To read the tribute to SFC Marcus Muralles, please click here
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
We're Eeeeeeeevil
Yesterday was the opening of the UN General Assembly. Woohoo. Yippee skip. President Bush gave a speech. Kofi Annon gave a speech. Yada Yada Yada.
President Bush gave a good speech, but you could tell he probably didn't want to be there. He warned that the UN risked becoming irrelevent. [They already are, in many Americans' opinions-ed.] He suggested the creation of a "Democracy Fund."
Secretary-General Annon laid into the US (again), accusing us of civil right violations and violations of the rule of law (both refer to Iraqi prisoners and the Abu Graib scandal). By no means do I believe that the US is perfect, with perfect policy and an unblemished record. But it's the best out there, and we're getting sick and tired of our imperfections being put on display to the exclusion of murderous thugs and tyrants. I'm not saying brush our problems under the rug... just put them in the proper light. But that will never happen, especially since the Iraqi war could have very well ended a good scam for several of the high level members.
In this particular article, what I found interesting (in a car-accident kind of way) is the comments of President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella of Costa Rica, who called for a "fairer economic system" and complained that the world needs to know that security lies in more loaves of bread, not more weapons. No, Mr. President. I'll take the "walk softly and carry a big stick" policy. The enemies we face (not the masses that sometimes follow them, but the core) don't care about loaves of bread. They are on a religious mission, and food will not sway them.
One other comment of note was from Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. He's concerned about the disparity in the per capita income of rich and poor countries. We cannot help these poorer countries if their governments will not work with us. Sir, as long as there are totalitarian regimes, you will have that disparity.
So... to recap... according to the UN... we're bad; they're good; we need to fork over more money. Yup... that about covers it.
President Bush gave a good speech, but you could tell he probably didn't want to be there. He warned that the UN risked becoming irrelevent. [They already are, in many Americans' opinions-ed.] He suggested the creation of a "Democracy Fund."
He proposed establishing a Democracy Fund in the United Nations, pledging an initial unspecified contribution and urging other nations to donate to the fund, which would help countries lay the foundations of democracy by instituting the rule of law, independent courts, a free press, political parties and trade unions.Sir, I'm not sure if you've noticed this, but most of the member nations aren't real happy with the idea of democracy- it tends to get in the way of their dictatorships. Those pesky freedoms intrude on their scare tactics and domination of the poor masses. Not sure they'll give you're idea more than lip service (if that, even), but good-on-ya for mentioning it.
Secretary-General Annon laid into the US (again), accusing us of civil right violations and violations of the rule of law (both refer to Iraqi prisoners and the Abu Graib scandal). By no means do I believe that the US is perfect, with perfect policy and an unblemished record. But it's the best out there, and we're getting sick and tired of our imperfections being put on display to the exclusion of murderous thugs and tyrants. I'm not saying brush our problems under the rug... just put them in the proper light. But that will never happen, especially since the Iraqi war could have very well ended a good scam for several of the high level members.
In this particular article, what I found interesting (in a car-accident kind of way) is the comments of President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella of Costa Rica, who called for a "fairer economic system" and complained that the world needs to know that security lies in more loaves of bread, not more weapons. No, Mr. President. I'll take the "walk softly and carry a big stick" policy. The enemies we face (not the masses that sometimes follow them, but the core) don't care about loaves of bread. They are on a religious mission, and food will not sway them.
One other comment of note was from Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. He's concerned about the disparity in the per capita income of rich and poor countries. We cannot help these poorer countries if their governments will not work with us. Sir, as long as there are totalitarian regimes, you will have that disparity.
So... to recap... according to the UN... we're bad; they're good; we need to fork over more money. Yup... that about covers it.
