Bush to snub U.N.'s birthday party in S.F.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/06/24/MNG3JDEED61.DTL

Washington -- The Bush administration appears ready to help guide the United Nations through an era of reform, even as the president and members of his party voice displeasure -- and at times disgust -- with the international organization.

The president will not attend Sunday's celebration of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the U.N. Charter in San Francisco. The White House rejected requests for the president or a high-ranking surrogate and is scheduled to send Sichan Siv, the U.S. representative to the U.N. Economic and Social Council.

President Bush's absence from an international celebration in a city where 85 percent of voters cast ballots against him will surprise neither students of foreign policy nor domestic politics. Yet it raises some doubt about Washington's commitment to the United Nations, as the 191-member international body celebrates its diamond anniversary.

In the past week alone, the House voted to halve the U.S. contribution to the United Nations, unless significant reforms are made, and the Senate refused to confirm Bush's choice as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, leaving the post vacant for the fifth consecutive month. Two weeks ago, a Republican representative from Texas offered a measure calling on the United States to withdraw from the organization. It is against that backdrop, some internationalists fear, that the dispatch of a mid-level bureaucrat to the 60th anniversary celebration might be interpreted as the United States snubbing its nose at the rest of the globe.

[whistle]

1. Why not send John Bolton.....

[Pawel K]

2. Republicans, what a bunch of dicks

they were proven wrong by the UN (there were no WMDs) so now they will do everything they can to discredit the people/organizations that were telling the truth. Their usualy tactics. How in the hell are Amercian people so stupid and allowed this asshole to become president again.

[liberal N proud]

3. He is waiting for and hoping for a funeral

[leesa]

4. I'll bet the UN partiers are happy he's not coming!