Shot In The Dark: You Know Who Your Friends Are

December 08, 2004

You Know Who Your Friends Are

Prominent Democrats leap to Kofi Annan's Defense:

Some House Democrats are coming to the defense of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) after several Republican lawmakers called for his resignation because of allegations of corruption in the organization's oil-for-food program.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (news - web sites), D-Ohio, sent a letter Wednesday to Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites), saying criticism of Annan is "disgraceful and premature."

"There has been no hint of impropriety on the part of the secretary-general, who on numerous occasions has proven his honesty and integrity," the letter said.

It was signed by 19 Democrats and independent Rep. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

On Monday, Democratic Reps. John Conyers of Michigan and Donald Payne of New Jersey sent a letter to House colleagues in support of Annan.

"To decide that the secretary-general must resign is an absolutely premature conclusion to draw when there is no evidence or even allegations that the secretary-general profited from the oil-for-food program," they said.

Remember when "appearance of impropriety" was convincing enough for most of them?

Posted by Mitch at December 8, 2004 05:04 PM | TrackBack

Comments

So can I assume, Mitch, that you'll blast these prominent Republicans for backing Kofi Annan?

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 9 - The Bush administration said Thursday that it had faith in Secretary General Kofi Annan and did not want to see him leave office, its first show of support for the United Nations official since calls for his resignation last week.

"We are expressing confidence in the secretary general and in his continuing in office," Ambassador John C. Danforth said to reporters who had been alerted by the United States mission that Mr. Danforth would be delivering an important message.
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Saying he was speaking for the White House and the State Department, Mr. Danforth said officials had decided to speak up because they believed their earlier reluctance to express confidence in Mr. Annan had been misread.

Posted by: Slash at December 10, 2004 02:35 PM

Dang skippy.

I'm sure there was a political reason for it. But whatever it was, it was a bad one (with the possible exception of knowing that Annan and his administration are such a liabilty to the UN, they're worth more to us in office than out).

The UN should be either gutted or disbanded. In any case, we need to get out of, or at least to adopt a policy of mocking and ignoring, it.

Posted by: mitch at December 10, 2004 04:17 PM