A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
BOP News: Paul Volcker's investigation has been thorough and unflinching, and promises another installment in a definitive report. If the UN believes in its mission then it should take the opportunity to clean house. There isn't room for corruption in the 21st century."
Civil Commotion: "The United Nations is distributing a board game called The Road to Peace to Afghani children to teach them about the reconstruction now underway in Afghanistan.... Some 10,000 copies of the game are being handed out across Afghanistan to war-affected children, former child soldiers and refugee families, said Adrian Edwards, spokesman for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan."
Iddybud: "I just love today's Arianna Huffington piece - her latest on the Judy Miller file. Arianna has been talking to Gore Vidal, one of my personal favorites. Arianna says: "During a conversation with Gore Vidal we talked about the fact that we had both heard from different people that Judy was planning to start writing a book about her experiences in the Plame case while in jail. The last articles she wrote before going to jail -- about Kofi Annan and that neocon bugaboo, the UN -- stand as an example of sloppy and slanted journalism."
Memory Hole: "The UN really is at the behest of US power - not that this is anything to celebrate. Where former administrations have tried to create at least the impression of a more nuanced, multilateral outlook however, the Bush administration is confronting the UN - and any other potentially independent international fora - head-on."
Sudan Watch: "UN envoy urges quick decisions on status of oil-rich regions in central Sudan - Aug 8 AFP report via Gulf Times: "UN special envoy for Sudan Jan Pronk said quick decisions were needed on the status of several oil-rich regions in central Sudan claimed by both Khartoum and the SPLM where militia activity continues despite the accord."
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
Afghan Warrior: "A UN spokesman on Friday said Pakistan had decided to shut down all the Afghan refugee camps in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and also from the country's tribal region bordering Afghanistan, by August 31.... The government of Pakistan should not force Afghan refugees to leave Pakistan; it is against the agreements that were signed three years ago between Pakistan, Afghanistan and U.N."
Washington Note: "The United Nations does a lot more than provide a forum for American presidents to circumvent when they want to launch a war. From peace keeping, to responding to natural disasters, to trying war criminals, the UN performs important functions that a single nation cannot."
Coalition for Darfur: "From Humanitarian Hijinks - "Khartoum remains tense today as a third day of violence draws to a close (I am told one of my favourite pizza places has been smashed up in the riots). Things here Darfur are as calm as usual apart from a few grumbling clouds of rain. While the UN has been telling its staff to get their emergency evacuation bags ready, the locals are still trying to figure out what it all means for Sudan."
Political Animal: "Who says John Bolton can't be an effective diplomat? From the BBC: "Beijing will work with the United States to block a plan to add new permanent members to the UN Security Council, China's UN ambassador says. Wang Guangya said he agreed the deal with the new US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, at a meeting." Ah, our great allies, the Chinese. It's good to see that Bolton knows just where to go when he needs some likeminded help putting sand in the gears of UN reform."
Sepia Mutiny: "The Toronto Star reported last month: "The United Nations said it will investigate a number of allegations from reliable sources that the U.S. is detaining terrorist suspects in undeclared holding facilities, including on board ships believed to be in the Indian Ocean."
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
Coalition for Darfur: "Maine Man Witness to Struggles in Sudan - From the Bangor Daily News: "Stan Stalla can watch lobster fishermen tend their traps from his coastal home, but his job takes him across an ocean to a world where he sees starvation. A veteran aid worker, Stalla, 54, spent four months earlier this year in the Darfur region of Sudan ... Through the United Nations World Food Programme, Stalla has seen firsthand the suffering and starving in the displaced-persons camps of Darfur."
Democracy Arsenal: "Lee Feinstein has a nice roundup over at America Abroad of what Secretary Rice has been doing to improve the US position at the UN before John Bolton gets there. When you put it all together, Lee, it does sound like a coherent policy. Before Ambassador Bolton rides off to the wilds of Manhattan, I'd like to propose three lessons the Affair of the Thrown Stapler can teach us. Two of them are even optimistic..."
Redstate: "We've all been told by reporters that the world's U.N. ambassadors would loathe "damaged goods" John Bolton, who would lack the authority of Senate confirmation required to allow him to be taken seriously by global diplomats. It looks like the reporters are wrong. For instance, Chinese Deputy Ambassador Zhang Yishan told Bloomberg.com: "Bush could name a reporter as representative and we would take him." ... They suggest that Bolton's trouble, then, will come from Democrat lawmakers on Capitol Hill, as when he testifies in support of some U.N. reform measure."
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
Chrenkoff: "Good news from Iraq, part 32 - The European Union will be channeling 20 million euro ($24 million) through the United Nations in support of the constitutional process... Meanwhile, the United Nations has conducted a massive successful immunization campaign throughout Iraq - with some help from the private sector."
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Captain's Quarters: "The New York Times editorial board works itself into quite an emotional state this morning over the recess appointment of John Bolton to the UN. In fact, their editorial today goes so far as to praise Condoleezza Rice's performance at State, which they haven't bothered to do as a stand-alone opinion, just to take a swipe at Bolton."
Coalition for Darfur: "U.N. sees Joint Investigation into Garang's Death - From Reuters: "The United Nations has offered to help investigate the cause of the helicopter crash which killed former southern Sudanese rebel leader and First Vice President John Garang, Sudan's top U.N. envoy said on Tuesday. Jan Pronk said Garang's death, announced on Monday, was a setback to a peace deal that ended Africa's longest civil war, but the speedy transition of power was a positive sign that the former rebel group could stay united without Garang."
Democracy Arsenal: "The Perfect Task For John Bolton - During the first month or two after John Bolton's nomination I wrote reams about him, so I won't revisit all that now. My take on the merits of the recess appointment can be found here. Bottom line is that I am proud of those on the SFRC for the fight they put up, and eager for a substantive debate this fall over what the Administration will accomplish during this all important General Assembly session devoted to UN reform. Speaking of reform.... Given that one of his signature credentials for the UN post was over-turning the organization's notorious Zionism is Racism resolution, if the Administration is right that Bolton can be effective at the UN, why not have him tackle the betterment of Israel's status at the world body? Let him show us what he can do."
Hidden Nook: "Bush Bypasses Senate, Confirms Bolton - It seems that President Bush has bypassed the Senate completely and used his constitutional powers to appoint John Bolton as the next Ambassador to the United Nations. ... The United States has been without a representative to the United Nations for approximately six months, and with major issues such as UN reform (something desperately needed) coming to the table. Bolton's nomination has sparked heated debate, especially on the left, and his appointment will only create more conspiracy theories amongst many of the "elite" liberals."
Liquid List: "Look, I don't think there is much more of a point in debating the administration's choice for UN ambassador. It's clear, of course, that if they want to do something, they just will. They don't care, and they have made this fact abundantly clear."
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
Americablog: "Kofi Annan to visit destroyed slums in Zimbabwe - This is a very good development to keep the spotlight on the disgusting destruction that the Mugabe regime has brought to the poor of Zimbabwe. I'm still hoping that South Africa manages to include political reform in their loan to Zim that they will surely be providing soon but so far "quiet diplomacy" has not shown many results and the ANC has been very reluctant to criticize Mugabe and his brutal policies."
Blog for America: "The United Nations announced that food and funding donations have arrived in drought-stricken Niger to aid the 3.5 million people living there. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, however, warned that the country has only received approximately a fifth of the aid it needs to ward off starvation. Niger, one of the poorest nations in the world and frequently hit by droughts, recently experienced a devastating locust infestation which destroyed most of the crops."
Media Girl: "Can we talk about the urgent Niger story? - No, I'm not talking about Wilson's trip. If you are not restricted to USA media and the blogosphere for news, you'll know already that I'm talking about the 3.6 million people about to starve to death there: "The situation is desperate. Even the limited food that is available has soared in price, rendering it unaffordable for most families, and there is no hope of any harvest for at least three months," said Natasha Kafoworola Quist, an Oxfam spokeswoman. "Families are feeding their children grass and leaves from the trees to keep them alive." Oxfam said U.N. appeals for aid were "dangerously" underfunded, with only one third of the money needed from donors being pledged. In many cases, the pledged money hasn't arrived, the agency added. The United Nations first appealed for assistance for Niger in November and got almost no response."
Norm Blog: "It seems that, after the UN report on Zimbabwe condemning the exercise in which 700,000 people were made homeless in that country, Robert Mugabe would like the UN secretary general to come and see things for himself. He has issued an invitation. I like this detail: "Zimbabwe has criticised the report as hostile and false, saying it "described the operation in vastly judgmental language which clearly demonstrates its inbuilt bias against the operation".
Tour Egypt: "The United Nations World Tourism Organization (WTO) has offered Egypt its full support in helping the country to surmount the negative impact on its flourishing tourism industry from Saturday's terrorist bombings at its Sharm el-Sheikh resort. "WTO has gained extensive experience in crisis management in the last few years, especially due to the work of our Recovery Committee, which for a long time was chaired by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism," WTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli told Egyptian Minister of Tourism Ahmed el Maghraby in a letter."
Washington Note: "Efforts are underway to resolve "officially" whether John Bolton met with the Valerie Plame grand jury or its investigators. If he did before submitting his declaration statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, his recess appointment will not occur. If he simply failed to amend his declaration but did meet with the Committee, there is still a chance he could squeak by during recess."
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
Constant Inanity: "Huge crater and whale-with-feet boneyard named U.N. heritage sites - The cultural and education arm of the United Nations on Friday added a giant meteorite crater in South Africa and a whale boneyard from the time the creatures had feet among seven new global heritage sites. The new spots also include two long and deep Norwegian fjords, 244 rugged islands off the coast of Mexico, a forest park in Thailand and the last refuge of the crested eagle off southwest Panama. The heritage list, which has 188 sites around the world designated for their importance to nature and to culture, is part of a campaign to encourage conservation in host countries."
Exbaptist: "There is no shortage of well-documented dementia of Americans who think the United Nations building in New York is occupied by a secret cabal of European intellectuals who would like nothing better than to turn us all into brie-eating socialists, but I think the John Bolton nomination represents how closely Christian conservatives have merged their religion with their politics."
Intellibriefs: "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Bush today declare their resolve to transform the relationship between their countries and establish a global partnership. Drawing on their mutual vision for the U.S.-India relationship, and our joint objectives as strong long-standing democracies, the two leaders agree on the following: Develop and support, through the new U.S.-India Global Democracy Initiative in countries that seek such assistance, institutions and resources that strengthen the foundations that make democracies credible and effective. India and the U.S. will work together to strengthen democratic practices and capacities and contribute to the new U.N. Democracy Fund."
Mudville Gazette: "5800 to contest Afghan polls - NEARLY 6000 candidates have been declared eligible to contest Afghanistan's first post-Taliban parliamentary polls in September, more than 10 per cent of them women, election officials said today. A total of 2778 candidates will stand for the 249-seat lower house Wolesi Jirga elections and 3027 will stand for provincial councils, Bismillah Bismil, chairman of the UN-backed electoral commission told reporters."
Sideshow: "Publication of The Costs of War by Sir Jeremy Greenstock, UK ambassador to the UN during the build-up to the 2003 war and the Prime Minister's special envoy to Iraq in its aftermath, has been halted."
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
Move The UN: "The US House has decided to reduce and withold (House Backs Withholding Dues to Spur U.N. Changes By Mike Allen and Colum Lynch, Washington Post Staff Writers, Saturday, June 18, 2005) its funding till the UN is reformed. And today's headline in the BBC News website is US opposes UN Council reform plan. US is calling for just 2 new permanent seats, one being Japan, but with no veto powers. The G4 proposal put forward by Brazil, Germany, India and Japan, which is to add the G4 proposers with 2 additional members from the African continent, is what the US is rejecting!! Hypocrisy is at its height here."
Moderate Voice: "It sounds like John Bolton is indeed destined to be a recess appointment after all. What continues to be fascinating is this implicit argument that John Bolton is the ONLY PERSON in the GOP who can fill that slot and achieve the administration's goals. In the huge pool of GOP talent - diplomats, law professors, political scientists, and businessmen - only John Bolton will do? Even though some in the GOP itself don't want John Bolton, it MUST be John Bolton?"
Outside the Beltway: "Embattled UN Ambassador nominee John Bolton may take a recess appointment after all.... Unless the White House calculates that there is no getting around acrimony over the Supreme Court nomination(s), stoking the flames over what will, in the long run, be an insignificant appointment makes little sense. The Supreme Court picks the president makes may serve a quarter century or more; his UN Ambassador will be forgotten before his successor finishes his oath."
Washington Note: "Officials in the White House, the State Department and in the Senate close to the Senate-White House fight over Bolton's nomination to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations report to TWN that they were caught off guard by the Washington Post article by Charles Babington and Dafna Linzer suggesting both that Bolton would accept a recess appointment -- and that if the Senate failed to confirm him the President would give Bolton such an appointment. Most officials on the Democratic side of the equation think that not only Bolton's confirmation -- but his actual nomination -- are dead. Republican voices close to this battle think that Bolton's nomination is withering badly and in critical condition, barely surviving on life support."
Textually: "The United Nations is working toward a world agreement on the scrapping of metal-intensive mobile phones that could impact the cost of making them, reports Reuters: "The U.N., the scrap industry and mobile phone makers and operators, such as Nokia and Vodafone, are working together as part of the U.N. Basel Convention on the control and disposal of waste. It could expand agreements already in place in Europe, North America and Japan in the lead up to a key conference in Africa next year."
Unpaid Punditry Corps: "Easy question, should President Bush recess appoint John Bolton as the Ambassador to the United Nations? It would be an appointment good through the end of 2006. In the past I have been pretty clear that I believe John Bolton is the right guy at the right time. Personally, I would love to see this happen, the Senate has stalled on this long enough."
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
Chez Nadezhda: "The Democracy Fund is one of several "UN reform" initiatives that both the US and Annan have embraced, as highlighted in this briefing by Nicholas Burns in June. By announcing the creation of the fund now, with the September summit as a target date for unveiling the thing, it looks like Kofi is giving a boost to the US' fund-raising and organizing efforts. So far, it seems the US has rounded up 25 other countries who, in a letter last month to Annan, have supported Bush's proposal and indicated they are considering providing some financing."
Juan Cole: "Russian Premier Vladimir Putin is pushing the other members of the G8 to give the United Nations a leading role in Iraq and setting a timetable for US withdrawal. As regular readers know, the first part of this plan is one that I have also endorsed. The Russians have explored a role as intermediaries in Iraq, having their ambassador in Baghdad meet with Shiite nationalist Muqtada al-Sadr last month."
Light Up the Darkness: "Updates on the London Bombing Coverage - U.N. Condemns London Terror Strikes - Hours after the bombings in London, the U.N. Security Council "voted unanimously to condemn the terrorist attacks and vowed to bring those responsible to justice." Secretary-General Kofi Annan echoed that sentiment. "These vicious acts have cut us all to the core, for they are an attack on humanity itself," Annan said in a statement. "Today, the world stands shoulder to shoulder with the British people."
Marginal Revolution: "I'll be blogging next week from Monrovia, Liberia. I will try to post three to four times, but the reliability of "internet cafes" in Liberia is suspect at best. Liberia may be the poorest nation in the world. Recent estimates from the world bank indicate that per capita gross national income in Liberia is about half that of Rwanda.... Since the fall of 2003, U.N. troops have been stationed in Liberia to disarm the various factions, keep the peace, and oversee presidential elections (slated for this coming October)."
Steve Clemons: "[T]he battle over Sandra Day O'Connor's seat is only just beginning -- and will dominate the news for the weeks ahead. And yet on top of that drama, we have a major terrorist attack in London -- another tremendous tragedy. That too will take attention and time and calls for the White House to send a constructive, bridge-building personality to the U.N. to strengthen the league of those who stand against this type of violence and want to build an "ideology of hope," to use President Bush's words."
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
Agonist: "LAT - The United Nations World Food Program said it has suspended aid shipments to Somalia after gunmen hijacked a vessel it chartered and demanded a $500,000 ransom."
Democracy Arsenal: "The Bush administration's options for advancing the nomination of John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations are now dwindling, and one that officials are now considering is the recess appointment. Bolton's own supposed reluctance to accept a recess appointment may reflect a recognition that interim status would compromise effectiveness. The latest word is that the Senate Republican leadership is realizing this truth as well, and may now try to fold the Bolton nomination into some sort of broader reform pitch. Meanwhile, reform negotiations at the UN are proceeding apace. While its leadership has often been lacking, the U.S. delegation is taking a mostly reasonable line and making progress toward key reforms of the UN's Commission on Human Rights, its peace-building capabilities, and its approach to terrorism. An ill-conceived recess appointment should not be allowed to jeopardize this."
Juan Cole: "Carl Nyberg, a former UN peacekeeper in Cambodia, writes: "I'm skeptical of putting much hope into a UN solution for Iraq's security problems. I was a UN peacekeeper in Cambodia, but don't want to lean too heavily on my personal experience. What I learned from my experience is that it is almost impossible for one person to capture the full story of something as complex as a UN peacekeeping mission."