A Spanner in the Works. Here We Go.

[skunk]

http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-08-25-voa50.cfm
US Urges Major Changes in UN Reform Document

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
25 August 2005

The United States has proposed a massive overhaul of a draft agreement to be signed by world leaders next month at a summit on U.N. reform. The proposal has thrown the reform exercise into chaos.

Washington's U.N. Ambassador John Bolton sent a letter this week to envoys of the other 190 member nations calling for immediate negotiations on an outcome document for the meeting of heads of state and government set to begin September 14.

Separately, the U.S. mission sent a small group of U.N. envoys a list of suggested changes to a draft document that has been under negotiation for nearly six months. The list recommends deleting more than 400 passages in the 38-page document, effectively reducing it to three pages.

U.S. suggestions include dropping any reference to the International Criminal Court, the Kyoto treaty on global warming, and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, all of which are opposed by the Bush administration. The U.S. proposal would also eliminate any mention of the Millennium Development Goals agreed to at a similar summit five years ago.


The U.S. proposal has raised concerns among many diplomats who had thought negotiations on the outcome document were nearly complete. One Asian ambassador privately said Washington appears to be trying to sabotage the reform process just three weeks before the summit.

U.N. General Assembly President Jean Ping has been spearheading the process of drafting the outcome document.

Mr. Ping, who is also Gabon's foreign minister, told reporters he is urgently organizing a meeting of about 30 ambassadors to consider the U.S. suggestions. But he admits the proposed changes are more than cosmetic; they go to fundamental issues facing the world body.

U.S. mission spokesman Richard Grenell rejected suggestions that Washington wants to renegotiate the draft document.

"But to use word renegotiate is ridiculous," he said. " There's an assumption in that statement that it was finished, it wasn't finished. We've given our opinion, and it's not even amendments, to even say that somehow we've amended something, we didn't amend, we're giving our opinion, you ask for our opinion, you get our opinion."

Mr. Grenell predicted that the debate over U.N. reform would not be completed in time for the September summit, and might go on for years.

"There's a lot to be done," he noted, " we want to get in and start reforming these institutions and making them more accountable, and more transparent, that's a lot of work, work that's gonna be done over months and years. Make no mistake, it's not gonna be done, we will not be able to reform the UN, and say we're finished, on September whatever, it's a long process."

Spokesman Grenell said the United States will work to keep reform at the top of the U.N. agenda, in line with Ambassador Bolton's thinking. He said the U.S. envoy intends to work intensively with other ambassadors on the text of the outcome document for the three-day summit in September.

President Bush and 170 other heads of state and government are planning to attend the gathering, which was called by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to mark the world body's 60th anniversary.Fancy that! Is this the end of consensus politics? Or did that die in 2003, with the invasion of Iraq?

[zimv20]

i'm kinda surprised it took even this long for bolton to toss that spanner.

[miloblithe]

"As a matter of cosmic history, it has always been easier to destroy than to create."

Ah. Wrath of Khan. Have you ever steered us wrong?

Great. So let's destroy the UN, ICC, CTBT, Kyoto, transatlantic alliance...

The frightening thing to me is that it seems like Reagan/Bush W. policies are dead set on armageddon.

OK. That's a little hyperbolic.

[Thomas Veil]

I hope that the U.N. (unlike Congress) will not knuckle under to this neo-con pressure and agree to some half-assed, watered down version of the reform plan.

It'd serve Bush right if no reforms are carried out because the U.N. spends the next three years sparring with Bush's minions on this issue. Suck for the rest of the world, though.

[solvs]

The only thing that suprises me about this is that other Americans know what spanner in the works means.

[skunk]

The only thing that suprises me about this is that other Americans know what spanner in the works means.
:D

[tristan]

What's wrong with the Millenium Development Goals? That's the good stuff that the UN is supposed to be doing - working on issues like education, child mortality, poverty etc. Sure, I understand the arguments against the ICC, but how can you be against the Millenium Goals? That's nuts.

[skunk]

What's wrong with the Millenium Development Goals? That's the good stuff that the UN is supposed to be doing - working on issues like education, child mortality, poverty etc. Sure, I understand the arguments against the ICC, but how can you be against the Millenium Goals? That's nuts.Nuts is all that bunch of WH monkeys understands. There's not much wrong with the Landmines Treaty or the ICC either. If the UK can stomach signing up to it, why not the US? Is the Pentagon admitting that your armed forces are that much more difficult to control, or that they are simply incapable of understanding the Geneva Conventions?

[mactastic]

I hope that the U.N. (unlike Congress) will not knuckle under to this neo-con pressure and agree to some half-assed, watered down version of the reform plan.

It'd serve Bush right if no reforms are carried out because the U.N. spends the next three years sparring with Bush's minions on this issue. Suck for the rest of the world, though.
I doubt much will get done in the UN. The US pretty much has final say on much of what happens. Thus, if we don't want any action, nothing happens but a bunch of talking.
There's not much wrong with the Landmines Treaty or the ICC either. If the UK can stomach signing up to it, why not the US? Is the Pentagon admitting that your armed forces are that much more difficult to control, or that they are simply incapable of understanding the Geneva Conventions?
Well we do seem to have a tendency to torture people that might make explaining some actions to the ICC difficult. I don't think the ICC would buy the argument that everything is OK because we cook them pilaf the way the American public does.

[skunk]

I don't think the ICC would buy the argument that everything is OK because we cook them pilaf the way the American public does.How does the American public cook pilaf?

[Peterkro]

The only thing that suprises me about this is that other Americans know what spanner in the works means.
That would be Spaniard shirley.

[skunk]

That would be Spaniard shirley.Manuel wrench?

[Peterkro]

Fully ajustable Rasclaat.

[skunk]

Fully ajustable Rasclaat.Is that a rasclaat with a ratchet?

[Peterkro]

Something like that

[mactastic]

How does the American public cook pilaf?
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
2 pinches Kosher salt
2 cups long grain rice
2-3/4 cups chicken broth
2 strips orange zest
Pinch of saffron strands, steeped in 1/4 cup hot water
1 bay leaf
1-1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
Golden raisins and pistachios for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F)

In a heavy, wide, lidded pan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add the onion, red pepper, and kosher salt. Sweat the onions and peppers until aromatic, stirring constantly. Add the rice and stir to coat. Continue stirring until the rice smells nutty. Add chicken broth, orange zest, saffron and water, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Stir once, then cover pan with moistened dish towel (or tea towel). Place lid on pan and fold towel corners over lid. Bake for 15 minutes. Then rest at room temperature for 10 to 20 minutes without removing the cover.

Meanwhile, simmer peas in salted water until heated through, or heat in a microwave.

Remove lid from rice and turn out onto a platter. Add peas and fluff with a large fork. Add raisins and pistachios.

Torture and serve.

Of course, I'm just one American. ;)

[IJ Reilly]

Oops, posted wrong place. :rolleyes:

[skunk]

Of course, I'm just one American. ;)So was Uncle Ben...
:)

[IJ Reilly]

So was Uncle Ben...
:)

Any relation to Edith Pilaf?

[skunk]

Any relation to Edith Pilaf?No. Nephew of Edgar Rice Burroughs.

[IJ Reilly]

No. Nephew of Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Was that before he converted?

[skunk]

Was that before he converted?Yes, now she's his niece.

[Roger1]

Yes, now she's his niece.


Is she related to Condoleeza Rice?? :p

[Roger1]

2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
2 pinches Kosher salt
2 cups long grain rice
2-3/4 cups chicken broth
2 strips orange zest
Pinch of saffron strands, steeped in 1/4 cup hot water
1 bay leaf
1-1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
Golden raisins and pistachios for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F)

In a heavy, wide, lidded pan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add the onion, red pepper, and kosher salt. Sweat the onions and peppers until aromatic, stirring constantly. Add the rice and stir to coat. Continue stirring until the rice smells nutty. Add chicken broth, orange zest, saffron and water, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Stir once, then cover pan with moistened dish towel (or tea towel). Place lid on pan and fold towel corners over lid. Bake for 15 minutes. Then rest at room temperature for 10 to 20 minutes without removing the cover.

Meanwhile, simmer peas in salted water until heated through, or heat in a microwave.

Remove lid from rice and turn out onto a platter. Add peas and fluff with a large fork. Add raisins and pistachios.

Torture and serve.

Of course, I'm just one American. ;)


1. Open box
2. Follow directions
3. Screw it up
4. Ask wife to do it.

You do it the hard way. :)

[IJ Reilly]

Yes, now she's his niece.

Does that make her brother an only child?

[skunk]

Does that make her brother an only child?It's a time-sharing deal.

[solvs]

That would be Spaniard shirley.
It wouldn't surprise me if people from other countries knew what it meant. Just us Americans. We're not that bright, you see. (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=144812). I only know because it was the name of a Rod Stewart album.

And don't call me surely. ;)

[Thomas Veil]

It's not that unusual an expression. I know it because I read it in an Arthur C. Clarke book, for example; and Clarke is, of course, British.

[IJ Reilly]

It's not that unusual an expression. I know it because I read it in an Arthur C. Clarke book, for example; and Clarke is, of course, British.

Which is why he lives in Sri Lanka. ;)

Anybody who's ever owned a British car knows what is a spanner, as well as boot, bonnet, windscreen and any number of odd British names for things.

[zimv20]

Anybody who's ever owned a British car knows what is a spanner, as well as boot, bonnet, windscreen and any number of odd British names for things.
and "brake pedal." what's that thing for??!?!

[Peterkro]

"A Spaniard in the works" is John Lennons second book its title is a play on a spanner in the works.Yes A C Clarke lives in Sri Lanka where he engages in his deviant behaviour(allegedly).

[solvs]

"A Spaniard in the works" is John Lennons second book its title is a play on a spanner in the works.
Ah, I missed that reference. Odd, because I'm a huge Lennon fan. I'm kinda sorry I said anything now though. We're barely mentioning the fact that our government is going to piss off the rest of the world. I mean... even more than they already have.

Yeah, we're doomed.

[Sun Baked]

Maybe Thomas Crapper & Co. Ltd. in London can be called in to send this thread off in a new direction.

[Thomas Veil]

Which is why he lives in Sri Lanka. ;) Actually, he's lived there quite a while. I'm not sure if it's because he likes Sri Lanka so much, or hates Britain that much. :D

[skunk]

Actually, he's lived there quite a while. I'm not sure if it's because he likes Sri Lanka so much, or hates Britain that much. :DGood weather and compliant youth....

[Peterkro]

You'd be getting near a lawyers letter there Skunk. :rolleyes:

[skunk]

You'd be getting near a lawyers letter there Skunk. :rolleyes:
:p

[IJ Reilly]

Good weather and compliant youth....

That's way too much information, thank you.

[zimv20]

link (http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1557552,00.html)


Britain heads for clash with US

Disagreement over America's bid to derail UN reform

Britain will join an international alliance to confront George Bush and salvage as much as possible of an ambitious plan to reshape the United Nations and tackle world poverty next week .
The head-to-head in New York on Monday comes after the revelation that the US administration is proposing wholesale changes to crucial parts of the biggest overhaul of the UN since it was founded more than 50 years ago.

A draft of that plan had included a review of progress on the UN's millennium development goals - poverty eradication targets set in 2000 for completion by 2015 - and the introduction of reforms aimed at repairing the damage done to the UN's reputation by Iraq, Rwanda and the Balkans.

But it was revealed this week that Mr Bush's new ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, was seeking 750 changes to the 36-page draft plan to be presented to a special summit in New York on September 14 to 16. Mr Bolton's amendments, if successful, would leave the plan in tatters.
The Foreign Office confirmed yesterday that Britain was standing behind the original plan, putting it at odds with Mr Bush.

(more)

[skunk]

"Bring it on!" :D

[solvs]

So... we're not going to have any allies left then?

[skunk]

Cameroon with your tea, Mr President?