Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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Week of December 3 - 7, 2007 What's New
Week of December 10 - 14, 2007
What Was New
Iraq Security Council Empire? Nations and States International Justice
Iraq
Week of December 10 - 14, 2007
Draft Resolution On the Renewal of the Mandate of the MNF in Iraq (December 11, 2007)
This draft resolution renews the MNF mandate in a perfunctory way, with nothing that responds to concerns about violations of international law by the MNF or acknowledges that overwhelming public opinion in Iraq favors a timetable for MNF withdrawal.
This letter, sent against the wishes of the Iraqi parliament and without constitutionally-mandated parliamentary ratification, asks the Security Council to renew the mandate of the MNF for 2008. The letter calls for some changes in Iraqi-MNF relations, including Iraqi responsibility for detention and Iraqi takeover of command-and-control of Iraqi military and security forces.Now and Forever (December 4, 2007)
The financial cost of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan may come close to US$3.5 trillion according to the Joint Economic Committee of the House and Senate. In this New York Times article, Bob Herbert argues that President Bush's US$600 billion in formal requests for Iraq does not include the untold long term "hidden costs" of treating the wounded and disabled, interest on loans borrowed for the war, repair and replacement of military equipment and increased cost of military recruitment. The costs of the war to 2007 have so far exceeded the administration's original estimates ten fold. With no move toward immediate withdrawal- the cost of the Iraq war will continue for decades to come.Iraqis' Quality of Life Marked by Slow Gains, Many Setbacks (November 29, 2007)
According to an unpublished US military poll on the quality of life in Iraq, Iraqis are unsatisfied with the provision of basic services, particularly water, gas, electricity and sanitation systems. The poll suggests that overall the conditions are worsening with some areas of Iraq receiving only 11 hours of electricity per day. While commentators suggest that it is difficult to gain accurate data on improvements in security, some witnesses argue that "it was definitely so much better for us before the war.we were never suffering the way we are now." The Pentagon is set to release a progress report to Congress in early December 2007, but this poll suggests that life in Iraq is far from "normal." (Washington Post)Detentions Escalate in Diwaniyah (November 26, 2007)
A campaign aimed at defeating militias in Iraq has led to the imprisonment of hundreds of people in southern Baghdad. Witnesses say people who are accused of being members of militias that support Iran are being abducted by US and Iraqi forces. Some witnesses say the campaign actually targets those who do not follow Iranian Cleric Ali Al-Sistani. The International Committee of the Red Cross estimates that over 60,000 people are detained in Iraq. (Inter Press Service)Security Council
UN Envoy Pushes for Darfur Progress (December 11, 2007)
UN special envoy to Darfur, Jan Eliasson has made efforts to gather rebel leaders to talk with the Sudanese government. The rebels have formed two groups, one in favor and the other pessimistic about the peace talks. Eliasson emphasized the importance of this meeting since the last attempt in Libya failed. Darfur has more than 200,000 casualties, over 2.5 million displaced people, and a smaller UN peacekeeping operation than needed. (al-Jazeera)Burma: Crackdown Bloodier Than Government Admits (December 7, 2007)
Human Rights Watch has released a report claiming that Burma's government crackdown had more violent consequences than it claims. The report denounces the junta's large scale persecution of protesters, monks and civilians. It also says that the government still represses the opposition. HRW has called upon the international community, especially the UN Security Council, and countries that have a close relationship with Burma, to effectively pressure the junta to stop.Africa Presses Demand for Security Council Seat (December 11, 2007)
The UN General Assembly continues to debate Security Council reform. The African group has requested two permanent seats, with all rights including veto power. Angolan Ambassador Ismael. Gaspar-Martins expressed the "continent's position" requesting a more inclusive, transparent and democratic Council. So far, only China and Britain support the African pledge. (Final Call)Iran, IAEA Resume Talks (December 10, 2007)
After suffering accusations from the US and two sets of sanctions, Iran has been proving that its nuclear program serves an energy purpose. Iran has answered all the questions from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Therefore both sides have resumed talks on a "plan of action to remove all technical ambiguities" about the differences over Iran's uranium enrichment program. (Fars News Agency)Kosovo Negotiations Officially End Today (December 10, 2007)
The Troika group reported to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that the Kosovo talks had no results. Neither Serbia nor Kosovo want to compromise, making the issue of independence more difficult to resolve through negotiations. Both parties agreed to delay the Security Council statement until after the report debate scheduled for December 19, 2007. US envoy Frank Wisner believes that the Ahtisaari's Kosovo plan for internationally-supervised independence remains a possibility. (B92)W. Sahara Independence Movement to Review Strategy (December 5, 2007)
Western Sahara's rebel movement Polisario, wants independence from Morocco. Since 1991, this resource-rich territory has been has been under UN peacekeeping oversight (MINURSO) due to the Polisario struggle against Moroccan rule. The Security Council has discussed the issue, but remains divided. While the US and France support Morocco, the majority of Council members does not. (Reuters)Ban Ki-moon Urges Credible Dialogue to Resolve Crisis in Central African Republic (December 5, 2007)
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon shows concern about the widespread poverty, continuing insecurity, political instability, impunity and human rights violations in the Central African Republic (CAR). He requests that the parties work together to stop the violence and improve the political crisis, with the United Nations support. Ban congratulated the work of the Security Council in implementing a multidimensional force in cooperation with the EU and the African Union. But, he re-affirms that the responsibility falls on the country's government and its people. (UN News)Middle East Peace Conference A 'Significant Breakthrough,' Says Top UN Official (November 30, 2007)
Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs in the Middle East, B. Lynn Pascoe expressed content with the Annapolis Conference and re-stated UN support for the peace process. Although Israeli and Palestinian leaders compromised to start negotiations towards a peace treaty, the ground situation, especially in Gaza, remains a great humanitarian crisis, as the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon reported. (UN News)Empire?
Empire (2000)
In this preface to "Empire" published in 2000, authors Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri argue that the sovereignty of nation states has declined and been transformed into a new form of global sovereignty which they call Empire. The Empire is similar to what others call globalization - the borderless and all-powerful exchange of economic and cultural production. Hence, it is very different from the days of European colonial imperialism, entirely tied to the sovereignty of the nation state. (Hardt & Negri)The Archbishop of Canterbury (December 2007)
The religious head of the Church of England Dr. Rowan Williams compares the US with the British empire. Williams argues that it is one thing to accumulate territory as the British did in for example India, "administering it and normalizing it." It is quite another to accumulate control through "a quick burst of violent action," as the US did in Iraq. (emel)Destruction of CIA Tapes Raises Bipartisan Concerns (December 10, 2007)
Democratic and Republican Senators argue that the CIA's destruction of two interrogation tapes constitutes obstruction of justice. Even some of the administration's most loyal allies express anger that the CIA destroyed the tapes without telling Congress. John McCain, Republican presidential candidate and fierce opponent of torture, said that "it harms the credibility and moral standing of America in the world again." (Los Angeles Times)Why the US Is the Only 'Superpower' (December 7, 2007)
John Perkins is the author of the book "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" in which he describes his three-decade long career as an international business operative. Perkins worked for a consulting firm that assisted international financial institutions and the US government to "foment conditions that make other nations subservient" with the citizens of poor countries paying the bill. (Combat Law)Social and Economic Policy
Climate Contradictions: World Bank Sets Up Shop in Bali (December 4, 2007)
The World Bank seeks to play a key role in the UN climate conference in Bali. The Bank prides itself on being a "clearing house on carbon trading" and on being committed to reducing carbon emissions through specialized energy lending programs. Critics protest the Bank's involvement given the World Bank and IMF's subsidies to the oil industry and their lack of investment in renewable energy production. (Bretton Woods Project)Subsidies' Harvest of Misery (December 12, 2007)
In this commentary, former US President Jimmy Carter urges Congress to reform the 1933 farm bill to eliminate the subsidies that accrue to the largest and richest agricultural producers in the US. The subsidies hurt both poor US farmers as well as producers in developing countries. By creating incentives for overproduction and dumping of products, the subsidies effectively push small-scale producers out of the market. (Washington Post)Carbon Tax Should Replace Carbon Trading to Curb Climate Change, Says US Mayor Bloomberg (December 13, 2007)
At the UN climate conference in Bali, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg strongly advocated for carbon taxes rather than cap-and-trade schemes as a means to reduce carbon emissions. Bloomberg said carbon trading is "vulnerable to special interests, corruption, inefficiencies." A carbon tax would more directly and efficiently reduce carbon emissions that cause global warming, as well as provide the world's governments with funds to further improve the environment. (Associated Press)Why South America Wants a New Bank (December 10, 2007)
Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela are all backing the initiative to establish the Bank of the South. The bank is an alternative to the World Bank and the IMF, whose unpopularity is growing in the South American continent. The founding countries say the bank will reduce their dependence on rich countries and international financial institutions while providing necessary alternative funds. Although experts approach the initiative with caution, some welcome the competition in the developing lending market. (BBC)Slowing US Economy Inflicts Pain around the World (December 10, 2007)
Experts say the 2007 US financial crisis is the first real test of the financial globalization that has taken place since 1989, resulting in increasingly integrated global markets. Former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, Kenneth Rogoff, warns that the US crisis could "pull everyone into its vortex," as far away events are transmitted through financial channels. (USA Today)Carbon-Taxing the Rich (December 7, 2007)
Former World Bank economist Joseph Stiglitz argues that all countries generating carbon emissions must pay the cost of reducing climate change. He suggests governments increase the use of trade sanctions to punish free riders, and that governments must use every single available instrument to stop global warming. The simplest and most effective tool argues Stiglitz, is a carbon tax, which would apply directly to the emitters and secure a fair system for both rich and poor countries. (Guardian)Why America's Currency Is the World's Problem (November 30, 2007)
In 2007, the euro was valued at symbolic US$1.50, the highest value against the dollar since the euro's inception. The relationship between the two currencies illustrates the depreciating state of the US economy, and may signal the end of the "dollar era." The fall of the dollar will affect all global markets, and because of the many uncertainties in global monetary structures, the "potential dangers" for the world economy are great, warns the author of this Spiegel article.Ending Famine, Simply by Ignoring the Experts (December 1, 2007)
In 2005, a famine struck Malawi and a third of the population needed emergency food aid. In 2007, the same country is the number one southern African supplier of corn to the World Food Program. The Malawian government ignored the World Bank's pressure to implement free market policies and to cut back on subsidies, and instead increased their fertilizer subsidies, boosting the productivity of the country's agriculture. (International Herald Tribune)Nations and States
Birth of a Nation: But Will Kosovo Spark Another Balkan Crisis? (December 11, 2007)
International mediators have failed to reach a negotiated solution about Kosovo's future, leaving the UN, the EU, Kosovo and Serbia, at a stalemate. Serbia does not want to give up Kosovo any less than Kosovo wants to stay with Serbia. Apart from the sovereignty issue, the UN protectorate also has some very pressing problems, such as massive unemployment, corruption and poverty. (Independent)International Justice
China and Qatar Block Security Council Statement on Darfur Crimes (December 9, 2007)
International Criminal Court prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo complained to the Security Council that the Sudanese government refuses to surrender two indicted Sudanese officials. The Council hasn't achieved an agreement on releasing a statement to pressure Sudan, due to resistance, for example from Qatar. Even though Sudan has not ratified the Rome Statute, the Security Council has enabled a clause, which allows the World Court to refer to non-signatories if it considers the matter a "threat to international peace and security." (Sudan Tribune)War Crimes Fugitive Mladic in Serbia: Prosecutor (December 6, 2007)
The UN tribunal looks for Ratke Mladic, a Bosnian Serb fugitive convicted of genocide in the Bosnia and Croatia war in the 1990s. Serbia's war prosecutor, Vladimir Vukcevic, believes Mladic is hiding in Serbia, but the government affirms that if so, he would have been arrested. The UN tribunal continues to search for other indicted Serbians, which has been disrupting relations between Serbia and the European Union. (Reuters)
What Was New What's New
Week of December 3 - 7, 2007
Iraq Security Council Empire? Social and Economic Policy Nations and States International Justice
Iraq
In this letter Bill Delahunt a Member of the US Congress, writes to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice seeking clarification on the legal status of Iraq's request for a renewal of the Multinational Force mandate (MNF). Delahunt calls attention to a law passed by the Iraqi Council of Representatives in May 2007 that affirms the constitutional provision that two thirds of the Council must agree to a renewal of the MNF before Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki make a request to the UN Security Council. The letter asks for an urgent response given the expiration of the current mandate on December 31, 2007.White House Releases "Principles" for Permanent Iraqi Presence (November 26, 2007)
In this article Spencer Ackerman suggests the "Joint Declaration of Principles for Friendship and Cooperation" between the US and Iraq reveals US intentions to occupy Iraq well into the future. The pact calls for a final extension of the multinational force (MNF) mandate until 2008 in which time a bilateral agreement will come into force. To Ackerman, such an agreement in Bush's last year as president will "seriously constrain the next administration's options for ending the US presence." The Bush administration claims this pact is not unlike other US agreements with over 100 countries, but unlike those agreements Ackerman argues this pact would commit US troops to a war "opposed by most of the American people." (TPM Muckraker)Declaration of Principles for a Long Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship Between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America (November 27, 2007)
In late November 2007, President Bush and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki entered into a Declaration of Principles for Future Cooperation. The pact claims to recognize the sacrifices made by "Iraqis and Americans for the sake of a free, democratic, pluralistic, federal and unified Iraq." It lays the basis for extended US presence in Iraq in political, economic and security spheres, including a preference for US companies in foreign investments. The pact suggests that the Iraqi government will request the extension of the MNF mandate for "a final time" and after this a bilateral agreement will dictate the relationship between the two countries. (Office of the Press Secretary- White House)US, Iraq Set for Talks On Future Relationship (November 27, 2007)
US President George Bush and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki have entered into a nonbinding pact setting out the future relationship between the two countries. Commentators suggest the Declaration of Principles will replace the Multinational Force and set the basis for bilateral talks in early 2008. The pact signals US intentions to remain in Iraq in the long term with influence in the "political, cultural, economic and security spheres." For Iraqis the pact confirms US intentions to control Iraq's vast oil reserves, with provisions allowing for the "preferential treatment of American investments." (Daily Star- Lebanon)Ill-Equipped Soldiers Opt for "Search and Avoid" (October 24, 2007)
Both active duty soldiers and veterans of the war in Iraq say that a lack of training and proper equipment and distrust in the chain of command has led to an increase in "search and avoid" missions. The soldiers say that to avoid roadside bombs many soldiers pretend to be on patrol and instead park their humvees and "hang out, listen to music and smoke cigarettes." The growing death toll and lack of morale has also led to an increase in mental illness in the military. The Office of Veterans Affairs indicates that the total number of mental health cases among war veterans increased by 58 percent from 2006 to 2007. (New York Times)House Approves Bill Linking War Funds, Troop Withdrawals (November 15, 2007)
The House of Representatives passed a bill that provides US$50 billion to fund the war in Iraq and attaches a timetable for the withdrawal of troops by the end of 2008. The bill prevents the White House from using funds to construct permanent bases in Iraq or assert US control over Iraq's oil. However, commentators say President Bush will veto the bill. Congressional Democrats claim that the bill responds to the concerns of US citizens about the length and the costs of the war. (Washington Post)Security Council
Nigeria: Ending Unrest in the Niger Delta (December 5, 2007)
Nigeria has been facing security instability and politically-sponsored attacks in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. The rebel group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has complained of the lack of attention from the government. In this report, the International Crisis Group addresses the root causes of the oil-driven conflict and proposes steps to help the region avoid more chaos.Israelis and Palestinians Pessimistic on Chances of Peace (November 28, 2007)
The author of this Der Spiegel article argues that leaders wasted the opportunity created by the Annapolis Conference, to achieve substantial peace. Instead, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and US president George W. Bush used the Conference to enhance their popularity in Israel and the Middle East. Also, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas failed to standup for the people of Gaza and the West Bank. While the Conference took place as a publicity stunt, Israel continued to hold nuclear weapons and occupy Palestinian territories.Development and Security in Exchange for Small Arms (November 28, 2007)
Keith Krause, director of the Small Arms Survey, said that international cooperation and security strategies to diminish small arms circulation have been improving. However the greatest difficulty results from on civilians, fearful of violence, who hold the majority of small weapons around the world. Krause criticizes government initiatives, and affirms that only development programs to increase security and stability will lead people to hand over their weapons. (Inter Press Service)Ending Visit to Timor-Leste, Security Council Team Pledges Ongoing UN Support (November 30, 2007)
A Security Council team, after a visit to Timor Leste, said that although the country has improved, it still needs international assistantance in development, to prevent it from falling back into chaos. The Council's team also met with local authorities, political representatives, UN officials, police officers, civil society members and local representatives in order to collect public opinion over the UN peacekeepers in the country, UNMIT. (UN News)Ethiopia Bogged Down in Somalia (November 27, 2007)
Somalians want Ethiopian troops out of the country, but Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi claims it can't withdraw its troops because they act as substitute peacekeepers. Due to growing instability, the UN shows uncertainty about taking over the peacekeeping mission in the country. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the Somali situation "too dangerous," because Somalia hasn't had a functioning government for more than a decade. (BBC)Burundi's Peace Process Hampered by Political Crisis - UN Report (November 30, 2007)
In a report to the Security Council, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over the political instability in Burundi. According to Ban, the government should address issues such as violent outbreaks, human rights violations and make an effort towards reconstruction. He also requested that the government continue to collaborate with the UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB), which provides political and technical support to national actors in conflict. (UN News)Empire?
Legal Action by Inmates Could Close Guantanamo (December 6, 2007)
Two detainees from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp have their cases tried in the US Supreme Court. The prisoners challenge the US denial of habeas corpus - the right to challenge unlawful detention in a civilian court. The US government claims that US law does not apply in Guantanamo Bay and on the two previous occasions that the Supreme Court ruled on the issue, it sided with the government. (Independent)The Iranian Challenge (November 19, 2007)
In this essay, Trita Parsi - an expert on US-Iran relations and the president of the National Iranian American Council - attribute much of the hostility between the US and Iran to the ill-informed foreign policy debate in the US. Parsi unmasks some of the misconceptions about Iran, concerning, for example, Tehran's policy towards Israel. He argues that strategic rivalry more than ideological enmity motivates the Iranian hostile rhetoric towards the country. (The Nation)US Finds That Iran Halted Nuclear Arms Bid in 2003 (December 4, 2007)
A new report from the US intelligence community, a National Intelligence Estimate, concludes that Iran stopped working on its nuclear weapons program more than four years ago. Intelligence officials have been preparing the assessment for more than 18 months, to make sure they had the correct information. Democrats say "the intelligence community has learned its lessons from the Iraq debacle" since the report conflicts with the US administration's suspicions on Iran. (Washington Post)The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot (April 24, 2007)
In her new book, Naomi Wolf discusses the steps political leaders have taken historically to transform an open society into a fascist state. She names ten steps, such as creating covert prisons, imposing citizen surveillance and suspending the rule of law. According to Wolf, the Bush administration has taken many of these steps and US citizens, as well as the rest of the world, should worry about the state of democracy in the US. (Guardian)Civil Libertarians Warn of "Patriot Act Lite" (November 27, 2007)
The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act - the successor to the Patriot Act - is further decreasing civil liberties. The Act convenes a national commission that will propose "initiatives to intercede before radicalized individuals turn violent." Civil liberty groups worry about the vague definitions of "radicalism" and "extremism" and say that any activist is possibly a terrorist within the framework of the new bill. (Inter Press Service)Social and Economic Policy
Ditch Green Industries, Invest in Guns - a Deadly Market Gospel (December 3, 2007)
The US administration claims that market forces of supply and demand will solve the problems associated with climate change. However, 2007 has seen a decrease in investment in green industries, with a larger share of money going to private security and defense companies that claim to provide protection from problems caused by global warming. Naomi Klein argues that the US prefers building fortresses to keep the problems out rather than regulating economic activity to reach a real solution. (AlterNet)The Making of a Mess (December 3, 2007)
International financial markets and their transactions are extremely complex, and investors realize that they no longer understand the system in which they operate. Following the collapse of the US housing market, investors' lack of trust in the markets has resulted in a drying up of liquidity, reduced lending in credit markets and a threat of a recession. (International Herald Tribune)How Rising Heat Traps Millions in Poverty (December 5, 2007)
The UNDP Human Development Report 2007-2008 warns that increased global warming may reverse the progress made on poverty reduction in African countries. Global warming, if not reduced, may cause hundreds of millions of people to experience malnutrition, water scarcity and the breaking down of agricultural systems. The authors of the report urge rich countries to "demonstrate leadership" in cutting carbon emissions. (allAfrica)Financing Gender Equality Is Financing Development (October 2007)
This UNIFEM working paper calls on governments to consider how their development financing policies affect gender inequality. The authors suggest a range of public policy tools - gender responsive budgets, results-based public expenditure management - to improve the incomes, productivity and job security of women in developing countries.Nations and States
Cold War Deja Vu in Kosovo (December 6, 2007)
In early 2007, Kosovo's independence seemed inevitable as both the US and the EU made it clear they would support a declaration of independence. But, after almost a year, independence appears less likely as Russia is opposing Security Council recognition of Kosovo. Moscow has many reasons to back Serbia, says this Los Angeles Times article. Russians share a cultural bond with the Serbs and they want to reassert their regional authority. But most importantly, Moscow is afraid of Kosovo creating a precedent for the Chechnyans and other Russian minorities.International Justice
Donald Rumsfeld, the second longest serving Secretary of Defense in US history, served under Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Regan and under President George W Bush from 2001 until his resignation in November 2006. Since stepping down, a number of civil and criminal suits have been filed against Rumsfeld for his role in authorizing torture and abuse at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib prisons.International Criminal Court Heading Towards Universality, Says Chief Judge (November 30, 2007)
International Criminal Court's President, Judge Philipe Kirsch addressed the United Nations to convey the Court's achievements. The ICC "is fully operational" and has investigations in four countries - DRC, Uganda, CAR and Sudan. More than a hundred State Parties have signed and ratified the ICC, and the numbers keep growing. Kirsch requested greater support because if the governments cooperate with the investigations and arrests, it will give the Court more credibility. (UN News)ICC Prosecutor to Open Two New Darfur Cases(December 4, 2007)
The International Criminal Court issued two arrest warrants for Ahamad Haroun and Ali Kushayb for their role in the execution, rapes and forcible evictions of humanitarian workers and peacekeepers in Darfur. Sudan denies that the ICC has jurisdiction to hear the cases. Humanitarian agencies argue that the Security Council needs to insist that Sudan fulfill its obligation to arrest the suspects. Chief ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo will address the Security Council on his investigations in Darfur on December 5, 2007. (Reuters)
