Tuesday, August 03, 2004

Hu and Pooty (Version 2)

I heard on the radio that a watered down version of the original proposal for sanctions against the Sudan (for non-compliance) has been passed (removing the explicit word sactions from the text).

Was this the great multilateralist French, demonised by many for being weak? No, of course not. The French are not weak. The French are underestimated and misunderstood. Too many people believe the rightwing stereotype created about them.

The French are in fact one of the most influencial and skilled nations in existence (No-one complains when the French uni-laterally send troops into tin-pot african countries). The French never wanted an invasion of Iraq (they had signed contracts for cheap oil for years to come and were owed significant sums of money by Sadam), but in the Sudan they don't have any signifcant interest.

So who is opposing sanctions on the Sudan? It's Pooty and Hu. Russia sells MIG's to the Sudan, and China has oil interests there.

Self interest, not the common good drives the UN. But remember everyone, we must only wait till we have the legal authority before we do anything. After all it's only Africans, it's far more important we don't do anything illegal.

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