United Nations Starting to Look United

Rightwingers always like to say the United Nations is weak. Well, it turns out that it's only as weak as the level of U.S. engagement. When Obama appointed Susan Rice as United States ambassador to the United Nations, he designated that position a cabinet position, signifying its importance in the Obama administration. Obama has also stepped up U.S. foreign policy, engaging WITH the world, and now the United Nations is starting to look like it could be a powerful force.

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Obama's United Nations Toast

Obama Speaks at UN Climate Change Summit in New York Sept. 22

Von Everett pumping up the White House basketballs

UPDATE 9-22: Speech concluded. SEE VIDEO OF OBAMA'S SPEECH HERE

Obama will speak at the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's Climate Change Summit on Sept. 22 at 9:15 am eastern. The speech is likely to be live streamed at cnn.com, msnbc.com and whitehouse.com/live:

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is convening a Summit on Climate Change – on 22 September 2009 – to focus Heads of State and Government on the need for urgent action, and to mobilize the highest level political will needed to reach a fair, effective, and scientifically ambitious global climate deal at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December.

The Summit aims to advance the negotiations, but is not a negotiating session itself. It provides a forum where leaders can discuss fundamental issues, find common ground and provide guidance to their negotiators. The main outcome of the Summit will be captured in a Chair’s Summary. UN

Read the background document on the summit here.
Here is the schedule.

7 Nations Agree on North Korea Sanctions

Hillary Speaks on North Korea

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Read more at the state department here.
Russia favors strong consequences for North Korea:

Russia has come out in favour of a tough United Nations resolution against North Korea following its recent nuclear and missile tests. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the move was not designed to lead to military confrontation and that a diplomatic solution to the problem must be found.

Russia has traditionally joined China in refusing to criticise North Korea but has categorically condemned Pyongyang's latest nuclear test. The UN Security Council is discussing a new resolution on North Korea and the United States is pushing for tough sanctions to be imposed.

North Korea, meanwhile, appears to be ignoring the widespread international criticism and has resumed work at its Yongbyon nuclear plant. The plant can produce plutonium, which can be used to produce nuclear weapons. Radio Netherlands

South Korea is playing down North Korea's threats. Apparently, they're used to it:

South Korea’s president, Lee Myung-bak, lauded his people on Wednesday for their “mature response” to the North’s behavior. He noted that the North’s nuclear test and its six subsequent short-range missile launchings did not affect stock and foreign exchange markets beyond initial jitters.

Seoul, the South Korean capital, with a population of 10.4 million, is just 35 miles from the North Korean border and within the range of North Korean missiles and artillery. But most South Koreans and foreign investors here are accustomed to threats from the North and usually react calmly. NYT

Bill Clinton Envoy To Haiti

A perfect post for Bill Clinton because Haiti is in dire need of help.

Former President Bill Clinton, who has committed his philanthropic efforts to helping hurricane ravaged Haiti, has been named a special envoy to the Caribbean nation on behalf of the United Nations.

The honor comes two months after Clinton visited Haiti along with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in an effort to raise global attention to the country's effort to rebuild following a year of natural disasters that wreaked havoc on the Haitian economy, its people and its already fragile landscape. The four back-to-back storms left almost 800 dead and created nearly $1 billion in damage.

Last month, foreign donors agreed to donate $324 million toward Haiti's rebuilding efforts at a donors conference in Washington, where Clinton encouraged donors to not just donate money but to encourage investments. A few days later, his call to action was joined by that of his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She visited the country to emphasize President Barack Obama's commitment to the country's rebuilding efforts. Miami Herald

Questions on Security for Obama McCain

The NY Times poses some questions for Obama and McCain on national security:

NYT: 1. Afghan officials have charged that some elements of the Pakistani government are seeking to undermine their country by giving sanctuary to Taliban and Qaeda groups that cross the border to attack Afghanistan. Would you launch large-scale armed attacks against terrorists in Pakistan if the new government there is unwilling — or unable — to suppress these groups and refuses to give United States forces permission to act? Or are you willing to put the Afghan regime at risk in order to play for time in Pakistan, hoping that a more successful government will emerge in Islamabad, and fearing that any attempt to use force there will result in a nuclear-armed anti-Western state?

2. For some years now, the world has watched while ethnic cleansing — even genocide — has gripped Darfur. Are you prepared to announce the rules for American intervention for humanitarian purposes and, if so, what would those rules be? Would you be willing to organize a coalition of states to intervene? Or should the United States defer to the United Nations or regional organizations — even when they are deadlocked and unable to act?

3. It has been more than five years since the United States-led coalition removed Saddam Hussein from power. How long should American troops remain in Iraq if American commanders on the ground state that withdrawal would lead to chaos? That is, should the United States withdraw according to a predetermined timetable, even if the consequences appear dire for Iraq? Or should troops remain indefinitely until their withdrawal can be assured to leave behind a stable Iraq?

4. Would you authorize the use of force by the United States — or collaborate with Israel — to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons if it appears that diplomatic efforts are failing to bring about substantial progress in this regard? If not, what further incentives would you offer Iran to end its nuclear programs? For example, would you be willing to press Israel to do away with its own nuclear weapons as part of a regionwide de-nuclearization? What incentives would you be prepared to offer Israel to desist from a pre-emptive attack? Would you be willing, for instance, to give Israel a place under the United States nuclear umbrella?

5. The Supreme Court recently held that prisoners taken in the war against terror are entitled to habeas corpus review in the federal courts. Is it sensible to speak of a “war” on terror, or is this a struggle that should be principally handled by law enforcement? Should suspected terrorists be given the same protections as ordinary criminals — like the right to confront their accusers and the right not to be tried by illegally obtained evidence? Or should there be special rules for the trials of terror suspects, or even a special court that would hold secret trials?

6. In light of United Nations Security Council inaction in Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and elsewhere, critics have said that the United Nations is not an effective instrument for confronting rogue states, terror and genocide. Do you favor expanding NATO, or using it as a model for creating an alliance of democracies? If you do, would such an alliance require unanimity of its members for action? Or, if you oppose creating such a group, how should the United States confront crises when the council is paralyzed?

7. What if anything should the United States do to further trade negotiations after the collapse of the Doha round in Geneva? Should the United States try to revive multilateral talks, and, if so, how? Do you support bilateral trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama? Should the United States abrogate Nafta if Canada and Mexico will not revise the agreement to our liking? Read more.