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Obama to seal US-UN relationship

DeeJayH

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FT.com / US & Canada - Obama to seal US-UN relationship
Barack Obama will cement the new co-operative relationship between the US and the United Nations this month when he becomes the first American president to chair its 15-member Security Council.

The topic for the summit-level session of the council on September 24 is nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament – one of several global challenges that the US now wants to see addressed at a multinational level.

well I think this will be a huge firestorm that will dwarf his school speech and astroturfing.

Must admit though, he sure has made a lot of moves for a community organizer

what is so special about him that his presence is required at the Security Council?
 
I'm somewhat confused. Is this just a single meeting? Because that's what it looks like and, really, it's not that strange considering this:

Mr Obama will join other heads of government in New York during the week of the nuclear summit for the opening of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly. The annual meeting of world leaders is this year raising expectations on a number of fronts.

Now, if Mr. Obama was going to be chairing it every meeting, that would cause for serious concern, if nothing more than he is not doing his domestic job.
 
I'm somewhat confused. Is this just a single meeting? Because that's what it looks like and, really, it's not that strange considering this:



Now, if Mr. Obama was going to be chairing it every meeting, that would cause for serious concern, if nothing more than he is not doing his domestic job.

It is a single meeting, and an important one. We had another thread on this, and the article linked there was more clear. The meeting in question involves nuclear weapons, and Iran is likely to be a big topic of that discussion.

So, somehow, I guess this single meeting on an important topic is somehow going to unleash a firestorm that dwarfs all the other firestorms the right has been trying to start.
 
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I suppose I have somewhat mixed sentiments about that. A permanent position on the Security Council has often been used by hegemonic political regimes ruling the U.S. to defy international consensus with their veto power.
 
Ok, found it. Thread was here: http://www.debatepolitics.com/polls/55768-should-president-united-states-personally-preside-over-un-sec-council.html, and it contained a link to this story: VOA News - Obama to Preside at UN Security Council.

from the linked article:

The United States has taken over the rotating presidency of the 15-member United Nations Security Council for the month of September. U.S. President Barack Obama and other top U.S. political figures will be at the world body this month to highlight issues of importance to the United States....

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice told reporters on Wednesday that the highlight of the U.S. presidency will be a summit-level Security Council meeting on nuclear non-proliferation. It is scheduled to be held on September 24 and will be chaired by President Obama - the first time a U.S. president has led a Security Council meeting.
 
It is a single meeting, and an important one. We had another thread on this, and the article linked there was more clear. The meeting in question involves nuclear weapons, and Iran is likely to be a big topic of that discussion.

Which I see no problem for Obama to chair, especially since his plan for nuclear weapons is correct. Remember, Obama did promise to reduce nuclear weapons and proliferation. Sadly, it appears at this point to be the sole thing both him and McCain were correct about.

So, somehow, I guess this single meeting on an important topic is somehow going to unleash a firestorm that dwarfs all the other firestorms the right has been trying to start.

I find is funny yet disturbing how those who defended Bush against the most lamest of attacks are now attacking Obama on the lamest of provocations.

And this isn't the first time a head of state chaired a security council meeting. President Thabo Mbeki in April 2008 did it. Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader did in in December of 2008.
 
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FT.com / US & Canada - Obama to seal US-UN relationship


well I think this will be a huge firestorm that will dwarf his school speech and astroturfing.

Must admit though, he sure has made a lot of moves for a community organizer

what is so special about him that his presence is required at the Security Council?

Man...some people will foam at the mouth anytime Obama does anything that hasn't been done before by some other president. :roll:

What exactly is the HARM in his doing this?
 
Sweet, now apologizing for America's heartless self preservative policies will be more convenient than ever! It can be added to Obama weekly routine which also includes spending mass amounts of money the country dosn't have on inefficient government programs and tearing off pieces of the constitution!
 
Man...some people will foam at the mouth anytime Obama does anything that hasn't been done before by some other president. :roll:

What exactly is the HARM in his doing this?

if, as the original article led you to believe, he was taking over, I would argue he is spreading his community organizing ass way too thin

however since it is just for September for Nuclear talks, I have no problem with that. It is something a President should be involved in. I do not exactly see why he has to chair the Security council to do it, but as long as it is a temporary situation for a single issue, I have no problem with that

Cant speak for bEck or hannity tho ;)
 
if, as the original article led you to believe, he was taking over, I would argue he is spreading his community organizing ass way too thin

however since it is just for September for Nuclear talks, I have no problem with that. It is something a President should be involved in. I do not exactly see why he has to chair the Security council to do it, but as long as it is a temporary situation for a single issue, I have no problem with that

Cant speak for bEck or hannity tho ;)

He is not even doing that. He is presiding over one meeting.
 
FT.com / US & Canada - Obama to seal US-UN relationship


well I think this will be a huge firestorm that will dwarf his school speech and astroturfing.

Must admit though, he sure has made a lot of moves for a community organizer

what is so special about him that his presence is required at the Security Council?
The statements of a normal diplomat at such a meeting may be repudiated by the President and Congress if the People are outraged, but not, I think, the statements of a President in such a setting. Beware!
 
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Someone needs to point out to Mr. Obama he can't do what he plans on doing he will be in Violation of the US Constitution I need to find the exact Article but when the First UN Open Mr. Truman was ask to lead it but he had to decline on the grounds it was in Violation of the US Constitution.
 
Someone needs to point out to Mr. Obama he can't do what he plans on doing he will be in Violation of the US Constitution I need to find the exact Article but when the First UN Open Mr. Truman was ask to lead it but he had to decline on the grounds it was in Violation of the US Constitution.

He is not leading the UN. The US has leadership of the security council for the month, and Obama is sitting in on one meeting on nuclear nonproliferation, probably to work on solutions for the Iran situation.
 
He is not leading the UN. The US has leadership of the security council for the month, and Obama is sitting in on one meeting on nuclear nonproliferation, probably to work on solutions for the Iran situation.
Ah! Now, he's an expert on international treaty negotiations, nuclear proliferation and diplomacy. He continues to amaze.
 
Ah! Now, he's an expert on international treaty negotiations, nuclear proliferation and diplomacy. He continues to amaze.

To be fair he does have quite a few experts at his beck and call.

He could send Biden if dear leader is not afraid of infecting the UNSC with foot in mouth disease.
 
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To be fair he does have quite a few experts at his beck and call.

He could send Biden if dear leader is not afraid of infecting the UNSC with foot in mouth disease.

Definitely not Biden. Hillary would be fine, and Susan Rice is doing fine. But Obama obviously wants to go himself, and I don't see anything wrong with that.
 
Definitely not Biden. Hillary would be fine, and Susan Rice is doing fine. But Obama obviously wants to go himself, and I don't see anything wrong with that.

As long as we keep in mind his Global Poverty bill to send billions to the UN I don't see any harm in his doing this.
 
As long as we keep in mind his Global Poverty bill to send billions to the UN I don't see any harm in his doing this.

The meeting he is attending is on nuclear nonproliferation. In fact, would a Global Poverty bill even go through the security council?
 
Obama did some weapon proliferation work with Senator Lugar if I recall, so that gives him some experience in this area. His diplomatic work has been decent so far, getting a few minor things here and there. This is a good chance for him to show the American public what he can do.
 
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