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Ear to the Ground

Annan Rebukes U.S. for Abusing Power

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Posted on Dec 11, 2006
Kofi Annan
news.yahoo.com

Speaking from the Truman Library in his last speech as U.N. secretary-general, Kofi Annan excoriated the United States for abusing its power in the world community: “No nation can make itself secure by seeking supremacy over others.”

BBC:

“No nation can make itself secure by seeking supremacy over others,” Mr Annan said, urging the US to respect human rights in its “war on terror”.

Mr Annan said states had to be accountable and the UN was the only body where this could be assured.

The speech has been interpreted as a sharp rebuke of President Bush.

Our correspondent in Missouri, Jonathan Beale, said Mr Annan again raised objections to the Iraq war, a war he has already condemned as illegal.

“When power, especially military force, is used, the world at large will consider it legitimate only when convinced that it Is being used for the right purpose - for broadly shared aims,” he said.

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    By T Mark Gibson, December 12, 2006 at 11:56 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    I say, “Good ridance!” to Kofi Annan as leader of the U.N.  He is a feckless buffoon.  Realistically, the U.S. ought to just drop the U.N. and put the real estate occupied by the U.N. HQ to better use...a homeless shelter would be nice.

    Report this

    By Sam, December 11, 2006 at 10:51 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Hear hear,
    Both Bush’s will go down in negative history, senior and his arrogant swaggering GENERAL Swassenger { whatsa his name?} re Desert Storm which by the way started the whole concept of 9/11 as a pay back by the Arabs.
    and junior who lied his way into a WMD with Iraq.
    consider this if Saddam was still in power would there be a civil war raging?
    I know one thing we would not have 3,000 dead Americans or 15,000 handicapped vets someone should ask a question that the Bush administration is hiding.
    How many war amps did Herr Bush create with his B S war.

    Report this

    By Luca Ponti, December 11, 2006 at 9:00 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    When is there going to be justice and Bush tried as the war criminal that he and his fellow side-kicks truly are?  Bush is quick to send others to trial, but when will the rooster come home to roost?  I have lost all faith in the American government as it is now constituted.  Bush...the emperor has no clothes and no morals.  His time to pay is now.  He needs to be prosecuted so the new generation can again see that one is indeed responsibile for their actions.  Bush and his cronies have not taken responsibilities for anything.  His presidency will be the gold standard for ‘dumb.’

    Luca Ponti
    Barcelona, Spain

    Report this

    By James V, December 11, 2006 at 3:34 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    You’ll get no arguments from me Mr. Annan. You are absolutely correct. Well, you WOULD be correct if our military aggression and human rights violations had anything at all to do with our security.

    They do not of course. As our past and present actions are not terribly different from one another save for a new and improved vocabulary used to describe them. No, this is just our way of doing the “right thing”. And that is why we continue to actively subvert you and the United Nations ability (limited as some may say it is) at every possible opportunity. Only we know best for the world and all your pestering and question asking and rules are just slowing us down! Pollyannic claptrap!

    I can’t think of many jobs that are more frustrating than yours Mr. Annan. Good luck sir!

    Report this

    By Harvey Kanuss, December 11, 2006 at 2:51 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Bush does not listen to anybody.  He has visions. So far they are failed visions.

    Report this

    By Mike, December 11, 2006 at 2:37 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Goodbye Kofi Annan - don’t let the door hit you on the ass on your way out!

    Report this

    By lenny lennon, December 11, 2006 at 2:09 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    that’s right-the united states is in violation of international law right now. we deserve to be occupied by more civilized nations as to educate us on how to quit saying in a million ways ( economic, s&m;-ic, size wize, ethnic wise, etc ) that might makes right.
    we suck

    Report this

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