U.N. TO USA: WE MUST ACT AS ONE

Reuters ^ | Sep 11, 2002 | Irwin Arieff

[GaryMontana]

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The world must act together against terrorism or put at risk everything the United Nations ( news - web sites) stands for, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan ( news - web sites) said on Wednesday, a year after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"There could be no greater affront to the spirit and purpose of the United Nations than the terrorist attacks of September 11," he told a solemn ceremony marking the anniversary, held in a garden at U.N. headquarters.

"Everything that we work for -- peace, development, health, freedom -- is damaged by this horror. Everything that we believe in -- respect for human life, justice, tolerance, pluralism and democracy -- is threatened by it. It must be defeated -- and it must be defeated by the world acting as one," he said.

Annan later was to address a special meeting of senior officials of the Security Council's 15 member-nations, along with Secretary of State Colin Powell ( news - web sites).

That meeting was to culminate in the adoption of a statement praising New York's determination "not to give in to terrorism" and vowing to "remain steadfast against the threat that endangers all that has been achieved (by the United Nations) and all that remains to be achieved."

"The world saw terrorists use civilian aircraft for mass murder. They struck at the ideals embodied in the Charter of the United Nations. The attacks challenged each member to rise to the task of defeating terrorism," a draft of the statement said.

Last year's hijack attack on the World Trade Center, only a few miles south of U.N. headquarters, fell just hours before the planned opening of the U.N. General Assembly's 56th annual session.

The session was promptly canceled and the compound -- home to the 190-nation assembly -- was evacuated shortly after the attacks and again the next day after officials received unidentified security threats.

Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden ( news - web sites), blamed by Washington for masterminding the Sept. 11 carnage, later singled out the United Nations in a videotaped message, blaming the world body for the 1948 creation of Israel and for pressuring Muslim Indonesia to give up largely Roman Catholic East Timor ( news - web sites).

Bin Laden in the tape called Annan a "criminal" and branded Muslims who cooperated with the world body as "infidels."

The U.N. compound was sealed off by New York police for months after the attacks, with sand-filled dump trucks blocking every access road to fend off car bombings.

Even today, trucks are barred from driving by the compound, although police enforcement of the dictum is not apparent.

Annan reminded U.N. staff that citizens of more than 90 nations lost their lives in the attacks on the World Trade Center in which about 2,800 people died.

He said the ceremony demonstrated that the world body, like its New York home, was not an isolated enclave.

"Today we come together as a world community because we were attacked as a world community," he said. "May the memory of those who perished on September 11th serve to inspire a better, more just, more peaceful world for all

[GaryMontana]

Hey Annan,

This story is the best reason for

US OUT OF UN, UN OUT OF US.

SCREW WORLD OPINION AND THE UN

[SamAdams76]

The problem is that there are too many bureaucrats.

[revtown]

So Kofi wants to join up with W?

[Benrand]

If, to Annan, Jenin was terrorism, he caved.

He comes form a continent so scary and hellish that he really has no valid opinion, his credibility is destroyed by his actions.

Is the UN building on a barge? Maybe he could get towed out of Manhattan and the rest of the parasites in the UN that take us for granted and don't pay parking tickets.

[Ciexyz]

The guy's a great talker, but as usual, diddly will result.

[CARepubGal]

Hey Kofi:

American Answer: Kiss My A$$! US OUT OF UN BUMP!

[MacDorcha]

coulda swore we didnt even CARE what the UN thought... i mean, we give OUR forces to THEIR causes, and the second we have our own opinion, they think that their primary source of forces(us) will back them up? pfya, right...

[Lord Basil]

"U.N. TO USA: WE MUST ACT AS ONE"

How about this: The U.S. finds the terrorists and then kills them. The U.N. can join the fight any time it wants.

[tet68]

It IS too bad they didn't get a terrorist plane all their own.

[cubreporter]

I believe if Kofi wants us to act as one that he better get on board 'cause we're goin' with or without the UN! The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WAS ATTACKED AND OUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS! It is our RIGHT to go to war and those who don't like it can sit on the sidelines and whine all they want but...we're GOIN'and we'll be VICTORIOUS!!!! USA...USA....USA....USA....USA...USA...USA...USA...USA...

[rllngrk33]

Bush's message to the UN tommorrow will be 'We're going to lead, either follow or get out of the way!'

[P8riot]

Are you sure you didn't get this from The Onion?

[PhilDragoo]

Okay, here's the division of labor:

UN diplofairy fascists, you pay your parking tickets and shuddup.

US, you light up Saddam Hussein and his winged monkeys.

Let's roll.

[Leto]

Earth to Kofi, they declared war and attacks US---- GET IT???? We don't need your permission to defend our country.

LEAD FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!

We're leading, you decide wheter to follow or get out of the way

[Bogey78O]

Huh?

WTF has the UN been doing to stop terrorism?

[GaryMontana]

1. Put God back in the classroom (and anywhere else we deem necessary)
2. Move all of the white farmers in Zimbabwe to Israel.
Move all of the palestinians to Zimbabwe (they love terrorists there)
3. Move all islamic arabs from the USA back to the middle east. (They openly state their goal is to take over the USA)
4. US out of the UN, and the UN out of the USA
5. US out of NATO. The next time some jackboot thug comes calling, we will be to busy to help, as Europe is too busy to help the USA now.
6. Take over Iraq (Invite the British, Canadians, Dutch and Israelis to join us and split the oil fields up between those who assist us).
7. Take over the Saudi Oil Fields
8. If Iran doesn't like it we take over their oil fields as well.
9. Tell the green Nazis / environmental nuts to go to Europe or Asia and enjoy their clean air and water.
10. Use the money we get from the oil to pay for our defense of the Gulf in 1991, the cost of 9/11, the cost of invading Iraq, the cost for keeping troops in the Middle East, and For the cost of increasing the pay of our troops and for new equipment.
11. Charge Europe $60.00 a per barrel for not going along with us.
12. Put a huge tariff on all imported goods from any nations who doesn't like us
13. Dump the WTO,
14. DUMP NAFTA and GATT
15. CLOSE ARE BORDERS TO illegal immigrants
16. CUT all aid to children born here of illegal immigrants
17. Deport all illegal immigrants (we have TB and typhoid now in the USA thanks to illegal immigrants.
It cost the USA tax payers 24 billion a year to support illegal immigrants enough is enough.
18. Make English the official and only legal language in the USA. If people don’t like it they can move to any other country they want to, where they speak the language they wish to hear.
19 Time to change the sign on the Statue of Liberty. "Keep your TRASH -- NO VACANCY!"
20. Look around the world and see who owns our national debt. Exchange the debt papers they have with the money they owe us since 1860. I think only Finland and Israel have ever paid us back. This way, since we loaned Germany and England so much money that they never paid back, we cancel the debt they hold on our government.

That is my 20 point plank for being elected president, or at least senator

[Skwidd]

WTF has the UN been doing to stop terrorism?

I think they condemned it in the strongest possible words. Or maybe they held a meeting on something. Or maybe they just voted themselves some more American aid money. Or maybe they just had tea. Anyway, all of those things above have just about the same effect.

[gcraig]

Everything that we work for -- peace, development, health, freedom -- is damaged by this horror. Everything that we believe in -- respect for human life, justice, tolerance, pluralism and democracy -- is threatened by it. It must be defeated -- and it must be defeated by the world acting as one," he said.

Okay, Kofi, huddle up. We'll be attacking Iraq in about a month. You guys go ahead and pound on Arafat and Saudi Arabia. We'll all meet in the middle and blast the rest of the terrorists in Syria, Egypt, Jordan, etc. That should about get us through the first quarter. Ready, break!

[LasVegasMac]

He comes form a continent so scary and hellish that he really has no valid opinion, his credibility is destroyed by his actions.

I am thoroughly familiar with what it takes to be a leader of others. I had some great training - the military. I am not claiming to be an expert - but I certainly know what works and what does not. One of the bedrock principles is that you have a back ground common with those that you are attempting to lead. Reality is, if you don’t – you won’t.

I’m waiting for a logical explanation as to how the UN can be “lead” by a schmuck from a two-bit, third world country. This does not pass the “sniff” test.

Tomorrow, I hope GWB tells the UN that they really stink.

LVM

[T. P. Pole]

Mrs Pole asked me last night what I thought should be done with the WTC site. I was talking about rebuilding it to just a bit higher than the original, and making some government entity work from the top floors.

Then inspiration struck. Stick the UN offices there. That might change their minds on this whole mess.