Payback For Germany In Wrangle Over UN Top Seat

The Times [UK] ^ | June 17, 2005 | James Bone

[quidnunc]

New York – The United States poured cold water on Germany’s bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council yesterday, saying that it favoured adding only two full-time seats to the top table of international diplomacy.

Washington, which can block any expansion of the 15-nation council, said that it wanted to add two permanent members, including Japan.

Bush Administration officials were quoted as saying that the second seat should go to a developing nation and that Washington would also support the addition of up to three new rotating non- permanent seats.

The long-awaited American position was interpreted by diplomats as payback for Germany’s opposition to the Iraq war and a reward for Japan, which joined the coalition.

The new US policy also gives hope to India, another democratic US ally, which would clearly be the leading candidate for a third-world permanent seat. But diplomats predicted that it would antagonise the 53- nation African group at the UN as well as the 34 Latin American and Caribbean countries.

The announcement confounded a joint effort by Germany, Japan, India and Brazil to win approval from the 191-nation UN General Assembly for six new permanent members to sit alongside Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. The so-called Group of Four had threatened to push for a vote next week on a framework resolution, to be followed in several weeks by another vote, deciding which countries would get the new permanent seats. Their plan — which is supported by Britain and France — calls for the six new permanent seats to be filled by Germany, Japan, India, Brazil and two African powers.

-snip-

[TheOtherOne]

I say we shrink the security council. France, you're off!

[Patriot from Philly]

Germany's 2 year turn on the Security Council was not good for the United States. The German UN ambassador is an obnoxious anti-American. Besides Iraq, Germany led the fight to have the US peacekeepers exemption from the ICC killed.

The payback is well deserved and is for a series of actions-not just one.

[DuckFan4ever]

Good. Glad Washington is showing that there are consequences for making the wrong choices. Germany needs to get it's stuff together before it comes to the US and asks for anything.

[glorgau]

...and two African powers.

I nominate Libya and Zimbabwe! < /sarcasm >

[Texas Eagle]

New York – The United States poured cold water on Germany’s bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council yesterday...

Somebody ping Dick Durbin. More torture!

[JLS]

I sort of agree. How about a security council of one permanent member and one rotating member from each continent? Maybe Asia gets three permanent members, but only two rotating slots.

The Premanent Members:

1. Europe: UK
2. Asia1: China
3. Asia2: Russia
4. Asia3: India
5. South Pacific: Australia
6. Africa: South Africa
7. North America: USA
8. South America: Chile

Maybe South America would be Brazil, but they are a bit flakey right now. If there were just 7 rotating members, one per continent except 2 for Asia, then there would be an odd number of members, 15, and no ties. I would keep the veto in the hands of only those security council members who have it now. And of course France would lose there's and their permanent seat.

[StoneGiant]

Hey, Schroeder!     Remember this?

 

Love ya!

-GWB

 

 

[Dog Gone]

and two African powers.

I'm hard pressed to think of even one.

[kennedy]

Either the EU should get only one seat (buh bye France) or the US should get 50.

[PAR35]

I say we shrink the security council. France, you're off!

No, we need to look for a win-win situation. Declare the French seat to be the EU seat, and then let Germany hold it on behalf of the EU.

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

"The United States will spell out its preferred criteria for candidates at the UN next week, arguing that a country’s size and population, military capacity and potential to contribute to UN peacekeeping..."

What is Chile going to do to contribute to the UN? The US should allow its influence to be diluted with additional members. No new members!

Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

correction:
The US should allow = The US shouldn't allow

[inquest]

We have all the influence we need. We have veto power. And we ought to use it more often.

[Soul Seeker]

The long-awaited American position was interpreted by diplomats as payback for Germany’s opposition to the Iraq war and a reward for Japan, which joined the coalition.

While that may be a factor, it isn't the sole reason.

For instance, Old Europe is already represented. IF we were going to add yet another European voice it would go to Poland.

Japan's influence is strategic. An expanding coalition between Taiwan/Japan/India/Australia and the U.S. is being built to counter China.

[RedTail]

We ought to just dump the damn thing and let it die.

[Just A Nobody]

Amen.

[river rat]

"But diplomats predicted that it would antagonise the 53- nation African group at the UN as well as the 34 Latin American and Caribbean countries."

Well damn! That would ruin my day...

Who can name an African, South American or Caribbean country that would amount to more than a pimple on Japan's or India's ass...

Most of those Turd World "nations" can't feed, care for or defend themselves -- and they want to vote on how the rest of the world operates?

Sorry - folks -- they're not up to the task..
Neither is France for that matter...

Semper Fi

[nkycincinnatikid]

Six new seats? Let's see, uhh, Japan, Brazil, Georgia, California, Ohio, and Texas.

[montag813]

I nominate:

JAPAN
INDIA

I prohibit:

GERMANY
BRAZIL
NIGERIA