Friday, September 06, 2013

What about the UN?

If ever an international event was prime for a UN solution, it's Syria.  Here we have a country that did not attack the United States and poses no imminent threat, not even to our Gulf allies including Israel.  Yet our new UN Ambassador has largely been missing in action during this entire crisis.

She finally popped up and showed herself, saying the following:
Ms Power told a news conference in New York: "Even in the wake of the flagrant shattering of the international norm against chemical weapons use, Russia continues to hold the council hostage and shirk its international responsibilities. "What we have learned, what the Syrian people have learned, is that the Security Council the world needs to deal with this crisis is not the Security Council we have."
So she's already given up on the UN after a month on the job?  Part of which was spent on vacation?

Good Lord, one could almost deduce Mrs Cass Sunstein wants this to fail.  She strongly believes in using our military as a world morality police force, otherwise known as "George Soros' Responsibility to Protect". Such an idea might sound noble but it's hardly constitutional and as we see, perhaps dangerous.

Obama's strong desire to blow off the UN and bomb, bomb, bomb Syria falls right in line with the concept of RtP, as does an AWOL Samantha Power and her later comments.  She should be pounding her fists on the table every day, condemning Russia and China for defending a chemical weapons user and world norm crosser. Instead she's telling the media it's a lost cause.

Of course, it could be a little more complicated. For instance, if Yossef Bodansky is correct about this:(emphasis added)
On August 13-14, 2013, Western-sponsored opposition forces in Turkey started advance preparations for a major and irregular military surge. Initial meetings between senior opposition military commanders and representatives of Qatari, Turkish, and US Intelligence [“Mukhabarat Amriki”] took place at the converted Turkish military garrison in Antakya, Hatay Province, used as the command center and headquarters of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and their foreign sponsors.
Very senior opposition commanders who had arrived from Istanbul briefed the regional commanders of an imminent escalation in the fighting due to “a war-changing development” which would, in turn, lead to a US-led bombing of Syria.
Then Putey Poot could be correct that Kerry is lying and therefore might have a little more latitude to veto a resolution.  Which could explain why Power isn't banging on any tables. Perhaps someone should insist on giving Congressman Grayson the information he is requesting before any new international norms are set in concrete.

THE KING HAS COME   9/6/13

President kick-ass had a press availability at the G20 summit today, which means he hand-picked a few journalists to ask questions allowing him to meander and filibuster untouched for minutes on end, basically saying nothing.   The stats-- he allowed questions from AP, Reuters, NBC, ABC, CBS, and AFP over 40 minutes. He got short with Jon Karl from ABC for daring to ask a follow-up.  He did not allow a question from the most-watched cable channel, Fox News, which is not uncommon.  Americans that watch Fox don't deserve a voice.  Yet we're supposed to believe he sent his war bill to Congress so the people could have a voice.

No teleprompter, so there were some useful moments.  At one point he said--paraphrasing--that he's spent the last 4 1/2 years trying to decrease America's military power in solving problems in place of diplomacy.   He also bristled at several questions as to whether he would proceed with the attack if the Congress votes it down.  Failure is not an option--the State Dept and almost all admin talkers are saying the same, which is odd considering taking it to Congress is supposed to be about respecting the opinion of the people.  They should be able to say 'we will respect the wishes of the people'.   They will not. 

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