BTN The U.N.'s Tattered Reputation 10/25/2004

[Beyond The News]

October 25, 2004 The U.N.'s Tattered Reputation —David Aikman A scandal has revealed even more details of Saddam Hussein's brutal rule of Iraq. While persuading the world to replace harsh sanctions against his regime with a program called "oil for food," Saddam used inflated price deals with foreign companies to skim off weapons money and bribe foreigners into silence. Foreign leaders--perhaps some from Russia and France--were on Saddam's payroll. U.N. officials themselves may have been on the take. The U.N.'s tattered moral reputation is especially relevant in the context of the current presidential election campaign. President Bush has taken decisions to defend the U.S. independently of views expressed in the U.N. Kerry seems to view the U.N. as a sort of moral thermometer. He says we need a "global test" for such action. In light of ongoing threats of terrorism, that contrast couldn't be more revealing. David Aikman is a veteran journalist and the chairman of Gegrapha. David Aikman is the author of A Man of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of George W. Bush. If this commentary was forwarded to you, sign up for your own free subscription. Beyond the News Commentaries go past today's headlines to give you concise and penetrating insight into the most pressing challenges facing our culture today. BTN commentaries cover everything from politics to popular culture, from faith to international relations and family values to the progress of the war on terrorism. You are receiving the email because you have subscribed to this list. If you would like to remove yourself from this list, please use the following link and you will be removed immediately! Thank you! Copyright 2004 Beyond The News TM Gifts that change lives! Need More Room for Worship? French connection armed Saddam [Washington Times] U.N. hurt by scandal, Annan says [Washington Times]