www.nationalreview.com/script/printpage.asp?ref=/frum/frum-diary.asp
The "unilateralist" Bush administration responded to 9/11 by requesting and winning UN Resolution 1373, calling on all states to supress terorist financing.
It requested and got a UN resolution before going into Afghanistan too. It invoked NATO aid as well.
The administration sought Security Council approval before Iraq-twice (the first time sucessfully; the second time, not). For the actual war there, the administration built a coalition that included Britain, Australia, POland, Spain and others: a total of 17 nations. larger than the coalition that fought the Korean War. As soon as Saddam was deposed, the administration returned to the UN and got a resolution approving the occupation.
The UN was invited into Iraq to oversee reconstruction. It was not the US that abandoned the UN; it was the UN that abandoned the Iraq. running away from the country after it's local headquarters was bombed in August 2003.
Now another roster of facts, this time about those allies on whom the Bush adminisration supposedly turned it's back.
The Us went to war with Saddam in 2003 because the old policy for curbing the appetite for weapons of mass destruction-sanctions plus inspectors -was collapsing.
Saddam forced the UN inspectors out of his country in 1998. The United States and Britain punished him with air strikes, but the UN ITSELF DID NOTHING!. Why not/ Because our ally France warned it would veto any reprisal
By early 2000, the sanctions regime was likewise disintegrating. Saddam skimmed billions from the Oil for Food program and used the money to buy (among other things) prohibited missiles. Guess which country led the sanctions-busting? France again. France was Saddam Hussein's largest trading partner, and many senior French officials now stand accused of pocketing bribes from Saddam.
Or consider Iran. Iran is speeding to finish work on a nuclear bonb. The Bush administration has dealt with this issue just the way the multilateralist would wish it too: It has presented evidence to the International Atomic Energy Authority that Iran is violating its promiises and agreements. Theoretically, the IAEA should now refer this case to the Security Council for action. That is not happening-largely because so many European allies led by Germany, oppose action. germany by the way is the world's largest investor in Iran.
I single out France and Germany only to make this point. To listen to Sen. John Kerry, you would think that we are having difficulties persuading some European and Arab states to support the war on terror becasue we didn't ask sweetly enough for their help. But that is childish!!!
..................................
The "unilateralist" Bush administration responded to 9/11 by requesting and winning UN Resolution 1373, calling on all states to supress terorist financing.
It requested and got a UN resolution before going into Afghanistan too. It invoked NATO aid as well.
The administration sought Security Council approval before Iraq-twice (the first time sucessfully; the second time, not). For the actual war there, the administration built a coalition that included Britain, Australia, POland, Spain and others: a total of 17 nations. larger than the coalition that fought the Korean War. As soon as Saddam was deposed, the administration returned to the UN and got a resolution approving the occupation.
The UN was invited into Iraq to oversee reconstruction. It was not the US that abandoned the UN; it was the UN that abandoned the Iraq. running away from the country after it's local headquarters was bombed in August 2003.
Now another roster of facts, this time about those allies on whom the Bush adminisration supposedly turned it's back.
The Us went to war with Saddam in 2003 because the old policy for curbing the appetite for weapons of mass destruction-sanctions plus inspectors -was collapsing.
Saddam forced the UN inspectors out of his country in 1998. The United States and Britain punished him with air strikes, but the UN ITSELF DID NOTHING!. Why not/ Because our ally France warned it would veto any reprisal
By early 2000, the sanctions regime was likewise disintegrating. Saddam skimmed billions from the Oil for Food program and used the money to buy (among other things) prohibited missiles. Guess which country led the sanctions-busting? France again. France was Saddam Hussein's largest trading partner, and many senior French officials now stand accused of pocketing bribes from Saddam.
Or consider Iran. Iran is speeding to finish work on a nuclear bonb. The Bush administration has dealt with this issue just the way the multilateralist would wish it too: It has presented evidence to the International Atomic Energy Authority that Iran is violating its promiises and agreements. Theoretically, the IAEA should now refer this case to the Security Council for action. That is not happening-largely because so many European allies led by Germany, oppose action. germany by the way is the world's largest investor in Iran.
I single out France and Germany only to make this point. To listen to Sen. John Kerry, you would think that we are having difficulties persuading some European and Arab states to support the war on terror becasue we didn't ask sweetly enough for their help. But that is childish!!!
..................................
