Carol Moseley Braun Responds to Speeches at the UN: Press Release

[gottaB]

Statement of Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun Regarding President George W. Bush's and Secretary General Kofi Annan's Speeches to the United Nations General Assembly

Washington DC - I am delighted that President Bush asked the United Nations for its help in rebuilding Iraq. I am concerned, however, that rather than reassuring the world that the United States can be counted on as a partner for peace, the President only increased anxieties that this country is ready to use military force unilaterally. In the face of new threats to world peace and safety, we should embrace the premise of collective security embodied in the United Nations Charter.

Many of the issues raised by the President are worthy of the attention of the international community, particularly the worldwide AIDS epidemic and slave trafficking. But the President continues to alienate countries which would join us in humanitarian efforts by his rhetoric. Until we genuinely include our friends and allies in our foreign policy considerations, we will be forced to confront global issues alone.

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan made a remarkably persuasive case against unilateral pre-emptive strikes by members of the international community. His words deserve to be repeated:

“(W)e have come to a fork in the road. This may be a moment no less decisive than in 1945 itself, when the United Nations was founded. At that time, a group of far-sighted leaders, led and inspired by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, were determined to make the second half of the 20th century different from the first half. They saw that the human race had only one world to live in, and that unless it managed its affairs prudently, all human beings may perish.”

The Secretary General’s speech was a remarkable invitation to President Bush to change his foreign policy stance, and work together in a partnership for peace. Franklin Delano Roosevelt observed that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Preemptive war, as practiced and promoted by the Bush Administration, is by definition a reaction out of fear. It is precisely this sort of foreign policy that the United Nations was designed to address. Our nation must be a leader in the international community, and set an example of acting as a partner for peace.

Rather than create fear in the world community, I urge the President to work with the United Nations to create a new era of peace through the collective actions of the international community.

[MarianJack]

1. She's Great!

I hope, if she's not nominated, that she has a place of importance in the next Democratic administration.

[phillybri]

2. Carol's awesome....

:thumbsup:

[JNelson6563]

3. You go girl!!

Tell 'em Carol!! Whoohoo!!

Julie