do not know what the solution to the problem is. I do not think the UN is reformable. But I am also worried about what would happen if the U.S. withdrew from it. Should we form a league of free nations and only let democracies that meet certain requirements in? Also why in the world is Israel still a member of the UN? I can understand why the U.S. still is because the veto in the security council is still worth something. What has Israel ever gotten from the UN that would make it worth the abuse it constantly gets there?
Oh, and Dan Rather should be fired.
Update: here is the full WSJ Rosett article.
Posted by Pete at September 22, 2004 10:51 AM
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Comments
I agree 100% with everything you said. The UN was a great, excellent idea during the Cold War, but now the Cold War is over. Now it's a pro-Arab, anti-Israel, even anti-American organization ran by greedy European Communists with no morals. George Washington in his 1796 farewell speech said, "steer clear of permanent alliances." I believe we need to heed his words and get out of the UN. See www.getusout.org
Posted by: David Jenkins at November 6, 2004 04:19 PM