[Marxism] China People's Daily: "U.S. Unilateralism Opposed"

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

(This editorial is from the People's Daily in Beijing.
It doesn't refer to Cuba, but it helps make clear some
of the reasons why Cuba and China maintain close ties
on diplomatic, economic and other levels. It's also in
tandem with the Cuban Foreign Minister's remarks at
the UN General Assembly as well. IMPORTANT.)
=====================================================

UPDATED: 18:09, September 25, 2004
US unilateralism opposed

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200409/25/eng20040925_158311.html

The cold shoulder US President George W. Bush received
during his address to the 59th session of the United
Nations (UN) General Assembly showed how unpopular US
unilateralism is among the international community, said an
article in the People's Daily. An excerpt follows:

On Tuesday, Bush delivered a 21-minute speech to the 59th
UN General Assembly during the body's general debate.

But the reception to the US president's speech was anything
but warm from the 100-plus delegations and he received only
ritual applause upon its closing.

This was a direct reflection of the international
community's attitude towards the US policy in Iraq.

In March 2003, the United States waged a military action in
Iraq without UN authorization, defying the rules of
international law and causing strong dissatisfaction among
the international community.

And Washington's failure to find weapons of mass
destruction (WMD) in Iraq has made its reasons for going to
war completely groundless.

Under these circumstances, Bush's continuing defence of the
Iraq War instead of making soul-searching self-reflections
of his Iraq policy appears ludicrous.

Where would the authority of the UN, let alone
international law, be if other member countries followed
the example of the United States?

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called on the world to
respect UN authority during his address on the same day as
Bush's. Annan, in an interview with the BBC earlier last
week, unambiguously pointed out that any decisions on
military action in Iraq should have been made by the UN
Security Council and not made unilaterally by a single
country.

He also handed out clear-cut criticisms of Bush's Iraq
policy saying the war violated the UN Charter and was
illegal.

However, in his speech, Bush stressed many times the
benefits of US "pre-emptive" strategy adding that citizens
of the world, especially Iraqis, are now better off.

But the ever-increasing terrorist violence across the world
has made it clear that Bush was evading the truth.

Bush's repeated calls for other member countries and
especially the UN to support the US-led reconstruction work
in Iraq once again reminded the world of how the US
bypassed the world body when deciding to invade Iraq.

Bush also proposed establishing a special UN foundation to
assist world members in promoting freedom and the rule of
law. But the Iraq War debacle has bought home to the world
just how closely related are US-promoted freedom and
democracy and win its own ambitions and self-interest.

All this made it impossible for the UN delegations to give
big applaud to Bush, who has obviously been preoccupied
with unilateralism.


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