Obama Plans Stern Speech to World's Leaders at U.N. (WaPo)

[jefferson_dem]

Obama Plans Stern Speech to World's Leaders at U.N.

By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 6:00 AM

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23--President Obama plans to deliver a stern speech to the leaders of the world's nations Wednesday morning, challenging them to live up to their responsibilities even as he acknowledges that the United States has also fallen short on many fronts.

In excerpts of his speech to the United Nations General Assembly released late Tuesday night, Obama defends the actions of his young administration as the beginnings of progress on intractable world problems. And he urges his counterparts to do likewise.

"Make no mistake: this cannot be solely America's endeavor," the president says, according to the text. "Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world's problems alone."

A senior White House official said Obama will discuss issues of nuclear proliferation, peace and security, climate change and global growth and development.

"President Obama will discuss how America is acting aggressively to confront global challenges, and he will call upon the nations of the world to live up to their responsibility to act as well," the official said.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/23/AR2009092300796_pf.html