Drunk Jank Scoops the Journal

Way back when, I ranted in favor of Kucinich’s Department of Peace, I endorsed the idea of doing away with the UN in favor of a body comprised of those that meet standards of human rights, democracy being a firm evidence of a commitment to Human Rights (Property rights being as firm of evidence, but this isn’t meant to be a rant). Today’s WSJ features a bit by MAX M. KAMPELMAN taking much the same stance:

Is it any wonder that many Americans hesitate to place our security concerns in the hands of the U.N.? Daniel Patrick Moynihan, as he was leaving his role as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. in 1976, called it a “theater of the absurd.” … At a minimum, it is essential that the U.S. take the lead in establishing and strengthening a Caucus of Democratic States committed to advancing the U.N.’s assigned role for world peace, human dignity and democracy. The recently established Community of Democracies (CD) has called for this move, a recommendation jointly supported in a recent report by the Council on Foreign Relations and Freedom House.

The article goes on to highlight the fact that the Community of Democracies was spearheaded by Sec. of State Maddie Albright, and legslation was introduced in the Senate by Democrat Senator Joe Biden requiring that such action be taken.

Johnny (and the rest of you pot-smoking hippies): This is an issue that would have legs with Joe Six-Pack that highlights the Administration’s foreign policy shortcomings while building on some of the Bush Administrations successes (The coalition of the willing featured some vibrant, growing, recently free democracies, such as Poland, who should be highlighted as success stories), and a demonstrable track record of Democrat leadership. An issue like this, coupled with a focus on the out-of-control growth of government and the deficit, and the corporate handouts (careful on this one, be sure to couch it in terms that free-market types can deal with, such as “propping up failing businesses” instead of “handouts to rich cronies”) contains not a whole lot to upset the democrat base, and lots and lots for people who approved of the liberation of Iraq and Afghanistan, war on terror, and who like general libertarian types of things to move to the Jackass side of the aisle.

Much as conservative southern Democrats feel sold out by the rest of the party, libertarian Republicans feel sold out by GWB. They’d swing in a heartbeat if given something to vote for besides “Bush Lied” and “Tax cuts for the wealthy”.

Guess this turned into a rant. Sorry.

The last paragraph of the op-ed rocks, too:

A strong case may be made for the need for an international body to which all of the world’s states, democratic and authoritarian, belong. Discussion and constructive exchange may flow from it. But let us not bestow on it the appearance of being a forum of principle or wisdom qualified to judge the dimension of our national welfare and value. The changes necessary in the U.N. will be difficult to achieve, and some may not be achieved at all. But the impetus for such change must be a commitment to human rights and democracy. We should put Kofi Annan’s statement to the test: “When the U.N. can truly call itself a Community of Democracies, the Charter’s noble ideas of protecting human rights … will have been brought much closer.”

Classic Journal - slamming the UN by quoting the Secretary General, and damming Kofi Annan with faint praise. Bartley lives on.

Posted by jank at January 6, 2004 7:28 PM