A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
WASHINGTON NOTE: "I have heard lots of "non-denial denials" in the past, but George Galloway's rejection and "full-body denial" of all accusations posed by Norm Coleman yesterday was as clear and resolute as could be imagined. Coleman and Senator Carl Levin clearly have access to some intelligence that makes them think that Galloway is guilty of some complicity in the U.N. Oil-for-Food scandal, but if Galloway is correct, which he declares boldly himself to be, then there is something deeply wrong with the intel we are getting out of Iraq."
THE MODERATE VOICE: "British politician George Galloway was in Washington yesterday to clear his name in the oil-for-food scandal - and came out with both verbal barrels blazing as he ripped into what he suggested was the hypocrisy of American politicians and the Bush administration."
MAHABLOG: "Julian Borger and Jamie Wilson of the Guardian dropped a bomb on the UN oil-for-food scandal so beloved by the Right, but don't hold your breath waiting for the righties to acknowledge it."
PARDON MY ENGLISH: "The United States Air Force is seeking a new national security directive which may allow the U.S. to field offensive and defensive space-based weapons systems. While it is to be expected that there will be the usual caterwauling from the "peaceful uses of space/let the United Nations govern the universe" crowd, they should be paid precious little heed."
Selected summary of United Nations related news and events
UN expert extends stay in Lebanon in preparation for 29 May elections
Senate Tries to Untangle Oil-For-Food
U.N. Taps Management Chief, Makes Reforms
Marking its 60th anniversary, UN in New York stages its first documentary film festival
UN panel urges ban on making smallpox from scratch
"Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette unveiled a series of reforms undertaken by the United Nations in response to criticisms of UN management from entities appointed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan and from the world body's own staff.
"Unprecedented challenges" faced by the UN have shown that the world body must immediately reform those areas that are in the Secretariat's purview and are not dependent on approval from Member States, said detailed background information distributed prior to a press briefing by Ms. Frechette." Full Story
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
SUBURBAN GUERRILLA: "People wonder why I'm a Jungian? Because it's the single best way to understand humans - specifically, politicians. The more loudly they scream about something, the more likely it is they're guilty of the very same thing."
ESCHATON: "The Senate report found that US oil purchases accounted for 52% of the kickbacks paid to the regime in return for sales of cheap oil - more than the rest of the world put together."
MURKY VIEW: "Given the long history of economic and military ties between Russia and Iraq, it wouldn't surprise me at all to find that Saddam sent bribes to Russia for favorable treatment."
POWER LINE: "Mary Katherine Ham live-blogged Galloway's appearance under the delightful title "Gorgeous George vs. Stormin' Norm."
NIGHT LIGHT: "Per Kevin Drum, the new Senate report says that 'the US treasury failed to take action against a Texas oil company, Bayoil, which facilitated payment of "at least $37m in illegal surcharges to the Hussein regime."
Selected summary of United Nations related news and events
Report Says Treasury Missed Iraq Oil Abuses
U.S. Reiterates Threat to Bring Iran Nuclear Issue Before UN
KYRGYZSTAN-UZBEKISTAN: Camp established as refugees flee Uzbek violence
New UN-backed global partnership aims to boost access to health information
Burma Launches UN-sponsored HIV-AIDS Program
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
--
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA:
A FUTURE "IN LARGER FREEDOM"
Philadelphia, 16 May 2005
Madam President, thank you for those kind words, and thank you on behalf of all my fellow honorees for the degrees you have bestowed on us today.
Fellow Graduates, my wife Nane and I are deeply honoured to join you and your proud families on this happy day. We offer each one of you our warmest congratulations.
But I must admit that I am a bit apprehensive, because I know you are all looking at me and thinking: "There's no way he's going to be as good as Bono!" And you're right: the lead singer of U2 is a hard act to follow.
Fellow Graduates,
You have had a precious opportunity at this great university. You have explored the realm of ideas -- ideas about what is true and false, what is right and wrong, what works and what does not.
As you graduate, a new phase of your life begins. The time has come to put ideas into practice. Indeed, the story of your lives will be the story of your struggle to be true to the ideas you believe in.
It is the same for individual nations, and for our world.
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
DAILY KOS (Hunter): "There are a great many Republicans out there who are incensed that we aren't talking more about Saddam Hussein's corruption of the Oil for Food program, since his circumvention of oil sanctions was yet another of the ostensible reasons we had to launch a preemptive war. So, fine, let's discuss."
MAJIKTHISE: "I have, on several occasions, promised myself that I would not write any more Bolton posts. The basic issues are clear; anyone who is reading this blog has presumably already made his or her mind up, so why bother? But then some new detail emerges..."
POWER LINE: "[Mark] Steyn's core observation, that "John Bolton's sin is to have spoken the truth about the international system," seems incontrovertible. Steyn agrees with Cliff May that "the real debate is between those who think the U.N. needs reform -- and those who think the U.S. needs reform."
WASHINGTON NOTE: "I'm in Denver for the weekend... Virtually everyone I've met -- from liberal internationalist to classic conservative to hard core libertarian -- thinks that John Bolton is either "damaged goods" at this point or is the wrong person to represent American interests in the U.N."
Selected summary of United Nations related news and events
US, UN share same lofty founding ideals: Annan
U.N., China establish poverty relief center
Oil-for-Food Benefited Russians, Report Says
Major public health issues on agenda at UN meeting in Geneva
UN meeting focuses on collective action to tackle problems in Asia-Pacific region
"U.N. human rights monitors are to be deployed next month in northern Uganda to try to stem rights violations linked to the conflict between the government and the Lords' Resistance Army, a U.N. spokesman said on Friday.
Under an agreement being finalised with the government in Kampala, the monitors will also help train local authorities including police, United Nations human rights spokesman Jose Luis Diaz said." Read more...