WP: Anger at U.S. Policies More Strident at U.N.

[kskiska]

Speeches Show Resentment of Idea of Forced Democracy

UNITED NATIONS -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad grabbed headlines last week by blasting U.S. policies from the dais of the U.N. General Assembly. But while their words were harsh, in many ways they merely expressed in bolder terms what a number of other world leaders and foreign diplomats believe.

Anti-Americanism never really left the United Nations, but this year's gathering of world leaders demonstrated an unusually strident disrespect for the United States. The United States is perceived as weakened by a draining war in Iraq, while many of its adversaries feel emboldened with newfound oil wealth.

(snip)

As Chavez put it in his fiery speech, which was greeted by wild applause in the chamber: "They say they want to impose a democratic model. But that's their democratic model. It's the false democracy of elites, and, I would say, a very original democracy that's imposed by weapons and bombs and firing weapons. What a strange democracy. . . . What type of democracy do you impose with Marines and bombs?"

The rising anger at American policies comes as some U.S. officials privately acknowledge that they feel stymied on many international fronts: The war in Iraq is going poorly, the drive for sanctions against Iran's nuclear program has faltered, the disarmament talks with North Korea are all but dead, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is frozen, and the crisis in Sudan's Darfur region seems unsolvable.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/23/AR2006092300910.html

[Eric J in MN]

1. "disrespect for the United States"

I disagree with Glenn Kessler's characterization of Chavez's speech.

It was disrespectful of the US government, but not the US in general.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2200008&mesg_id=2200008

"Noam Chomsky, one of the most prestigious American and world intellectuals, Noam Chomsky, and this is one of his most recent books, ‘Hegemony or Survival: The Imperialist Strategy of the United States.’

It’s an excellent book to help us understand what has been happening in the world throughout the 20th century... I think that the first people who should read this book are our brothers and sisters in the United States, because their threat is right in their own house."

[Eugene]

2. Rejecting Pax Americana is not anti-Americanism.

Perhaps Hugh Chavez should not have demonized our Dear Leader, but he made a valid point.
The Bush Doctrine of America über Alles and security through brute force have made the
world a more dangerous place. Criticism is not disrespect and our Beloved Emperor
deserves a lot of criticism. Nobody likes to be bullied.

[ima_sinnic]

3. the evil swine "in charge" will soon reap the whirlwind of their wars and

mass murders ... unfortunately we innocents will be swept up too.

[JohnyCanuck]

4. The poor little freedom loving USA, always getting ganged up on by those

terrible evil-doer lovers and bullies at the UN.

It's so UNFAIR!!!! Waaaahhhhh,waaahhhhhhh, waaaaahhhh.

:nopity:

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. I just watched part of his speech - he used the word devil 8 times

and he got rousing applause.

Bush didn't get much applause. That must have been embarrassing.

Chavez really is very funny. And he uses his charm to his advantage.

[Miss Chybil]

7. I wonder how many times Bush has used the term "axis of evil?"

Not with regard to Venezuela, but in general. He has set the tone for the "debate."

[sutz12]

6. But.....but....but...I thought they hated us for our freedoms.....

It can't be our policies. No way. We're the good guys. We have GAWD on our side.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: