Thursday, 24 September 2009
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Gadhafi's green book like Franks new Constitution
UNITED NATIONS -- In his first appearance at the world body, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi issued a slashing attack on the United Nations Security Council and chastised the world body on Wednesday for failing to intervene or prevent some 65 wars around the world since the world body was founded in 1945.
Mr. Gadhafi spoke Wednesday at the opening session of the General Assembly, taking the podium after U.S. President Barack Obama's first speech to the world body.
The U.S. Mission was represented by a couple of low to mid-ranking diplomats, after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice left the chamber before Mr. Gadhafi ascended the podium.
Mr. Gadhafi welcomed Mr. Obama -- referring to him as "a son of Africa" -- as the leader of the host nation for U.N. Headquarters, and hailed his maiden speech.
But he railed against the "inequality" of U.N. member states, quoting from a copy of the U.N. Charter that calls for equality of nations. He noted that five nations hold veto power on the Security Council and can block actions contrary to their interests: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.
Speaking rapid-fire Arabic, Mr. Gadhafi said the use of military power was contrary to the spirit of the U.N., unless such actions are sanctioned by the United Nations.
Since the world body was founded in 1945, Mr. Gadhafi said it had failed to prevent or intervene in dozens of wars around the world.
"But 65 aggressive wars took place without any collective action by the United Nations to prevent them, Mr. Gadhafi said.
Holding up a copy of the U.N. preamble, Mr. Gadhafi said just one in eight countries were present at the meetings that led to the creation of the U.N.
"The preamble is very tempting and positive, but everything that came after it was in contradiction of it," he said. "It said that every nation is treated equal, whether big or small, but this has not happened."
Later he said, "It should not be called the Security Council, but should be called the terror council."
He said only China was elected to the Security Council, while the other permanent members were chosen through dictatorial process.
"The General Assembly is just like Hyde Park Corner," he said. "You make a speech and then you disappear."
Mr. Gadhafi said states like his should not have to comply with rulings of the Security Council as currently composed.
"We are treated like second-class and despised nations," he said. "But we are among the nations that represent 192 nations."
He said that the veto vote of the permanent members of the Security Council has been used against countries like his. "The right of the veto is used against us, and has become a travesty of the U.N. It has led to wars and violations of independent states, and has committed war crimes and genocide."
He added that as a result, states like his are forced now to create their own regional security councils. "The Security Council here has become isolated."
At another point, Mr. Gadhafi asked why the U.N. is situated in the U.S. and questioned whether it would be better to move the headquarters elsewhere.
"Everyone here today came across the Atlantic or the Pacific, and I ask you, why?" he said. "Is this Jerusalem, or Mecca? All of you have jetlag and are physically tired. Many of you are very tired because your biological mind should be asleep right now. Think about it, why should we continue to meet here in America?"
"We should not have to come to New York," he said.
But Mr. Gadhafi softened his tone when referring to Mr. Obam, saying, "We are happy and proud that a son of Africa is president of the U.S. in a place where blacks could not go in a bus where whites go." He said Mr. Obama was "the beginning of a change."
"Obama is a glimpse in the dark, and I am afraid that we may go back to square one. Can you guarantee how America will governed after Obama?" he asked, looking back at U.N. Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon. "As far as I'm concerned he can stay president of America forever."
The Wall Street Journal 09-24-09
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