Chavez Says U.N. to Move to Jerusalem

[cal04]

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez denounced the U.S.-led war in Iraq on Thursday and told world leaders they should consider moving the U.N. headquarters out of the United States because of it. The leftist leader said the fact that the war was fought without U.N. authorization showed that Washington has no respect for the world body.

"There were never weapons of mass destruction but Iraq was bombed, and over U.N. objections, (it was) occupied and continues being occupied," said Chavez, who appeared to step up his frequent criticism of U.S. policies in his speech to the General Assembly at a U.N. summit. "That's why we propose to this assembly that the United Nations leave this country, which is not respectful of the very resolutions of this assembly," he said. Allegations that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction were one of the main justifications by President Bush's administration for the war, but none have been found since the Iraqi dictator's ouster.

World leaders had been asked to speak for five minutes, and when Chavez kept talking, the presiding diplomat passed him a note that his time was up. The Venezuelan leader threw the note on the floor and said if Bush could speak for 20 minutes at Wednesday's opening session, so could he. At the end, Chavez's remarks got what observers said was the loudest applause of the summit.

Chavez said U.N. headquarters should be moved from New York to international city "outside the sovereignty of any state," and noted that some have suggested Jerusalem."The new U.N. headquarters has to be in the South," which is home to most developing countries, he added.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/15/AR2005091502620.html

[NYC Liberal]

1. HA HA! Did Bush get any applause?

[Spike from MN]

2. Man, I may have to think of moving to Venezuela instead of

Canada. Chavez is a leader I could definitely get behind. He rocks!

[CottonBear]

3. Brilliant! Good for Chavez for speaking his mind.

Bu$hco and the US Gov't screwed him over by denying him visas for his secret service force until today.

[FreedomAngel82]

5. I agree

I'm tired of Bush having to be treated like a king. He isn't a king! And Chavez was right. He should have his twenty minutes too. Fair is fair and I'm all for fairness. I personally could care less where the Un is located. What matters is the deeds and actions etc. Location is just a place to go.

[bee]

4. wow. incredible. I bet they move. I'd want to. n/t

[buzzsaw_23]

6. Hugo Deserves applause and nomination n/t

[Maple]

7. I don't think it matters

where it's located...north, south, east or west...as long as everyone who wishes to attend can do so, and as long as it's safe for the delegates.

You can't put them in an area prone to civil wars for example

[expatriate]

8. It makes good sense.

It's got to be pretty bad having the UN in a country whose president has no respect for the organization. They should purchase some land from a country that could use the money, then have it become "no place", with no national ties at all, and base the UN there.

[Maple]

9. I would expect the country

to donate the land...and it would become international territory, treated and protected like an embassy.

[Gabi Hayes]

10. I don't think so....name one country as disliked internationally as the US

hellOHHH

[Gabi Hayes]

11. Chavez is Koppel's guest tomorrow night!

he just said it!

[noahmijo]

12. Wow never thought for once I'd disagree with Chavez

Washington pisses on the UN but New York City doesn't....

That's awesome that he got more of an applause than the Scum-Puppet though.

[stlsaxman]

13. Next time you need to fill the tank go to Citgo!

and thank the Venezuelans (sp) for electing Chavez