Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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What Was New What's New
Week of December 27, 2007 - January 4, 2008
Iraq Security Council Empire? Social and Economic Policy International Justice
Iraq
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.A Microscopic Insurgent (December 4, 2007)
More cases of the waterborne disease, cholera have been reported in 18 provinces of Iraq since the first reported case of death in the north of the country in August 2007. In this New York Times article, the author draws a connection between the rise in treatable diseases such as cholera and the support of insurgents. The author calls on the Iraqi government and the US to create clean water systems, improve sanitation and manage waste.Security Council
UN Security Council Fails to Bridge Gaps on Kosovo (December 19, 2007)
The UN Security Council remains divided on whether or not to concede Kosovo's independence. Serbia, backed by Russia, states that an unilateral independence would violate the Council's resolution 1244 as well as the UN Charter. Serbia also claims it will respond with legal, diplomatic and economic sanctions. Meanwhile, Western countries, like the US and UK, support Kosovo's president Fatmir Sejdiu claim that soverignty is a principle of self-determination. The EU and the US show willingness to back Kosovo's Ahtissari plan for "supervised independence." (Reuters)Global Donors Exceed Palestinian Expectations at Paris Conference (December 19, 2007)
The Paris conference, which had around 90 participants, including countries and international organizations, raised 7.4 billion dollars in support of a promised Palestinian State. Even Arab countries contributed large amounts, specially Saudi Arabia, showing their willingness to get involved in the negotiations. However, two main obstacles remain: Israel's sanctions, the oppressive intervention in the occupied terriotries, and the exclusion of Hamas - which controls Gaza - from the negotiations. (Christian Science Monitor)Iran, the United States and Europe: the Nuclear Complex (December 5, 2007)
The author of this openDemocracy analysis goes through Iran's nuclear and diplomatic history to explain the current geo-political relationship between the US, EU and Iran. He expects that the United States national-intelligence estimate (NIE) report, which stated that Iran stopped its nuclear power program in 2003, will help these countries resume a more diplomatic track. As well as re-establish the EU as the mediator of US and Iranian relations, as it was before Mahmoud Ahmadinejad got elected as Iran's president.Security Council Reform: a Transitional Approach (December 3, 2007)
Member states have agreed that the UN Security Council must become more representative, efficient and transparent to be seen as more legitimate, yet a number disagree on how this reform should occur. Among various proposals from countries, the GA appointed facilitators to conduct consultations about the Council's reform. The facilitators main point consists of adding a mandatory review clause, which demands that after a couple of years, the Council has to review its reform. (UN Chronicle)UN Arms Embargoes Can Be Potent Symbol - Study (November 26, 2007)
UN Security Council arms embargos have been related to different international peace and security goals. This study shows that those embargoes with strong support, such as from a peacekeeping operation in the field, or collaboration from neighboring countries, had greater chances of success. Also, imposing arms embargos on countries without "powerful endorsement," from the P-5 Council members, have proved to be easier. (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute)Somalia: Conflict A Threat to Regional Peace (November 15, 2007)
The conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea has spilled over into Somalia, complicating Ethiopia's influence in Mogadishu. Somalia has been involved in a complex net of relationships between the US, EU and Ethiopia since before the Cold War. Political chaos has contributed to Somalia's instability and violence since 1991. The Muslim movement al-Shabaab violently opposed the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and its Ethiopian ally. The author shows how international interference has made the situation worse, and claims that multilateral institutions - such as the EU, Arab League, IGAD, UN and African Union - would help more than single interest-driven countries, like the US. (Nation - Nairobi)Empire
Destroying the Rule of Law (October 26, 2007)
Ralph Nader shows how the rule of law in the US has eroded, which the absence of prosecution in the Blackwater scandal clearly shows. The Bush administration has accumulated so much power within the Executive branch that the president, in effect, rules over both the Legislative and Judicial branches. This monopoly of power opposes the original ideas of the country's founders. (Nader.org)Police State America - A Look Back and Ahead (October 17, 2007)
This article reflects on the political events of 2007, with a focus on civil liberties. The author says that George Bush has governed by his word that the Constitution is "just a goddamned piece of paper." The article highlights some of the main attacks by the Bush administration on the Constitution and civil liberties such as the excessive number of Executive Orders and the extended use of surveillance. (Countercurrents.org)Is the US an Empire? (February 3, 2003)
The historian Paul Schroeder claims in this article that the US exercises hegemony, but is not yet an empire. He says that the Bush Doctrine - preemptive and unilateral military action - "proclaims unquestionably imperialist ambitions and goals." However, Schroeder warns strongly about imperialist policies, saying it will fail and suggests that the US "settle for hegemony." (History News Network)Social and Economic Policy
Human Development Report 2007/2008 (November 2007)
The 2007-2008 Human Development Report published by UNDP addresses the problems of global warming. The report warns that the world has only 10 years to change its course in order to be able to reverse the process of global warming. Its authors argue that the financial resources and technological capabilities to do so already exist, but countries lack the willingness to make the necessary changes.
This Action Against Hunger report illustrates the complex connections between widespread hunger and the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Malawi. Children suffering from HIV are often chronically undernourished and their recovery times are long. In response to this, field workers recognize the need to combine HIV treatment with improved programs for nutrition and social care.
A 2007 index places Nordic countries at the top of the list as the world's most gender equal countries. The report shows improvements in gender equality worldwide, but the advances are small and mainly take place in rich countries. A number of wealthy countries are decreasing on the ranking, among them the US and Switzerland, while Middle Eastern countries are advancing. (World Economic Forum)The Economic Consequences of Mr. Bush (December 2007)
Joseph Stiglitz argues in this Vanity Fair article that George Bush will take over Herbert Hoover's reputation as the US's worst president when it comes to handling the US economy. After eight years of Bush's presidency, the US economy is suffering from a pro-rich tax system, a record high trade deficit, sky-high oil prices and a falling dollar value. The falling dollar, along with tight labor and credit markets, may see the US facing a recession in 2008. Stiglitz forecasts that the US public will suffer the consequences of Bush's economic policies for generations to come.International Justice
General Who Led Siege of Sarajevo Jailed for 33 Years By UN War Crimes Tribunal (December 12, 2007)
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) convicted Dragomir Milosevic for murder, inhumane acts and attacks against civilians. Milosevic led the Bosnian Serb force that entraped the city of Sarajevo during 1994 and 1995. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison. (UN News)
What Was New What's New
Week of December 17 - 21, 2007
Iraq Security Council Empire? Social and Economic Policy
Iraq
Opening Statement by Chairman William Delahunt at the Congressional Hearing on Iraq MNF Renewal (December 19, 2007)
In his opening statement, Congressman Delahunt notes that serious questions have been raised about whether the Iraqi Executive branch followed the rule of law in its request for an extension of the UN mandate. Delahunt also reaffirms that a "majority of the Parliament has now stated that their constitutional prerogatives are being ignored by the Executive."Statement by Issam Saliba to the Congressional Hearing on Iraq MNF Renewal (December 19, 2007)
Saliba, Senior Foreign Law Specialist Library of Congress, testified before the US House of Representatives that based on his background and knowledge, the Iraqi Government is under a "constitutional obligation to seek the Iraqi Parliament's approval for its request to extend the mandate of the multinational forces in Iraq."US Senate Passes Iraq Funds Bill (December 14, 2007)
The US Senate authorized US$189 billion for the Iraq war, without any mention of a timetable for troop withdrawal, despite this being a key Democratic demand. The bill covers the budget year ending in September 2008. In total, it authorizes US$696 billion for military spending, including US$189 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan. (BBC)Cholera Crisis Hits Baghdad (December 2, 2007)
Numerous Iraqis have died from an outbreak of cholera in Baghdad. Reports indicate that up to 100 people have died from the disease and witnesses fear that with the rainy season approaching and the lack of water and sewerage infrastructure that there could be an epidemic. UNICEF suggests only one in three Iraqi children have access to safe water- with streets and waterways polluted with raw sewerage and garbage. The waterborne disease is preventable through treatment with chlorine and improved hygiene. (Observer)Security Council
UN Finds Fraud, Mismanagement in Peacekeeping (December 18, 2007)
In 1994 the UN created the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) to investigate internal affairs. But Secretary General Ban Ki-moon created another UN task force that discovered a pattern of corruption and mismanagement. The force found UN officials had been bribed with contracts for fuel, food and construction, among other materials, especially in Congo and Haiti. OIOS hasen't been successful in holding corrupt officials accountable, therefore tainting the UN's reputation. (Washington Post)UN Envoy Calls on Saudi Arabia to Play a Leading Role in Bringing Peace to Somalia (December 18, 2007)
UN envoy for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, has proposed a "two-track" peace plan to the UN Security Council. The plan consists of "immediate and effective action on the political and security fronts." Abdallah stressed the importance of talks between the transitional government and the opposition towards a nationaly united government. He also wants reinforcement from the African Union force, mainly with the help of neighboring Saudi Arabia, before the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission. (Associated Press)Palestine Protests Biased UN Reporting (November 21, 2007)
Former under-Secretary General for the Middle East, Alvaro de Soto says that the UN tends to represent Israel and Palestine as a conflict between two equal sides, when in reality Israel illegally occupies Palestinian territories, with its militaty might. De Soto accuses both Secretary Generals Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon of using these misrepresentations as a political cover for US and EU interests in the Middle East. He emphasizes the marginalization of Hamas electoral victories in the occupied territories. (Inter Press Services)Burma's "Saffron Revolution" Is Not Over (December 10, 2007)
According to a ITUC and FIDH joint report, the junta's violent repression of the monks created great resistance from the Burmese population. The report set out four principles of action for the international community in the Burma situation. These principals are: international pressure to stop the violence; national reconciliation; cutting the junta's economic support, especially in the oil, gas, timber and gem sectors; and support of a peaceful transition to democracy.UN Security Council Agrees to Hear Kosovo Albanians (December 14, 2007)
Members of the UN Security Council agreed that Fatmir Sejdiu, president of the semi-autonomous province of Kosovo, could speak at the Council's meeting on the Troika report. Russia and Serbia opposed the decision and stated that Kosovo cannot declare itself independent without a Security Council resolution. The Council's division on the subject shows that no concrete outcome will prevail from this meeting. (Reuters)Russia Ships Nuclear Fuel to Iran (December 17, 2007)
The Russian company Atomstroiexport resumed shipping fuel to the Iranian's Bushehr nuclear facility. Even though the UN demanded that Iran halt its nuclear program, and the US has been pressing for more sanctions, the UN approved the Russian fuel shipments. According to Jonathan Marcus, a BBC correspondent, "The delivery of the nuclear fuel has removed one of the most significant practical sanctions against Tehran." (BBC)World Powers Meet in Paris to Bankroll Palestinian State (December 17, 2007)
Following the Annapolis conference, major powers and key donors are meeting in Paris for a fundraising meeting, to support the creation of a Palestinian state. The donors want some certainty about the effective use of the money, so Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni has been pressured to lift sanctions on the West Bank and the Gaza strip. They also request that the Palestinian government improve security conditions. The money will be used for a West Bank government plan sponsering education, health and women's rights. (Daily Star - Lebanon)Somali Insurgency to Intensify (December 16, 2007)
The military wing of Somalia's Islamist movement, al-Shabab, continues to strike against the government and Ethiopian troops. The movement has been attacking the moderate Muslim government, and wants to rule Somalia under sharia law. Al-Shabab also wants an Ethiopian withdrawal from Somalia. (Reuters)Empire
Guantánamo Bay (December 19, 2007)
This timeline shows what happened at Guantánamo Bay from 2002 to 2007. The first of hundreds of prisoners arrived in January 2002, and received the label "terrorists," thereby stripped of their Geneva Convention protection. In June 2004 UK attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, stated that US military tribunals would not offer these prisoners a fair trial. However in December 2007 the US Supreme court began hearings regarding these foreign prisoners' right to habeas corpus. (Guardian)Notes from the Global War on Terror (December 14, 2007)
The US Congress has done nothing to repair the damages done to civil liberties by the Bush administration this New York Times article reports. Even though the opposition party controls Capitol Hill, Congress has passed bills, such as the Protect America Act, which makes it easier to spy on US citizens. Congress also remained relatively silent during the CIA tape scandal, the NIE report and while telecommunication companies revealed people's personal information.Destruction of CIA Tapes Can't Hide Barbaric US Torture Methods (December 13, 2007)
Ray McGovern, a former CIA analyst and co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, discusses the barbarism and ineffectiveness of torture in interrogations. He states that - from his own experience - no good intelligence comes from abusive practices. McGovern calls for religious community leaders to speak up against torture and inhuman treatment. (AlterNet)The Imperial Presidency (October 22, 2007)
Ralph Nader, lawyer, activist and four-time presidential candidate, speaks up against the Bush administration's dangerous rhetoric towards Iran and the "possibility of World War III. Nader reminds us that it was the US that overthrew the popular prime minister in 1953 and installed the Shah; that the US ignored Iran's proposal for negotiations in 2003 and that Iran, in contrast to the US, has not invaded another country in 250 years. (Nader.org)My National Security Letter Gag Order (March 23, 2007)
This anonymous author tells the story about how he received a so-called National Security Letter in 2004, in which the FBI requested personal information about one of his clients. The author must remain anonymous as the letter comes with a gag order. The Justice Department's inspector general revealed in March 2007 that the FBI has systematically abused the NSL provisions. But the gag order makes it very difficult to investigate the hundreds of thousands of NSL, which require no court orders and no probable cause. (Washington Post)Social and Economic Policy
Housing Crash: Why a 'Soft Landing' is Unlikely (December 12, 2007)
There is still plenty of air left in the US housing bubble, writes the author of this AlterNet article. He argues that housing prices will continue to fall drastically, and result in a constraint on consumer spending - the major driving force of the US economy. Stagnating incomes, severely constrained credit markets and falling housing prices together spell out recession for the US economy.Global Carbon Tax Urged at UN Climate Conference (December 13, 2007)
A panel of UN participants at the Climate Conference in Bali urged the implementation of carbon taxes to reduce global warming. They argue that such a tax would represent a fair system, allowing and encouraging all countries to share the burden of climate change. According to the panelists, the revenues from the tax should go to a Multilateral Adaptation Fund that will help countries deal with global warming. (Canada Free Press)US Must Do More to Reform Cotton Subsidies-WTO (December 18, 2007)
The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the US continues to violate international trade rules and suppress world prices of cotton with its huge agricultural subsidies. The WTO has launched an investigation into the matter after complaints from the Brazilian and Canadian governments. The US administration, on the other hand, argues that their subsidies have no considerable impact on global prices of agricultural products. (Reuters)ECB Pumps Record Euros 348 Billion into Money Markets (December 18, 2007)
In an effort to bring down short term lending rates, the European Central Bank injected 348 billion euros into financial systems. International financial markets are experiencing a crisis of liquidity, and the ECB hopes their latest action will shock the markets back into shape. Analysts however, doubt this will solve the problems. They warn that the financial crisis will continue well into 2008 because of the continued uncertainty about who will bear the losses of the 2007 US mortgage crisis. (International Herald Tribune)World Food Stocks Dwindling Rapidly, UN Warns (December 17, 2007)
The UN warns against massive price increases for food grains and declining global food stocks, officials say as a result, the world's poor are facing "a perfect storm." Both supply and demand side factors have produced these changes - global warming, increased production for animal feed and biofuels. The World Food Program representatives believe that the change in these factors is permanent. (International Herald Tribune)Disappointment in Bali (December 17, 2007)
This editorial from the International Herald Tribune expresses disappointment in the lack of definite outcomes from the UN climate conference in Bali. The US delegation was unwilling to commit to any promises of carbon reductions and severely slowed down the negotiations. This might serve as a disincentive for other large emitters, such as China, to actively change their energy policies and effectively reduce climate change.After the Money's Gone (December 14, 2007)
The US Federal Reserve has decided to lend US$40 billion to the banks affected by the US financial crisis. Economist Paul Krugman has little faith in the attempt. If the crisis was simply one of confidence and reduced liquidity, the Federal Reserve could restore balance easily, writes Krugman. However, in this instance the banks are truly insolvent and the crisis cannot be solved simply be fixed by increasing liquidity. (New York Times)Climate Change, Global Ethics and the Market (December 9, 2007)
Climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions. Suggestions for solutions include global markets for greenhouse gas emissions rights or global emissions taxes. However, the author argues that in order to implement these, the world needs a new, global institution. He puts forward the idea of a global climate fund that will "manage" the atmosphere and the environment "on behalf of future generations." The fund will invest its revenues in worldwide environmental projects. (Post-Autistic Economics Review)International Justice
Former Provincial Leader of Rwanda Given Life Sentence by UN Genocide Tribunal (December 7, 2007)
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) sentenced Francois Karera, prefect of the Kigali-Rural region, to life in prison. The ICTR judges charged Karera with crimes against humanity for commanding several attacks against Tutsis in the 1994 genocide. The UN Security Council set up the ICTR at the end of 1994 after the genocide, to investigate the crimes. (UN News)
