The US, UN, Iran and 2008

By Stanford Matthews
Blog @ MoreWhat.com

The following is certainly an oversimplified appraisal. But the order of the news reports lent itself to an almost automatic response. The events themselves may have played out somewhat differently. At least as far as timing is concerned. But nevertheless there chronological publishing times may be in proper order. The point is this.

We all know that Iran was on President Bush's 'D' list. They were not likely to get invited to any parties. And if you are old enough to remember the dagger in the heart of Jimmy Carter's Administration or had some history classes in school, you are familiar with 444 days worth of agony suffered by Americans at the hands of Iranian hospitality.

Then there was the Reagan Administration basking in the glory of the return of the American hostages and later the Iran-Contra scandal and I'm getting crazy just thinking about it. That is over twenty-five years ago and the process has not improved. It appears more complicated than the simple explanation that every country is looking out for their own agenda and benefit.

With the Memorial Day concluding earlier this week, thoughts of WWII and the greatest generation did not escape most Americans. Citizens of many other countries are sure to have been reminded also. When I think of our country's contribution to winning that war alongside so many other allied nations, another striking reminder enters my thoughts.

At the end of WWII the League of Nations was replaced by the United Nations whose stated mission was to intervene in conflicts between nations and avoid future wars. It almost seems as though human beings were finally getting it right. Instead of a period of time of peaceful activity followed by the totally impractical practice of armed conflict, we would solve our differences in an organized group to eliminate the need for death and destruction in enormous quantities.

Let's review the latest success of this noble endeavor. As stated earlier, the sequence of the following reports is assumed to be relatively chronological.

Iraq's Sadr blasts US-Iranian meeting

BAGHDAD, May 30 (UPI) -- Among those who blasted the meeting is Iranian-backed Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, who said in a statement Wednesday that the U.S.-Iranian talks in Baghdad Monday constituted "interference in Iraqi affairs."

So the first thing that happens is the cleric known as Sadr throws his two cents worth in 'dissin' the meeting. One man who has done everything he can to cause more bloodshed in Iraq is complaining about a meeting between the US and Iran. Could be so simple as he doesn't want anything solved for it ups his value as a 'somebody' in Iraq.

Talking With Our Enemies Is Smart Policy

The Moderate Voice -
By Jeb Koogler. The recent meeting between American and Iranian officials in Baghdad effectively brings to an end the Bush administration’s use of ‘enforced ...

Then we have another opinion apparently applauding an approach that differs from the typical 'cowboy George' routine that one could characterize as shoot now, ask questions later or the old Teddy Roosevelt adage of walk softly and carry a big stick. This second philosophy has a tendency of provoking more attitude from hostile foes and delay the desired victory outcome.

Iran official rules out halting enrichment ahead of nuclear talks ...

International Herald Tribune, France -
In another sign of defiance, hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad boasted that Iran has become so strong that no adversary can defeat it. ...

Which of course prompted the response above from the Iranians as well as another one bragging about no one would be crazy enough to challenge the great and powerful Iranian military. Ok, where did we here that Mother of all wars speech before. Yo, yo, Prez AJ, over powering the Iraqi forces was not a problem. Keeping the nutcases contained has presented a problem, but foreign armies, not a big deal. Does he have that little man syndrome?

Diplomats: West rejected Iran nuke concession

MSNBC -
In another sign of defiance, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad boasted that his country’s military has become so strong that no adversary would risk an ...

And the tennis ball lands in the other court and we have renewed talk about regime change. So the long delayed question is where the hell is the United Nations, again, and why does it even exist anymore. Not like their weren't plenty of reasons to ask for it to be dissolved before.

Getting Serious About Iran: For Regime Change

Commentary, NY -
To the contrary, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the recently elected president, announced that the Islamic Republic was reneging on its suspension agreement and ...

Afghanistan, Iraq, maybe Iran, Russia and new nukes, India talking more nukes, US shielding EU and the circus just keeps coming to town. Is no other country the least bit interested in taking one more shot at using the UN for what it was designed for? I am sure anyone reading this may feel compelled to complain about my suggestions. Consider that the UN is useless and it probably needs to be dissolved. But now would be a great time to give that 'body' one last chance to actually do something useful. There are major players involved in dealing with the current generation of conflict and resolution. There is no better time to get everyone involved and in a position to make the UN work before it is entirely abandoned. Even a loser is worth one more try. As long as the cards are on the table and every one knows how to play.

In the words of Larry the Cable Guy, 'get her done'. If it flops, get rid of it.

Thompson on the Run

Town Hall, DC -
At an event for the Electronic Data Systems Corp. on April 27, he said he supported helping Iranians overthrow President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government. ...

Heading into the 2008 elections, it would be nice to resolve some of the world's issues since no one knows who will be in the White House and the example above is not ready for nonsense by his statements. That may apply to one or more other candidates but some would be a definite disadvantage in that regard.

UN Troops trading their guns for gold...

What could be worse than UN troops illegally selling their guns? Why it would be UN troops illegally selling their guns to ruthless militias known for violating human rights. And to top it all off, the UN attempted to cover it up.

Via the UK Commentators we have this story from the BBC:

Pakistani UN peacekeeping troops have traded in gold and sold weapons to Congolese militia groups they were meant to disarm, the BBC has learnt. These militia groups were guilty of some of the worst human rights abuses during the Democratic Republic of Congo's long civil war. The trading went on in 2005. A UN investigative team sent to gather evidence was obstructed and threatened.

The team's report was buried by the UN itself to "avoid political fallout".

Richard Ndilu, in charge of immigration at Mongbwalu airstrip, became suspicious in late 2005 when an Indian businessman arrived there and went to stay at the camp of the Pakistani peacekeepers. Alerted to this illegal trade by her officials, the District Commissioner of Ituri, Petronille Vaweka, went to Bunia airport to intercept a plane from Mongbwalu. She said her way was blocked by Congolese army officers, who refused to allow her to inspect the cargo.

"I knew they had gold because the price of gold increased when the Indians went to Mongwalu," she said. "When we wanted to verify what was inside the plane the pilot refused to allow us to enter the plane - me who was the chief, he refused! It was a big scandal."

Yet another landmark on the path of utter failure for the UN. It doesn't reflect well upon a global organization purportedly devoted to world peace, not only when its troops engage in criminal activity, but when its upper echelons attempt to cover it up.

Scandal is increasingly the trademark of the UN.

The UN Let's the Insane Run the Asylum

Imagine letting the nuts run the insane asylum, imagine letting the terminally lazy and stupid children run the school or imagine letting bank robbers manage the bank. That's what the Useless Nitwits are doing when they decided to let Zimbabwe head the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development.

Zimbabwe won approval last night to head a key United Nations body charged with promoting economic progress and environmental protection despite protests from the U.S., European nations and human rights organizations.

The approval was voted 26-21 with three abstentions by the 53-member U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development despite the fact that the government of President Robert Mugabe presides over one of the world's worst-performing economies.

Despite the fact that the thug Mugabe took the once prosperous country of Zimbabwe and turned into a welfare nation. Despite him turning a country that was the "breadbasket of Africa" and turning it into a empty burger box of Africa, the UN voted to have them head up the Commission on Sustainable Development.

Let's see Zimbabwe's numbers on Sustainable Development:

...the once-prosperous Zimbabwean economy has all but collapsed under Mr. Mugabe, who has been in power for more than a quarter-century.

Zimbabwe has the world's highest inflation rate at over 2,200 percent. Unemployment is estimated at between 80 and 90 percent, and severe food shortages are common in a country once considered southern Africa's breadbasket.

Just this week, Harare announced daily power cuts of up to 20 hours for households across the country, to give struggling farmers enough electricity to run irrigation systems.

Wow, those are some impressive credentials Mugabe has racked up there. Yep, his country is perfect to head up the Commission, if you live in the wacky world of UN that is.


Mr Minority

Illegal Immigrants Pander Thru UN

By Stanford Matthews
originally posted at:
Blog @ MoreWhat.com

Another initiative by the United Nations cloaked in veils of morality and their human rights version of public relations. Nothing like allowing the special interest of not only the United States but foreign countries as well to hide behind the UN to stiff American citizens. Lobbyists don't only work Washington, they are alive and well at the UN.

This misadventure by the UN should be of concern to all American citizens of the legal variety. For now, gone are the days when simply using the word American implied one was a legal citizen of the United States. Thanks to the United States representatives to the UN who have publicly pushed for human rights initiatives in other countries, the shoe will go on the other foot. Under normal circumstances that would be understandable. But when is the last time you remember any country successfully solving human rights violations after intervention by the UN? So while the others skate on their responsibilities, America will be subjected to who knows what by the political dance from others at the UN.

It is claimed there is a center in Texas that houses illegal immigrant detainees that has been 'highly criticized'. If you had to guess the source of the complaints, do you suppose it may be someone opposed to immigration control? It is reported vaguely in the AP report that it was 'a federal district judge'. But it would appear by the same report that the ACLU or similar group and other immigration advocates initiated what is an unsubstantiated claim based on this same AP report. So what, the ACLU and some other no borders advocates whined to a federal judge?

There is at least one other location in Texas that is the subject of this UN visit. The visitor from the UN is being described as an independent expert on migrant rights. Interesting that part of the complaint concerns a suggestion that the place of detention for illegal immigrants is 'like a prison'. Imagine that, a prison to house illegal immigrants prior to deportation from violating federal law in the United States. The expert on migrant rights is Jorge Bustamante. Based on the AP report and other research, Mr. Bustamante is a professor from Mexico and holds or held positions at Notre Dame as well as other institutions. He also is on some of the economic councils at the UN and advocates dual citizenship for immigrants as referenced below from 1998.

Report of the UN working group on the rights of migrants
Mr. Jorge A. Bustamante (Mexico) continued to act as Chairman-Rapporteur. ... Denial of dual citizenship, creating social and legal problems for migrants ...
www.smc.org.ph/rights/experts.htm

He has already visited LA and will go to more cities and report his findings to the 47 country UN Human Rights Council.

Human rights expert examines migrant issues in L.A.
The U.N.'s Jorge Bustamante spends two days seeking information on the treatment of migrants.
By Teresa Watanabe, Times Staff Writer
May 4, 2007
In the first broad international scrutiny of U.S. treatment of migrants, a United Nations human rights expert took testimony about worker abuse, government raids, family separations and other issues as he wrapped up a two-day visit to Los Angeles on Thursday.

Bustamante, a University of Notre Dame sociology professor who splits his time between his native Mexico and the United States, said that anti-immigrant sentiment is rising around the world as unprecedented levels of global migration have prompted a growing number of nations to adopt restrictive laws.

Here is some additional information about the man who will do his best for the plight of the illegal immigrant and all the business and political interests that desire his obviously objective analysis of the situation. But it seems the only item that is ignored in analyzing the situation is the very first one. Illegal immigrants are described as such for their choice to violate federal law of a sovereign nation by entering the country through any means necessary other than those prescribed by law. Mr Bustamante will discuss these matters with the US government, immigration advocates and illegal immigrants. Sound fair to me. No bias will ever develop through this contrived investigation.

http://www.nd.edu/~latino/academics/facultybios-html/bustamante_print.html

The Institute for Latino Studies

University of Notre Dame
230 McKenna Hall
Notre Dame, IN 46556-0764
Tel: (574) 631-4440
Fax: (574) 631-3522
E-mail: latino@nd.edu
URL: www.nd.edu/~latino

Jorge Bustamante
Titles: Eugene Conley Professor of Sociology
Office: 214 Hesburgh
Phone: (574) 631-4454
Fax: (574) 631-2401
E-mail: bustamante.1@nd.edu

Education
BA and PhD, University of Notre Dame

Research Interests

International Migration, Mexican American Studies, and the
Sociology of Development

Current Courses
International Migration and Human Rights

Publications

With more than 200 publications in scholarly journals of the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Venezuela, Spain, and Mexico, mostly dealing with Mexican immigration to the United States and the US-Mexico border phenomenon, Jorge Bustamante has been hailed as a leading expert in the field of international migration. Bustamante has also been writing a weekly column in the editorial pages of Mílenio Diario of Mexico City since September of 2000 and Frontera of Tijuana since November of 1999.

Teaching Experience

Bustamante has been a faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin; at El Colegio de México in Mexico City; and, presently, at the University of Notre Dame, where he has held an endowed chair (the Eugene Conley Professor of Sociology) since 1986. As a visiting professor he has been in charge of seminars and graduate courses at the University of California, Riverside; the National University of Mexico; and the Institute of Political Sciences of Paris.

Appointments

In 1994 Bustamante accepted appointments to the Joint Public Advisory Committee (J-PAC) as well as the Border Environmental Cooperation Commission (BECC), which were created by the governments of Mexico, the United States, and Canada as a result of the "parallel agreements" of NAFTA. Following Mexico's admission to the OECD, Bustamante was appointed to be SOPEMI’s (Continuous Reporting System on Migration) correspondent for Mexico. He continues serving as coordinator of the Social Sciences Committee of the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology for the President of Mexico. In 1995 the government of Japan appointed him Honorary Consul in Baja California, Mexico.

In 1995 Bustamante was a member of a binational group of researchers, appointed by the governments of Mexico and the United States, to conduct research on Mexican migration to the United States. Then, in 1997, the member countries of Latin America and the Caribbean voted in favor of Mexico’s proposal to appoint Bustamante as part of a new 5-member committee to study the worldwide relationship between international migrations and human rights. In November of 1997, during the committee’s first working session in Geneva, Switzerland, Bustamante was elected President, and he was reelected one year later. He founded El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF), the prominent Mexican institute for the study of border issues located in Tijuana, Mexico, from its creation in 1982 until January of 1998. In July of this same year, the Bank of Bilbao Vizcaya Foundation granted him its annual fellowship, one of the most prestigious in Spain. Awarded to several Nobel prizewinners in the past, this is the first time this fellowship has been granted to a social scientist. Bustamante's most recent appointment was on 12 May 2000 to UAM’s (Metropolitan Autonomus University of Mexico City) Junta Directiva, a collective body that serves as the highest authority of the three academically self-governing universities that comprise the UAM.

Honors

In 1988 his overwhelming body of research was cited by Mexican President Madrid when he gave Bustamante the Premio Nacional de Ciencias, the highest award granted to scientists by the Mexican government. Also, President Carlos Salinas de Gortari presented Bustamante with the National Award on Demography for his research on Mexican migration to the United States. On 18 January 2001 Dr. Bustamante was appointed a member of an advisory group on immigration and population policies by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico.