by Jerome a Paris
Wed Aug 31st, 2005 at 04:36:31 AM EST
You may have read late last week about Bolton's bombshell: last-minute comments - about 750 of them on a 36 page document - from the US delegation to the UN document, a solemn declaration that is supposed to be signed two weeks from now when more than 170 Heads of State congregate in New York for the UN General Assembly.
Amongst his requirements:
- drop "respect for nature" amongst our fundamental principles (human rights, freedom, tolerance, etc...);
- drop the "millenium objectives" signed in 2000 (including by the US) that state among other precise targets that developped countries must target to increase development aid to 0.7% of GDP and help reduce poverty by half in 2015;
- drop all references to the Kyoto Treaty, to the ICC (International Crimila Court), and and acknowledgement that global warming is a "serious issue";
- drop all references to the goal for nuclear powers to give up these weapons.
I suppose these are standard Bush fare, but the negotiations had been going on for the past 6 months, so one wonders why this wrench is thrown in the works so close to their conclusion. And Bolton is working actively to make progress as difficult as possible, allying, as
Le Monde relates today, with Egypt, Pakistan and
Iran on procedural matters to slow down negotiations. The last minute objections have made it possible for a number of countries unhappy with some items to "come out of the woods".
Once again ,we see who Bolton's - and Bush's real friends are...
