Weird Right-Wing Animosity
Kathryn Lopez today at The Corner:
U.N. peacekeepers aren't policymakers. They're just troops doing a dangerous (and thankless) job in some of the worst parts of the world. Just this year, through October, 109 peacekeepers have been killed in the line of duty. And it's not as if these guys are all Dominique de Villepin or something. As of 2007, the top contributors of troops to the U.N. were Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Jordan, Ghana, and Uruguay.
But apparently in the parallel right-wing universe these guys are villains and John Bolton is a brave action hero. So weird.
"Why don't you go hide in the shelter with the other children"That's the entire post. I'm glad that wingnuts have something to look forward to, but isn't this a pretty bizarre comment? I've always been perplexed by the intensity of right-wing antipathy toward the United Nations as an institution, but since when did that hatred transfer to individual U.N. peacekeepers?
Jack Bauer channelled John Bolton when dealing with that odious U.N. peacekeeper last night on 24: Redemption.
More 24 in January. Something to look forward to that month.
U.N. peacekeepers aren't policymakers. They're just troops doing a dangerous (and thankless) job in some of the worst parts of the world. Just this year, through October, 109 peacekeepers have been killed in the line of duty. And it's not as if these guys are all Dominique de Villepin or something. As of 2007, the top contributors of troops to the U.N. were Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Jordan, Ghana, and Uruguay.
But apparently in the parallel right-wing universe these guys are villains and John Bolton is a brave action hero. So weird.
posted by A.L. at 1:24 PM
15 Comments:
I've always been perplexed by the intensity of right-wing antipathy toward the United Nations as an institution, but since when did that hatred transfer to individual U.N. peacekeepers?
Apparently you haven't read about the numerous scandals by UN peacekeepers, who are almost never prosecuted by the UN or the home countries for their abuses.
By the way, how could anyone be perplexed by conservative antipathy towards the UN, especially if one actually reads conservatives' arguments against the UN (not all of it, just most of it)?
Apparently you haven't read about the numerous scandals by UN peacekeepers, who are almost never prosecuted by the UN or the home countries for their abuses.
Of course I've read about that. Sadly, troops in war zones sometime act inappropriately. But surely you don't infer from that that all U.N. peacekeepers are bad actors, do you? Would you apply the same logic to U.S. troops?
By the way, how could anyone be perplexed by conservative antipathy towards the UN, especially if one actually reads conservatives' arguments against the UN?
I said I was perplexed by the intensity of the antipathy. I understand the basic conservative critique of the UN. But I don't understand the strange need to characterize it as some sort of evil organization. The UN is ineffective at a lot of things (though I'm not sure there's any other realistic option), but it's not evil. And it does a lot of good in some areas.
But surely you don't infer from that that all U.N. peacekeepers are bad actors, do you?
Nope. But the bad actors do spoil it for the others, especially with the lack of prosecution for the offenses by the bad actors.
Would you apply the same logic to U.S. troops?
Again, nope. Liberal Democrats do that (Murtha, Kerry, etc.) when they wrongfully accuse U.S. soldiers, even before those soldiers are charged, with crimes not committed. One other thing; compared to every other military in the world, the members of the U.S. military are the most highly trained and highly disciplined fighting force in the world, far beyond those of the countries mentioned in the post (especially Pakistan). Plus, the U.S. military takes criminal actions of its members far more seriously than those governments or the UN.
But I don't understand the strange need to characterize it as some sort of evil organization.
Evil, no. Criminal, yes. When the head of the UN, several of his top-level underlings, and several governments (not the U.S. government) are in a criminal conspiracy with a maniacal dictator (Saddam Hussein) in order to enrich said maniacal dictator and their own treasuries and wallets in the biggest scandal ever, the UN is no better than the Mafia; the fact that none of the principle people involved were ever prosecuted or punished for their roles in Oil-for-Food shows that the idea of "international law" is a sham (even Saddam Hussein was never punished for his Oil-for-Food crimes, and thankfully, he won't have to be prosecuted for this). When the UN sets up a "human rights" group (the misnamed Human Rights Council) that is nothing more than a front for anti-Semitic, Israel-hating, terrorist-supporting Islamist governments, then the UN has lost all of its moral credibility on anything.
Yes, the UN does do some good things; I don't deny that. But they are miniscule in comparison to the rotten activities of the whole rotten organization and should be somewhere else. As a one-stop shopping place for international relations, the UN is a complete failure, a waste of U.S. taxpayer dollars, and is just as dangerously ineffective as the League of Nations was before WWII. The UN deserves the derision given to it.
in republicanistan there is a need for constant enemies: islam, queers, the poor, liberals, diversity et al (ad nauseum). to be a right-winger you must believe that you are surrounded be a series of nefarious characters that want to disarm you, make you an athiest, steal your money, make your son a homosexual, and force your daughter to abort her bi-racial baby.
in order to enrich said maniacal dictator and their own treasuries and wallets in the biggest scandal ever
I remember hearing Roger Ailes carping on this same theme years back. The oil for food 'scandal' at the time actually ranked third compared to the oil smuggling by Saddam before the program existed and the billions of dollars simply lost in Iraq by the CPA. The last has undoubtably grown considerably since, and we have barely scratched the surface of the war profiteering. I understand why the right pretends the biggest one doesn't exist. That's the Bush administration. But the oil smuggling happened mostly on Clinton's watch. What does it say about their level of hatred for the U.N. that they are willing to pass up a shot at Bill Clinton?
On one hand, I am an individual, who hopes for a private life; wow goldon the other hand, I am a mother with depths of love for her child. Life is disaperate if you suffer but can't do anything to make a change. And you just hold that the odds are for us. But you always feel the reality is against you....
What does it say about their level of hatred for the U.N. that they are willing to pass up a shot at Bill Clinton?
Maybe it's because conservatives don't accuse other Americans of a crime when there is no evidence of a crime. Besides, conservatives have lambasted Clinton for allowing Oil-for-Food to get started since it was known by many that it was bad policy. But bad policy by a President doesn't mean that the President committed a crime.
"Maybe it's because conservatives don't accuse other Americans of a crime when there is no evidence of a crime."
Self-awareness score=0
Self-awareness score=0
Yeah, but you have to give him points for comedy. Just picture Stewart or Colbert delivering that line with their best 'serious' face.
You laugh and think that's funny. Yet, convicting other Americans of crimes without even the benefit of a trial is a hallmark of liberals. Read anything by Greenwald or even on this blog, and President Bush has already been proclaimed guilty of committing The Holocaust. Here's a clown who says the Bush administration is the second coming of Nazi Germany.
John Kerry created his career out of slandering his comrades-in-arms. John "Benedict Arnold" Murtha said fellow Marines were guilty of cold-blooded murder in Haditha; this was prior to anyone being charged, nor has he changed his tune despite the fact that murder charges were dropped and after seven were completely exonerated of any wrongdoing.
Liberals hate to be told they blame America first. They hate it not because it is false, but because it is so true.
"You laugh and think that's funny. Yet, convicting other Americans of crimes without even the benefit of a trial is a hallmark of liberals. Read anything by Greenwald or even on this blog..."
convicted! indicted! indicated as worthy of conviction! sentenced! using lengthy sentences! in the COURT OF GLENNZILLA AND anonymous liberal internet blogger dude.
I am sure Georgie and Dick and Donald will consider themselves very fortunate to have you defending them on the vile, odious day these american patriots are dragged before an imaginary court by the horned and ornery cyberdemon liberals of your technicolour nightmares, steve.
SteveIL is correct on one point: the UN Human Right Council is a bad joke. It is more concerned with preventing "slanders" against the prophet Mohammed than with the rights of free speech, freedom from torture and freedom of religious worship.
John McCain's idea of an Organization of Democratic States was a bit nutty, but might be practical in one respect: a separate Human Rights pledge by a group of states committed to the original UN charter. But would the US allow its soldiers or officials be tried by such a body?
BTW, I think John Bolton is such a rabid wingnut that if he bit himself, he'd die foaming at the mouth. Appointing such a creature to the UN was a symbol of all that was wrong with the Bush administration. I mean, even the Republicans would not confirm him!
More 24 in January. Something to look forward to that month.
24? Meh. Season 4.5 of Battlestar Galactica ftw!
if liberals say it, its slander-if conservatives say it (whatever 'it' is) then it is the gospel truth.imagine a republican presidential candidate calling himself a maverick and running on a platform of change while rightys claim bush is doing a bang-up job...now that is comedy.
After all these years and liberals and still are a bunch of wackos and green nuts falling from the nut tree
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