December 11, 2006, - 9:08 am
Kofi Annan: Buh-Bye . . . And F-U, USA
By Debbie Schlussel
Here’s the headline from the front page of today’s USA Today:
Annan to Blast U.S. in Farewell; End U.N. Tenure With Dig at Bush
Today, Annan (thankfully) says good-bye as Secretary-General of the U.N. Instead of discussing his many failures (are there any successes? NO.), Annan will blast America on American soil.
Annan and his whole U.N. wouldn’t even exist without the generosity–no, the stupidity– of the U.S. But this America-hater on U.S. soil loves to gives us the middle-finger salute, all courtesy of U.S. taxpayers (who pay the majority of U.N. costs, including Annan’s high-styled mansion and salary). We’ll be paying a good deal of Annan’s pension, too. And, don’t forget, he and his son got away with impunity, despite participating in the Iraq oil-for-food scam.
Kofi Annan Photos Say it All . . .
More from USA Today, with which Annan shared his speech, in advance:
In a farewell speech on U.S. soil today, retiring United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan plans to deliver a tough critique of President Bush’s policies. He will accuse the administration of trying to secure the United States from terrorism in part by dominating other nations through force, committing what he termed human rights abuses and taking military action without broad international support.
Though Annan has long been a critic of the war in Iraq and other Bush foreign policies, the planned speech is among his toughest and is unusual for a U.N. secretary-general concluding his tenure.
Annan’s remarks, provided to USA TODAY by his office, list principles for international relations, among them “respect for human rights and the rule of law.”
These ideas can be advanced only “if America remains true to its principles, including in the struggle against terrorism,” the speech says. “When it appears to abandon its own ideals and objectives, its friends abroad are naturally troubled and confused.”
Uh-huh. Just like Annan was “tough” on Palestinian terrorism, right?
In the 61-year history of the U.N., no secretary-general has ended his tenure by criticizing U.S. policies so sharply, said Stanley Meisler, a historian of the United Nations and author of a new biography of Annan. . . .
In his speech, Annan refers to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. When “military force is used, the world at large will consider it legitimate only when convinced that it is being used for the right purpose – in accordance with broadly accepted norms.”
Interesting that he attacks our “military force,” in which we handled Iraqis and terrorists with kid gloves (and continue to do so), but makes no mention of the Sudanese Army that slaughtered millions of Sudanese Christians on Annan’s watch (there are none left). He makes no mention of the Syrian Army, the Egyptian Army (building up to attack Israel), Iran’s nuclear quest, etc.
The speech continues that “governments must be accountable for their actions in the international arena, as well as in the domestic one.”
Again, see above.
The speech, to be delivered at the presidential library of the late Harry Truman in Independence, Mo., contrasts Truman’s support for the United Nations with the Bush administration’s unilateral actions.
Harry Truman is turning over in his grave. This speech–and Annan in general–is against everything he stood for.
Annan acknowledges terrorism and other global threats but cautions against nations acting alone. “Against such threats as these, no nation can make itself secure by seeking supremacy over all others,” the speech says.
Yes, “seeking supremacy” by bending over backwards in Iraq instead of bombing the heck out of it, and by bending over to extremist Islam in America. Get a clue, Kofi . . . .
Critics of Annan in Congress, including Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., faulted the Ghana-born, U.S.-educated diplomat for lax management of the $64 billion U.N. oil-for-food program. The 1996-2003 effort was tainted by $1.5 billion in kickbacks to the regime of Saddam Hussein.
“Annan’s legacy will be one of missed opportunity and failed leadership,” said Coleman, who urged Annan to resign last year.
Amen to that. If he’s intellectually honest about (something he never has been), Annan has only himself to blast.
Bill Clinton and Madeleine Albright backed Annan for U.N. Secretary general–a HUGE mistake. His departure is none too soon, and far too late.
Tags: America, author, Bill Clinton, Bush, Bush administration, Congress, Debbie Schlussel Here, diplomat for lax management, Egyptian Army, F-U, Harry Truman, historian, Hizballah, Independence, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Kofi Annan, Kofi Annan Photos Say, lax management, Madeleine Albright, Minnesota, Missouri, Norm Coleman, oil-for-food program, oil-for-food scam, President, Saddam Hussein, Secretary, secretary general, Stanley Meisler, Sudanese Army, Syrian Army, United Nations, United States, USA Today, USD
Debbie–
As usual, on the mark. Annan was worse than most, but they were ALL terrible.
UN Lessons, unchanged since its founding…
1. No one cares about Africa (including those who live there)
2. The fecklessness of Euro diplomats is *always* worse than you think it could possibly be
3. The main mission of the UN is bashing Israel and the US
4. We’re stupid because we still belong
Red Ryder on December 11, 2006 at 11:21 am