Bush Finds Iraq War Undermines Threat of Force as Tool at UN

[swag]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=adO0gufo14Cs&refer=home

Sept. 18 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush comes to the United Nations tomorrow with limited diplomatic leverage to block the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea, largely because of fallout from the Iraq war, according to envoys.

Bush's decision to invade Iraq in 2003 without UN backing has intensified resistance to using the threat of force as a tool of diplomacy in the nuclear disputes. France, Russia and China -- all of which agreed to put the threat into the UN Charter in 1945 -- are reluctant to authorize the step.

``The lesson we learned is that we have to be very careful,'' Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya said. ``It has to be a clearly defined threat to international peace and security. Iraq is the example that put all of us in a difficult position.''

. . .

``You have a perfect storm of global rejection of U.S. leadership that has been taken for granted for 60 years,'' Laurenti said. ``This is a very strained time for U.S.-UN relations, and it all centers around Washington's apparent contempt for the obligations of international law in Iraq.''

. . . more

[Kagemusha]

1. Bush claims a) the war was indeed with UN backing,

b) the US was, at any rate, backing the UN in fighting the war.

Just for the record. Since such claims will surely be repeated.

[patricia92243]

4. I thought he did finally get UN backing ?????? n/t

[Lasher]

2. I wonder if they'll laugh in his face.

It will be interesting to see the UN's reaction if he gives a rehashed Iran version of Colin Powell's Iraq speech. I hope he tries some retreaded Cheney comments like, "Simply stated, there is no doubt that Iran now has weapons of mass destruction."

[bemildred]

3. Gee, who could have predicted this? nt

[rodeodance]

5. the 'tool' is vaporizing right before out eyes.

``You have a perfect storm of global rejection of U.S. leadership that has been taken for granted for 60 years,'' Laurenti said. ``This is a very strained time for U.S.-UN relations, and it all centers around Washington's apparent contempt for the obligations of international law in Iraq.''