Quote:
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Originally Posted by moosenose
So we should invade Zimbabwe? OK, I'm game for that. Of course, as soon as we did, the people who now are saying "you should invade zimbabwe" will be out on the streets alleging absolutely anything they can dream up to smear the US military.
Anybody who would want to put ANY military power into the hands of the UN is either ignorant of very recent history or just a plain old fool. "Srebrenica" ring a bell? Anyone? Anyone?
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The UN seems to have a track record that is overwhelmingly positive. What is more, the military monitoring and peace keeping missions that the world body chooses to fund and participate in seem to have less to do with geo-political and resource driven, self interest, than the places that the U.S.focuses on.
If the U.N. did not do it, it probably would not get done. It seems that as the integrity of the reputation of the U.S. deteriorates in the eyes of much of the rest of the world, the UN, in comparison, seems more welcome and influential.
Quote:
http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/bnote.htm
United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
Peacekeeping Operations since 1948: 60
Current Operations: 16
UNIFIL
Since March 1978
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
Strength: military 2,063; international civilian 104; local civilian 290
Fatalities: 250
Approved budget 07/0406/05: $92.96 million (gross)
MINURSO
Since April 1991
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
Strength: military 226; civilian police 6; international civilian 124; local civilian 99
Fatalities: 10
Approved budget 07/0406/05: $44.00 million (gross)
UNOMIG
Since August 1993
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
Strength: military 120; civilian police 10; international civilian 102; local civilian 181
Fatalities: 7
Approved budget 07/0406/05: $31.93 million (gross)
UNMIK
Since June 1999
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
Strength: civilian police 2,709; military 36; international civilian 695; local civilian 2,636; UN volunteer 212
Fatalities: 33
Approved budget 07/0406/05: $294.63 million (gross)
UNAMSIL
Since October 1999
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
Strength: military 3,371; civilian police 79; international civilian 228; local civilian 471; UN volunteer 92
Fatalities: 162
Approved budget 07/0406/05: $291.60 million (gross)
MONUC
Since November 1999
United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Strength: military 15,901; civilian police 162; international civilian 753; local civilian 1,245; UN volunteer 469
Fatalities: 56
Approved budget 07/0406/05: $957.83 million (gross)
UNMEE
Since July 2000
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
Strength: military 3,329; international civilian 247; local civilian 251; UN volunteer 79
Fatalities: 8
Approved budget 07/0406/05: $205.33 million (gross)
UNMIL
Since September 2003
United Nations Mission in Liberia
Strength: military 14,820; civilian police 1,060; international civilian 505; local civilian 730; UN volunteer 442
Fatalities: 40
Approved budget 07/0406/05: $822.11 million (gross)
UNOCI
Since April 2004
United Nations Operation in Cτte d'Ivoire
Current strength: military 6,038; civilian police 218; international civilian: 289; local civilian 266; UN volunteer 101
Fatalities: 3
Approved budget 07/0406/05: $378.47 million (gross)
MINUSTAH
1 June 2004
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
Current strength: military 6,207; civilian police 1,437; international civilian 422; local civilian 800; UN volunteer 139
Fatalities: 7
Approved budget 07/0406/05: $379.05 million (gross)
ONUB
1 June 2004
United Nations Operation in Burundi
Current strength: military 5,363; civilian police 106; international civilian 326; local civilian 335; UN volunteer 142
Fatalities: 10
Approved budget 07/0406/05: $329.71 million (gross)
UNMIS
Since March 2005
United Nations Mission in the Sudan
Strength:
Authorized -- military 10,000, civilian police 715; Proposed -- international civilian 1,018; local civilian 2,632;
UN volunteer 214
Current strength: military 432; civilian police 26; international civilian 385; local civilian 421; UN Volunteers 25
Commitment authority 07/0406/05: $279.50 million (gross)
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Please consider the example that is being set by these two past presidents.
Their evolving friendship would not be possible if they could not put aside the disagreements, grievances, and rivalry that once separated them:
Quote:
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/ne...8clinton.shtml
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Clinton wows the crowds
By JOSIE HUANG, Portland Press Herald Writer
............... Beaming and trim in a bright orange Polo shirt and slacks, Clinton next headed down to Kennebunkport to visit Bush at his summer home and enjoy some golf and boating.
Clinton said this would be his second visit to Walker's Point. In 1983, when Bush was vice president, Bush hosted Clinton, then governor of Arkansas, and other governors at the seaside estate. Clinton would go on to defeat Bush in the presidential election nine years later.
The two became friends when they led U.S. fund-raising efforts for victims of the Asian tsunami. Talking to reporters at Borders, Clinton said he hoped their friendship would "put politics back where it belongs - an argument over ideas and policies and issues, and not attacks on people."
His newly cozy relationship with the Bush family was evident as he joked about how Bush's wife, Barbara, called him "son" recently at a Houston event.
"It seems to me that I ought to try to get her to adopt Hillary - our odds would improve," Clinton said of his wife, a U.S. senator from New York who is expected to be a presidential candidate......................
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