Annan will tell President Bush that only the United Nations can sanction the use of force

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan will tell President Bush on Thursday that only the United Nations can sanction the use of force against Iraq.

Annan, without mentioning possible U.S. plans to attack Iraq, says any country can defend itself when attacked.

"But beyond that, when states decide to use force to deal with broader threats to international peace and security, there is no substitute for the unique legitimacy provided by the United Nations," he will tell the U.N. General Assembly, according to prepared remarks.

Annan, who also challenges U.S. policy by renewing a call for an international conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, speaks shortly before Bush sets out for the assembly his case for action against Iraq.

Bush is expected to challenge the United Nations to enforce post-Gulf War resolutions demanding Iraq disarm. The United States believes Iraq is developing chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

"I'm going to the United Nations to give this speech for a reason, because I believe this is an international problem, and that we must work together to deal with the problem," Bush said on Tuesday.

A U.N. official said Annan's speech was being released early so it would not be overshadowed by Bush's address. A copy of his remarks was given to U.S. officials.

"The more a country makes use of multilateral institutions -- thereby respecting shared values, and accepting the obligations and restraints inherent in those values -- the more others will trust and respect it, and the stronger its chance to exercise true leadership," Annan says.

He says member states had shown they were willing to take actions under the authority of the U.N. Security Council they would not be willing to take without it.

"Even the most powerful countries know that they need to work with others, in multilateral institutions, to achieve their aims," Annan says in a carefully crafted speech.

Many European, Arab and other nations have voiced dismay at a U.S. drive to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and halt his alleged attempts to acquire weapons of mass destruction -- with or without approval by the U.N. Security Council.

Annan himself said this month it would be "unwise to attack Iraq" and that it would raise international tensions.

Annan will tell the General Assembly that Iraq is defying Security Council resolutions, saying the return of U.N. arms inspectors is the "indispensable first step" to assuring the world that Iraq's deadly weapons have been scrapped and toward the suspension and eventual ending of U.N. sanctions.

"If Iraq's defiance continues, the Security Council must face its responsibilities," Annan declares, in a formula that clearly does not rule out U.N.-authorized military action such as that mounted by the U.S.-led coalition that drove Iraqi occupation troops from Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War.

The Bush administration worked closely with the United Nations to get support for a struggle against terrorism after last year's Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

But on other issues it has irritated many of its European and other allies by spurning global initiatives such as the Kyoto protocol on greenhouse gases and treaties against biological weapons, nuclear testing and land mines.

It has fiercely opposed the new International Criminal Court, sided with conservative Islamic states on women's health issues and cut off funds to the U.N. Population Fund.

The United States continues to accrue new debts to the world body and is now $1.2 billion in arrears for dues and peacekeeping expenses, despite an agreement in December 2000 from U.N. members to reduce the American contribution.

Annan will call for an international conference "without delay" to seek a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East conflict, saying Israel and the Palestinians accept the vision of a two-state solution and an end to terror and to occupation.

"We can reach it only if we move rapidly and in parallel on all fronts," Annan says.

The United States has stopped advocating an international conference that it had proposed, and in a June 24 speech, Bush laid the onus on the Palestinians to change their leadership and halt violence before political progress could be achieved.

On Afghanistan, Annan says President Hamid Karzai's government needs help to extend its authority throughout the country and that donors must honor their aid pledges.

"Otherwise the Afghan people will lose hope -- and desperation, we know, breeds violence," the secretary-general adds.

From another thread (I couldn't resist; it was soooo much fun to write):

"The world must act together against terrorism or put at risk everything the United Nations ( news - web sites) stands for... It must be defeated -- and it must be defeated by the world acting as one," he (Kofi Annan) said.

Everything the UN stands for wouldn't be much.

Kofi, sweetheart, have I got the perfect solution for you! There's nothing to it. Really. All you have to do is to do what come's naturally...

Step 1. Uh that would mean you and "the world" do what you do so well. You know, just sit just sit tight on your hands and do nothing. You can add a touch of hand-wringing and angst if you want; seeing as you got that part down pat.

Remember? Like you did in Rwanda? OK, then there's Step 2.

Step 2 is we, that's US, not part of YOU (as our Europeon friends are so fond of reminding us), well, WE go in and kick the snot out of the guys who'd blow us up. Now, we really don't have to do this on our own as an "ACT OF AGGRESSION" or anything, seeing as they co conveniently already promised to kill us all, and even gave us a little demonstration. So we'd call that a declaration of war on their part. Don't you think?

So, we fix it and "the world" acts as one.

SIMPLE! Nothing to it. We do it, We are one, We "act as one" and get it done. Just like you said! Got it?

Sit tight there Kofi, we got you covered...

Uh... Kofi? You know, seeing as you are looking for something to accomplish... There's this guy down in your neck of the woods in the process of murdering 6 million of his countrymen by selective starvation... sorta exactly like all the other commie take-overs in the last century... Lessee, there was Russia, China, Cambodia... they all did the same thing. Totaled something like 100 million dead. Remember? Interesting isn't it, that it was commies like them who set up the UN in the first place? IS THAT WHAT THE UN "STANDS FOR"??? Sheesh! So I guess we know better now?!?!

So, uh Kofi... Seeing as you are looking for something humanitarian to do... You were planning to do something about your ol commie buddy Bob Mugabe down in Zimbabwe...

Weren't you?

Like a great old song the moment just calls for....

AMERICA-BASHING U.N. SHOULD GET LOST

By ANDREA PEYSER

September 21, 2001 -- It's time for the United Nations to
get the hell out of town.

And take with it CNN war slut Christiane Amanpour.

Also, short ABC comedian Bill "those bombers were brave"
Maher. More on that in a sec.

The U.N. building tower s over the East River like a giant
middle finger aimed at our shores.

The once-shiny beacon of peace has devolved into a cancer,
where all manner of anti-American lunacy is hatched.

Today, the U.N. functions as an international megaphone
through which every Third World dictatorship vents its fury
at our way of life.

Though technically not on American soil, the United Nations
clogs our city like sewage.

It lustily sucks up our police, our water, our sanitation
services while its personnel jam city streets by parking
illegally, and break all manner of traffic and criminal law
with a get-out-of-jail-free card known as diplomatic
immunity.

Now, the United Nations is serving yet another function: It
has become the quietest place on earth.

Since two planes toppled the World Trade Center in a fiery
blast of terror, the United Nations has been mute.

Where are the diplomats we housed and fed, whose
transgressions we excused, whose libels we endured, now that
the nearby turf is in ruins?

Oh, yes, Secretary General Kofi Annan has been on television
in a hard hat, grabbing network face time by glancing,
moist-eyed, at the ruins of the Twin Towers.

But where are the resolutions? The outrage? The deep,
heartfelt expressions of regret?

Not here. Not now. And certainly not for us.

So, the United Nations doesn't like this nation? Fine. Don't
let the door hit you on the butt as you get the hell out.

Go home to your police states and smarmy European capitals.

"The U.N. provides cover almost the same way the Taliban
does," observes Harvey Kushner, an author and terrorism
expert.

"It serves as the laboratory, the linchpin for legitimizing
incendiary rhetoric," Kushner said.

Following the initial shock, America-bashing, I'm distressed
to report, is going full throttle.

And not just in the foreign media - though there's plenty of
that - but right here, at home, in the guise of "analysis."

Explaining why the Arab world hates us, CNN's Amanpour
spewed her bias in a live conversation with news blonde
Paula Zahn:

"The issue of the United States' close alliance with Israel,
the perception that the United States does not care as much
about the suffering of Muslims in Palestine, in what they
call Palestine, is a key reason for the anti-Americanism on
the rise in the Middle East."

I wonder what her Jewish in-laws think.

Short comedian Bill Maher was even more rabid.

On "Politically Incorrect," Maher declared the United States
cowardly for "lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away"
at Iraq. In the next breath, he praised the bravery of the
trade center bombers.

"Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what
you want about it, it's not cowardly," gushed Maher.

He later insisted our government is cowardly, not our
soldiers. Thanks.

The truth is the monsters who attacked us hate not just the
United States and Israel. They hate wealthy Saudi Arabia.
They hate non-fundamentalist Muslims. They treat women like
slaves, children like property, and dream of romping with
virgins in paradise.

Everyone with a gripe against Israel or America has joined
the orgy in the guise of "analysis." Analyze this, you
bastards.

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