Comments on: Annan Criticizes Bush In Farewell Speech

Outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Delivers Tough Critique Of U.S. Policies

[c3227ahb]

Very strange coming from a man who has stood by and let millions die in Africa.

Stole Billions of dollars from Iraq in the food for oil scandal.

He is just mad because America won't have it's security dictated to them by his office.

[jpesot]

The Bush administration treats diplomatic efforts the way a high school bully treats smaller kids. "I'm bigger and stronger, so what I say goes." Sooner or later, the smaller kids come together, develop their own power, and then humiliate the bully. And that's where the Bush Administration is today. Humiliated.

There is no ideology or power on earth that really threatens the US. Terroists can and will continue to do terrible things. But the US, and her ideals are strong and secure. Unless we relinquish them out of fear. And the Bush administrations has played on that fear and used it to control our politics, and maintain their place in office.

But just like in the come of age teen movies, the more mature among us, those who think violence is almost never the right means to and end, will prevail.

The best way to maintain our power and place in the world is to use that power for the joint benefit of all. Bush and his 27%ers haven't learned this yet.

[ceekuei]

Kofi is essentially right in his assessments particularly of Bush. Many a times Kofi was side-lined by US's bully pulpit. At least, he has the chutzpah to say it like it is, albeit a little too late. The UN is impotent because it allows the US to dominate it in furtherance of its own agenda. The world could very well be a far safer place if strict adherence to international law, conventions and protocols is a matter of fair principle rather than an expediency.

[jn122736]

%u201CI agree 100% with the posting by "patriotic9 & Ceres5 & alphaa10"
I only wish I had said that!%u201D

Posted by mocaleo at 04:22 PM : Dec 11, 2006

Ditto.

Quote from article;
%u201CAnnan said that the U.S. has a special responsibility to the world because it continues to have extraordinary power. He also suggested the%u2026 PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES NEED TO BE MORE ACTIVE IN REMINDING THEIR LEADERS OF WHAT THEIR COUNTRY SHOULD BE DOING%u201D,

Annan knows full well that the bush administration and the republican controlled congress, along with too many democrats, are at fault for the Iraqi mess. He also knows that we, as Americans, are responsible for controlling our leaders through our democratic system. He is correct in his criticisms.

processor2 ;

Words and actions reveals personal character to the world.

[roger_inkart]

"What makes America great are it's individuals"

Yet, the Bush apologists seek to silence any criticism. Anyone who dare speak against Bush and his policies are enemies of America, right?

BTW it was a conservative think tank that helped land us in Iraq in the first place.

[processor2]

AMAZING HOW THE ENEMIES OF AMERICA SOUND JUST LIKE DEMOCRATS... THE U.S. NEEDS TO WITHDRAW FROM THE U.N.


PS

What makes America great are it's individuals, NOT some collective/socialist group think.

[roger_inkart]

It's amazing that the irrational Bush apologists remain so certain they and their idiot president are right - and everyone else is wrong - even in the face of such catastrophic failure as we have seen. One can only wonder what, if anything, it would take to show them once and for all the policies of the White House have failed.

You cling to them at the risk of the nation you supposedly defend from us traitors.

[bushrocks1]

Would I send my son to this war? You might ask would I send him to World War II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your son to fight in them. But that question is misdirected in a very important way: I can't command my son to go to war. He has to make that choice. So the better question would be: would I volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. I'm not equivocating, only addressing that it is a hypothetical. To a hypothetical, I can answer, sure I'd fight. But I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Jacobite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed and maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country that can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons outside their control or fault: traitors on the home front. Now those traitors have occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq; the President hasn%u2019t been impeached. Why?...I'm waiting.

[processor2]

Amazing how the people who hate America sound just like Democrats.

THE U.S. NEEDS TO WITHDRAW FROM THE U.N.


PS

What makes America great are it's individuals, NOT some collective/socialist group think.

..................

[roger_inkart]

"What a pathetic waste of money for an organization that accomplishes nothing."

...except when the chicken-hawks in the Bush administration and their cheerleaders need a rationale to invade a sovereign nation which posed no threat to the US.

[bellal-2009]

Intentions can't be measured. Results can. What has he REALLY accomplished.

[roger_inkart]

As expected the Bush apologists are all up in arms about the speech. I would guess most without even reading or hearing it.

Annan's tenure at the UN was checkered, but that doesn't mean he's wrong here. We need look no further to the ever worsening condition in Iraq and the warning he gave that were ignored. The war was poorly thought out and based upon lies and deception. It's little wonder it's been an utter catatastrophe.

[bellal-2009]

How much money did Kofi Annan waste leading the UN. What a pathetic waste of money for an organization that accomplishes nothing.

[alphaa10-2009]

ojama said, "The second thing that hits me after reading the speech is that Kofi is blasting the US not Bush..."
---

A customary diplomatic style of criticism coming from the leadership level is to address the nation, as a unit. In theory, at least, a democratic nation is responsible for faithful witness to its own principles and beliefs, not simply one head-of-state.

Furthermore, to the extent the USA departs from its own principles and beliefs, it is easy to understand -- for those wondered why Bush was not singled out to a greater extent-- a GOP-dominated government under Bush shares responsibility.

From Abramoff through Delay and Rumsfeld, the Bush regime was a circus of failures, corruption, misadventures, gross incompetence, failure of due diligence and betrayal of America's own principles and beliefs. Not to mention, betrayal of the trust and welfare of the American people.

[ceres5]

If more international leaders were like Mr. Kofi Annan, this world would be a better place to live. Although Mr. Annan has a great admiration for the people of the United States, he also has the guts to speak up against the bully and abusive behavior of the Bush administration. Mr. Annan is 100% correct when he says that the American people shouldn't be meek and indifferent in demanding accountability from its leaders. Thanks God the bully was partially tamed four weeks ago by the American voters. We, however, still need to keep our defenses up.

[alphaa10-2009]

Kofi Annan's tenure was valuable worldwide- particularly in reminding the wealthier, powerful nations they cannot escape their responsibilities to the world community, the whole neighorhood of which they are a part.

In contrast to the role of wealthy powerful nations, a UN leader's responsibility is to remind such states of their failures when they fail. If Annan has succeeded in only one area, in this he will have done well.

The critique of US international policy under Bush could not have been more accurate-- failure to support UN programs, the familiar Bush policy of "cherry picking" among American obligations, and ignoring other UN programs and needs. The single, cardinal Bush offense of ignoring the UN in favor of unilateral military action, and on the deceit-filled pretext of national defense.

Some critics, however, have asked, what has Annan done? The first responsibility of a world leader is to facilitate and promote, not focus attention on himself. As a leader, Annan has called attention to human rights abuses, whether in Darfur or Burma. He has promoted and helped coordinate rescue efforts, such as after tsunamis and earthquakes. He has fostered better standards of world health- the very conditions which Gates and Buffet funds attempt to address. Annan has struggled to bring international resources to bear on international problems like famiine-- or global warming-- with little enthusiastic participation from the US.

[grazinggoat]

edjohn66,
luckily Anan was there, otherwise Walking-Liar would have skrewd it all...

[frankly6]

One_American

You do yourself nor your country any service in smearing the messenger. The same message is coming from people of all political persuasions.

[one_american]

Annan loved to attack America with one hand, while holding out his other expecting money to solve all the world's problems.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[blazercoach1]

I wonder.......if Caesar had defended himself against the Senators....would he be looked at today as not using "collective" practices or "multilateralism"? (Surely the Senators were using multilateralism and collectivism!)

The United States was attacked. How many nations sent help? What percent of UN members sent forces to Afghanistan? What percent of UN members did ANYTHING about it?

If Caesar is attacked again by a few Senators....I suspect that like many other Senators in the old tale, most will simply stand by and watch.

Careful those of you who say "Caesar deserved it".....remember that you/we ARE Caesar! Why? Speeches like Annan's only reinforce the notion that the US is the leader of the world. If we aren't......then why does the leader of the UN treat us and talk about us like we are?