In First 100 Days, Obama Plants Flag at United Nations

President Obama has dramatically re-established American relations with the UN in his first 100 days. His acclaimed multilateral outlook on international relations, his willingness to listen to foreign leaders rather than lecture them, his admission of "mistakes" by the US on issues like torture, the economy, the Iraq war, and other global matters, and his general popularity around the world, have created an entirely new atmosphere in the United Nations building.

By the seventh week of his administration, he held his first meeting with Secretary General Ban Ki Moon at the White House, a cordial and highly supportive event. Then, with several specific steps, Obama made crystal clear his re-engagement with the world body: first, he approved the US joining the newly created Human Rights Council rather than staying outside of it to reorient the body toward enforcing the essential civil rights for citizens in all states; second, he asked Congress to appropriate $836 million to pay up our peacekeeping obligations which we have shamefully refused to pay in the past; third, he made a new commitment to helping with stopping climate change -- a key issue at the UN these days; fourth, he reversed by executive order the Bush policy of denying US funds to family planning programs at the UN's Population Fund; fifth, he renewed and expanded funding to both UNICEF and UNESCO, organizations long neglected by the US in the past; sixth, he publicly endorsed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, among other crucial UN treaties, and pledged to participate vigorously in the UN's upcoming 2010 review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the latter of which the Bushites especially disparaged; seventh, he publicly embraced the Millennium Development goals which the Bush Administration viewed with decided ambivalence.

Obama, however, did duck out of the Durban conference on racism and he has so far not said much about the International Criminal Court and has not been heavily pro-active on the Darfur crisis, as of yet. But overall he deserves an A- grade for his first 100 days as regards the UN.

Comments

[kimleehan]

What is the United Nations going to do about the Bush goverment and other nations violating the U.N. Charter by using armed force against a sovereign nation ( Iraq ) without a U.N. security council authorization? They need to do something if they want any creditable standing in the world.

[AmericanKnight]

Yes I saw the flag he planted, it was white.

[mjc]

The biggest exception to Obama's "success" at the UN is the failure to engage the rest of the world on the issue of torture, of course recognizing that the US, sadly, is as much a villain as any other nation. He looks really good when comparing Geo Bush's record at the UN to what he has done so far. Bush always maintained the GOP concept that the US was NOT u.n.d.e.r the UN auspices and in fact continued the US policy of "big brother" to the UN, always weakening its power to deal with real and dangerous problems in the world. And it isn't just a Republican concept either; Clinton charmed the UN but supported US foreign policy above any UN policies. The next few years, with Israel a continuing problem to some 47 nations, especially in the Middle East, Obama will have to make some either/or decisions, to either support an ally or support the UN's mission; very tough.

[John Perozzi]

"The U.S. is as much a villain as any other nation." Really? How can you make such a comparison?

[mjc]

Very easily. You've read about the memos of "allowable" torture by interrogators, for the CIA, for the US military? Although Bush's lawyers...Bybee, for example...wrote documents rationalizing torture and declaring it legal, now SOME of them say they were merely justifying what already existed. Can't understand why you haven't seen any of the very latest evidence, not to mention what has existed for at least six years via the American Red Cross.

[Merrimack]

The only way he should get an A is by officially pulling out of the UN and telling them to pound sand regarding any unpaid fees we owe. The UN is completely useless. For 12 years the UN pushed sanctions on Sadam Hussein with no result. Not until we bombed the crap out of him, rounded him up, tried him and hung him did anything change. The UN's political nature ensures that nothing will be done in a timely manner. As the guys with the biggest stick we don't need their assistance. The world operated more sensibly when we lived under MAD and the rest of the world understood that we were fully capable and ready to annihilate their entire country.

[zaz33]

No mention of Gaza and no mention of torture.

I think the teacher got an apple.

[georgewetherill]

An A-, Please. What has he done overseas? Our enemies our laughing at us. We would try to prosicute other fellow Americans over getting info that protects us. You my far left liberal friend are in a fantasy world. He has done nothing but weaken America day by day. He doesn't see America as a leader, but the problem of the world. Thus he went on the "God dam America tour" kissing every butt put in front of him. If you think that these countries respect that your gone.

[Robster]

The UN is about as useful as NATO.

[Primus51]

The UN is the most corrupt org. today. We should kick them all out and tear down that building and build an monument to tell future generations how the UN has raped,killed,and embezzeld from the people they were to help.

[FearlessFreep]

Washington should pay up all the money it owes the United Nations. Letting such a huge tab accumulate has done no good.

[flamflurm]

Plants what flag? A white one?

[Wiseup2Day]

I wish he became President of the UN..if that's what he wants..I want a President of the U.S. to put America and Americans first....

[teacheng]

I think this is one area where Obama is doing a great job. And considering the train wreck Durban turned out to be, it's a good thing we didn't go.

However, we could have been part of that fantastic walk-out scene.

[oxi]

With the U.S. and NATO still violating UN Resolution 1244 by recognizing an independent Kosovo minus Greece and Spain, Obama is NOT really opening the door to change from past administrations!

With the Geneva Conventions clearly violated by the U.S. I still do not see Obama brining those to justice, so much for the change.

Where is the support for the ICC? Not gonna happen will it?

[John Perozzi]

Which Geneva Conventions did we violate?

[Dimitra Ekmektsis]

We ned more diplomacy, not less. I hope that President Obama continues to improve US/UN relations!

[harveyr2]

The absurd outcome of the recent Human Rights Council is the latest event that proves the UN is a useless institution.