Originally published on the CGS blog on October 3, 2008.
“Experience also shows that to be effective, we must adopt a model of partnership, not paternalism.”
Embracing a more multilateral approach to international events, President Bush gave a determined and pointed speech at the opening of the 63rd General Assembly at the United Nations on Tuesday, September 23, 2008. Words like “terror” “fight” and “cooperation” were Bush’s popular picks for describing the international body’s drive against extremists and the need for all member states to work together to eradicate such threats. Reminding member states that they have an “obligation” to help other nations, Bush elaborated upon the ways in which members could work together. Instead of simply passing resolutions, he urged the countries to take a more pro-active approach against terrorism, and to prevent crises from erupting in the first place. Bush also took several swings at his critics by stating that those who believe that terrorists would “pose less of a threat if we’d only leave them alone” are not addressing the root cause of the problem, but rather are adopting the precise passive approach that these terrorists prey upon. He emphasized the potent and continued threat encapsulated in terrorism, and the dire need for the international community to work together to resolve the problem. Unlike his previous speeches in 2003, Bush placed a lot more emphasis this time upon the need for cooperation between states and the success that this would surely bring to the fight against terror.
On the other hand, the cooperative language of the speech speaks clearly to the multilateral approach the Bush administration has been forced to adopt as the Iraq war drags on. Bush made it a point to applaud developing democracies like Afghanistan and Liberia in their struggle against insurgents. Making references to the Colored Revolutions of Eastern Europe, Bush drew satisfaction from the fact that there is a global trend for struggling nations to fight for their independence, creating the space for international bodies like the U.N. to work effectively in such areas. When addressing the Georgian issue, Bush criticized Russia’s actions as having “violated” the U.N. Charter’s declaration of “equal rights of nations large and small” and re-affirmed the America’s commitment to the country’s sovereignty.
What Bush failed to mention, however, is the large and increasing debt that the U.S. owes the U.N. in payment dues. Now at a sum of over $2 billion dollars, this fee hinders the U.N.’s ability to do what is being asked of it – ranging from furthering human rights efforts to delivering aid. Bush is calling on the U.N. to assume a bigger role in fighting global terrorism, but the U.S. isn’t contributing financially to the efforts. Still, the underlying multilateral tone of the speech speaks favorably for the U.S.’s efforts at engaging other member states in the United Nations. It’s a shame that it took eight damaging years for the Bush administration to see the value in active allies.
