From whence has this change of heart come?
Today I am traveling to Brussels to join representatives of more than 80 governments and institutions in sending a loud and clear message of support for the political transition in Iraq.
A year ago, in Resolution 1546, the U.N. Security Council set out the timetable that Iraq, with the assistance of the United Nations and the international community, was expected to fulfill. The Brussels conference is a chance to reassure the Iraqi people that the international community stands with them in their brave efforts to rebuild their country, and that we recognize how much progress has been made in the face of daunting challenges.
Elections were held in January, on schedule. Three months later the Transitional National Assembly endorsed the transitional government. The dominant parties have begun inclusive negotiations, in which outreach to Sunni Arabs is a major theme. A large number of Sunni groups and parties are now working to make sure that their voices are fully heard in the process of drafting a new constitution, and that they participate fully in the referendum to approve it and the elections slated for December.
Indeed, just last week an agreement was achieved to expand the committee drafting the constitution to ensure full participation by the Sunni Arab community. This agreement, which the United Nations helped to facilitate, should encourage all Iraqis to press ahead with the drafting of the constitution by the Aug. 15 deadline.
As the process moves forward, there will no doubt be frustrating delays and difficult setbacks. But let us not lose sight of the fact that all over Iraq today, Iraqis are debating nearly every aspect of their political future.
[…]
In a media-hungry age, visibility is often regarded as proof of success. But this does not necessarily hold true in Iraq. Even when, as with last week’s agreement, the results of our efforts are easily seen by all, the efforts themselves must be undertaken quietly and away from the cameras.
[…]
The Iraqi people continue to endure a painful and difficult transition, and they still have a long and tough road ahead. The United Nations is privileged and determined to walk it with them. In doing so, we serve not only the people of Iraq, but the peoples of all nations.
From “illegal war” to official declaration of “progress”, albeit progress claimed on behalf of the UN… I wonder if this had something to do with it.
June 21, 2005: Another OFF Victory for Rosett – “A Matter of Urgency”
While Democratic Party fuddy-duddies (formerly known as “progressives”) continue to enable massive corruption at the United Nations by blocking the nomination of John “Bad Manners” Bolton, Claudia Rosett (this time working with George Russell) is still investigating the real situation at Turtle Bay.
Yesterday Rosett looked into the affairs and possible nepotism (yes, that again!)of Alexander Yakovlev – “a dapper Russian who is possibly the longest tenured member of the U.N. procurement department.” Last year that department spent more than $1.3 billion. Yakovlev, whose testimony is heavily relied upon by the Volcker Committee report, has been refusing to talk with the press without the permission of Kofi Annan who, you will be shocked to learn, has not given it.
Ironically this blogger once met the Russian personally back in 1987 during the Gorbachev-Reagan Summit in Washington, D. C. when the Soviet delegation was staying at my hotel. (I was there researching a screenplay for Whoopi Goldberg – don’t ask!) I remember Yakovlev very well – he was quite famous at the time as a key adviser to Gorbachev – holding forth in the lobby for a crowd of admirers. He was indeed the suave diplomat. “The Jews,” I recall him opining, “they used to have the best politicians and the worst army. Now they have the best army and the worst politicians.” Everyone nodded sagely.
Thanks to Rosett and Russell, however, things are not going as well for Mr. Yakovlev now. According to an editor’s update to their Fox News report:
In the aftermath of FOX News’ investigation, the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight announced Monday that it is now investigating Yakovlev “as a matter of urgency.”
Bold face theirs and mine.
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U.N. procurement department…
Now there’s a job could keep a man reaaal busy. Is there a Dept of Pandering?
Just asking…
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“The Jews,” I recall him opining, “they used to have the best politicians and the worst army. Now they have the best army and the worst politicians.” Everyone nodded sagely….
Hey, Roger, if that’s true, well…there goes the long-standing resemblance between the Irish and the Jews. Shoot.
Posted by: Dymphna [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 21, 2005 08:16 AM
Mr. Yakovlev should be worried if he were being investigated by the Feds or the District Attorney but the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight is the Barney Fife when it comes to a fraud/corruption investigation.
Posted by: jedrury [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 21, 2005 08:58 AM
Yakovlev’s statement about Jews is frustratingly devoid of context here, but it’s nonetheless worth considering against the backdrop of Soviet — even late Soviet — “anti-Zionism”. Far too few people realize that today’s anti-Israel repertoire was composed in Moscow decades ago.
rogerlsimon.com
Kofi needs to find something successful he can push his face into and hide from his troubles.
Nothing the U.N. is doing smells of success so he has to squeeze into the coalition’s party.
He might really do better if he’d go to the Sudan or other tormented country and show some backbone there.
He just doesn’t have any.
Kate, you cynic, you! Of COURSE the US threatening to pull funding would have nothing to do with this recognition of a struggling new democracy.
Shame!
“Kofi’s Change of Heart”
Is that supposed to be sarcasm?
We all know Kofi has no heart.
Just deep pockets.
With a few word changes, this quote could refer to the “you know whos”
“Without moral clarity, without a clear and vigorous defense of the principles of self-governance and human rights, without a commensurate vigorous punishment or expulsion of those states that violate the same, the U.N. will remain an instrument of tyrannous states and a bloated bureaucracy whose main objective will be the perpetuation of its own power and privilege..”
LINK: victorhanson.com/articles/thornton061705.html
The US has to keep going, I want to see them get to M Strong …. A public lynching makes for a good day….
hurry please….
The most morally responsible collection of statements I have ever heard Kofi Annan make. I am floored.
Rob, public lynchings should be preserved for terrorists, tyrants and serial killers. You’re more than a little creepy, dude.
Rob, I’m going to apologize for the creepy commment. I just realized who you were talking about. If Strong is complicit in terrorism, tyranny, genocide and serial killing, a public lynching wouldn’t really bother me too bad.
Tom Penn … LOL … no problem dude … I was just hoping to give M Strong the ultimate demonstration in CO2 reduction, it was his idea, so he should be the one to make the biggest sacrifice.
Notice Kofi Annan’s OMISSION in his speech?
What word(s) is not there, not even once?
It’s the ‘United States of America’. Not once. Instead, he drones on and on about how the Iraqi people, along with the assistance of the UNITED NATIONS…is moving along towards democracy. The impression of his speech is that the Iraqi peoples’ current reality is due to, and only to, the United Nations. Only the UN.
He talks about the key points – the election. Not a word that it was the US that enabled that election, that took out a dictatorship, that helped set up a democracy, that insisted on that election, that kept the people who voted safe.
Not a word that it was the US that took the step to ‘walk with the Iraqi people’ rather than, as Kofia Annan and the UN-Canada cohort chose to do – to walk with Saddam Hussein.