Kofi Annan was in Jackson Hole, WY for THREE days after Tsunami.

[MikeG]

I am not a UN basher.

But this is almost as bad as W.

http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=660

Q: Mr. Secretary, picking up on Richard's question, I think a lot of people are asking exactly why you waited three days on vacation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, before you decided to fly back to New York in the face of this extraordinary crisis. Could you give us a full explanation of your thinking on that? Secondly, what kind of signal does that 72-hour delay send to the nations to which you are now appealing for greater help?

[Walt Starr]

1. Nope, it's every bit as bad as W

And it cannot be denied!

[Stephanie]

2. That's where Cheney lives.

Where was Cheney?

[Not_Giving_Up]

5. Where the hell is Cheney?

When's the last time he was seen? I'm beginning to think he's dead, and they're working on the cgi version for TV appearances!

[jdj]

48. Jesus, what if Kofi IS Cheney???

Omg

what if they are the same person.

and the undisclosed location is the Kofi suit?

The possibilities are endless.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[GOPFighter]

7. Why are you a UN basher?

Just curious.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[nymd81]

17. that's right!

the UN is a joke!

[Retired AF Dem]

56. I agree

I will support the UN when they add ethnic cleansing to their vocabulary

[laura888]

27. If you're going to find fault with what happened in Rwanda....

...then you cannot leave the U.S. out. The U.S. could have done something and did not.

Also, please remember that the U.S. has supported murdurous dictators - as long as they support our policies.

What, in your opinion, should take the place of the U.N.?

[Name removed]

70. Deleted message

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[jdj]

37. But haven't you folks ever heard of the verb "to paraphrase"?

that's when you take a quote from Limbaugh or Buckley Jr or that dumbass on the NYT whose name I can't remember, or Will, and mix it up a little bit, kind of rearrange it, so it looks like you are having an original thought instead of being some neo-con's butt-boy bitch and quoting verbatim like the good master told you to after he zipped up and left for the evening.

[Name removed]

71. Deleted message

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[merh]

26. My biggest reason to support the UN is that the weed and his

admin hate it and are doing their damnedest to destroy it. Makes you wonder what are they afraid of? :shrug:

[tabasco]

60. Did Rush tell you about the successful operations?

17 peacekeeping missions going on right now. Many past successful operations too.

http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/index.asp

Many people have an ignorant dislike of foreigners. The right-wing is lead by leaders of *multinational* corporations like Halliburton. But to retain power, they exploit ignorant people's dislike of foreigners.
Ironic and sad, isn't it?

[Name removed]

72. Deleted message

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[tuvor]

4. What's wrong with his answer?

"First of all, there was action. It wasn't inaction. We live in a world where you can operate from wherever you are. You know the world we live in now. You don't have to be physically here to be dealing with the leaders and the Governments I have been dealing with. You don't have to be physically here to be discussing with some of the agencies that we have done.

"I came back here because we have reached a level that I wanted to have meetings with all the people that I have met with today. So, we have taken action. And I don't have to be sitting in my office to take action. I think the same goes for you in your profession."

[nymd81]

18. it's the same thing Bush

said!

[tuvor]

22. I doubt it, but so what?

What's wrong with Annan's answer?

[DrGonzoLives]

52. So, do you have no problem

with Bush running things from Crawford, Texas?

Sorry, but you can't make a pass for Annan and then turn around on Bush for the same thing. Both should've put vacations on hold and gotten the fuck back to work.

[tuvor]

64. Do you have evidence that bush did exactly that while on the "ranch"?

Then show it to me. That's all I'm asking.

[Kire]

6. you left the answer out, Bush would never say this about August 2001

First of all, there was action. It wasn't inaction. We live in a world where you can operate from wherever you are. You know the world we live in now. You don't have to be physically here to be dealing with the leaders and the Governments I have been dealing with. You don't have to be physically here to be discussing with some of the agencies that we have done.

I came back here because we have reached a level that I wanted to have meetings with all the people that I have met with today. So, we have taken action. And I don't have to be sitting in my office to take action. I think the same goes for you in your profession.

[Be Brave]

9. Thank you for providing the answer. n/t

[rocktivity]

8. No fair not including his answer

SG: First of all, there was action. It wasn't inaction. We live in a world where you can operate from wherever you are. You know the world we live in now. You don't have to be physically here to be dealing with the leaders and the Governments I have been dealing with. You don't have to be physically here to be discussing with some of the agencies that we have done.

I came back here because we have reached a level that I wanted to have meetings with all the people that I have met with today. So, we have taken action. And I don't have to be sitting in my office to take action. I think the same goes for you in your profession.

:headbang:
rocknation

[MikeG]

29. Same answer W would give. Not good enough.

He should have left IMMEDIATELY.

[Last Lemming]

11. Cheney, huh

Perhaps Annan was negotiating the end of the line for this administration Made Dick Cheney an offer that he couldn't refuse--he delivered a crucial message--rest of the world stands solidly beside Kerry--

Or maybe he was skiing

You gotta stop thinking rationally when you are governed by thugs--

[Truman01]

12. I have it from high level sources that Kofi Annan was meeting

with Dick Cheeny in Wyoming. They were talking about how they could cause another 50,000-100,000 people to die if they just waited a few more days to start anything happening.

Isn't that awful?

In this day of the information superhighway, I can work from home, or Italy, just as easy as I can my office. If we can, don't you think Kofi Annan can?

Cut the man a break.

TC

[jdj]

41. Kofi was telecommuting. Bush was drunk.

Who's the better leader.

[HeeBGBz]

13. Isn't that near Yellowstone?

Pondering.

[PaulaFarrell]

14. a great quote

"When we sometimes overwhelm them with high-profile visitors, we move people away from their work, and in fact we become more of a problem, an impediment, than actual assistance"

Was it a dig at Jeb? Or wasn't it? Who knows?

[Cha]

21. My co-worker told me this

morning that they were sending jeb over there to assess the damage and she was all bummed out because her one consolation of bush getting in again was that we wouldn't have anymore of him after 4 years. But sending jeb over there was in her mind a way of getting him known "internationally"..and she has a point.

I told her after 4 more years of gwb that the US would not want to hear the name "bush" again. We can only hope!

[nymd81]

15. no kidding!

He's just as bad or worse than Bush!!!

[tuvor]

24. Why?

I mean, WORSE THAN BUSH? Back it up, I'm more than curious!

[GRLMGC]

28. What are you doing here?

Oh well.

[PA Democrat]

36. Thought you were flying from Florida

to NYC to be in Times Square for New Years Eve? You weren't trying to pull one over on us were you?

:eyes:

BTW, I'm STILL waiting with bated breath for the name of that local Florida newscast that questioned Conyers' sanity.

[Zenlitened]

65. "Loaner" account?

:shrug:

[0007]

67. Why don't you go over to where your buddies are @ FR

and enjoy a nice CJ

[Zenlitened]

16. When was Annan's first public statement?

The issue, to my mind, is not where Bush was. It was his utter SILENCE.

[bpilgrim]

19. zactly

this is the RW simply trying to DEFLECT again and they got DU'ers fall'n for it :puke:

peace

[Zenlitened]

33. Yup. Criticism directed at Bush? "Hey look...

... there's someone else who did the same thing!"

Er, sort of. Well not really. But heck, mission accomplished -- now we're debating whether Kofi Annan reacted quickly enough, rather than driving the point home that Bush has FAILED AGAIN.

The repug side did this over and over again all throughout the campaign, and it worked every time.

Oy.

[Annus Horribilis]

20. Just As Bad As Bush

And Tony Blair and Paul Martin.

[tuvor]

23. You can't do that and not elaborate.

[Annus Horribilis]

25. Sorry

Bush, Kofi, Blair and Martin all didn't cut their vacation short.

[tuvor]

30. Where is the problem in Annan's answer?

"First of all, there was action. It wasn't inaction. We live in a world where you can operate from wherever you are. You know the world we live in now. You don't have to be physically here to be dealing with the leaders and the Governments I have been dealing with. You don't have to be physically here to be discussing with some of the agencies that we have done.

"I came back here because we have reached a level that I wanted to have meetings with all the people that I have met with today. So, we have taken action. And I don't have to be sitting in my office to take action. I think the same goes for you in your profession."

He's saying he was working. Sounds to me like he cut off any vacation he was on. Until there's something more damning than that, I can't see why anyone has made up their mind that he was slacking.

[Annus Horribilis]

31. Well

Bush said the same thing and many people criticized him.

[Zenlitened]

34. Bush said the same thing... THREE DAYS LATER.

That's the issue, folks.

[tuvor]

58. Can I please see your evidence?

There must be a link somewhere that you have.

[MikeG]

32. He should have left IMMEDIATELY.

This is something Bush would say.

It doesn't pass the smell test.

They are both in the same boat now.

[Annus Horribilis]

35. I Agree

That's what I was saying. These world leaders need to get their acts together.

[jdj]

44. People, lookit, this was God at Work.

Eggelund got badly misquoted and now these folks have tons of aid money.

Annan wouldn't have gotten the same response, he's none to popular right now because of the junta spin about his son and the food for oil program.

This may have been strategy, and it is Rovian it is so good. They put a non scandal related face on this tragedy and it ended up having a wonderful result.

So quitcher bitchen. Don't play into the hands of the right, let's get on with it and put the focus back on the victims.

[Annus Horribilis]

47. How is this playing into the hands of the right?

Instead of skiing, Kofi should have flew back to NYC. Instead of cutting brush or whatever Shrub does at his ranch, he should have went back to the White House. Same goes for Tony Blair and Paul Martin. When something like this happens, we need our leaders to be doing something, not relaxing.

[Zenlitened]

50. Link to "Annan was skiing"? - n/t

[Annus Horribilis]

54. He Was At a Ski Resort

So, he might have been snowboarding, but he strikes me as the skiing type.

[Zenlitened]

55. I see. Guess he was forced out of his room and onto the slopes.

[Annus Horribilis]

57. Whatever

My point is that he should have cut his vacation short. It took him 3 days to get back to NYC. And BTW, I have never heard of someone spending their vacation at a ski resort and not skiing, snowboarding, etc.

[jdj]

59. I've never heard of a cowboy scared of horses,either,

but, hey, it takes all kinds.

[Annus Horribilis]

66. "I've never heard of a cowboy scared of horses"

I don't get it.

[jdj]

68. Boosh, yer phoney cowboy...

Remember him? The ex-cheerleader Yale who now acts like a stud,owns a "ranch" with no cattle which for normal people is called a farm?

Has the best education money can buy but fakes being stupid? Affects a southern drawl? Knows damn well how to pronounce nuclear but uses the southern pronounciation of genuine cracker Jimmy Carter?

Shall I go on?

[Annus Horribilis]

69. Ohhh, OK

I wasn't aware that he was afraid of horses. I always knew he wasn't a real cowboy and was just trying to emulate Reagan. But never knew about his lack of cattle and fear of horses.

[Stephanie]

38. The network anchors have not interrupted THEIR vacations either

Strange, isn't it? Sub anchors are on.

[MGKrebs]

39. Mebbe so.

But this is a partisan site. We are generally anti-Bush, and will take every opportunity to criticise him that he gives us. Just because we don't criticise everybody else for similar behavior doesn't change anything. Some may not find us as 'credible" because of this, but too bad.

It just had to be said.
Peace.

[MikeG]

40. BTW - a check of freeperland shows them ready to nail us on this.

Lets not be hypocrites.

[Zenlitened]

42. It's not the WHERE. It's the WHEN.

:shrug:

[MikeG]

43. Not good enough. You don't stay on vacation ever. You leave, then talk.

[jdj]

45. Anyone who wants to make a story of this will embarass themselves

Europeans are sophisticated enough to understand this, Americans aren't, and they will just embarass us further by harping about it.

[Zenlitened]

46. Well that point is debatable. What is not is the issue of Bush's silence.

Trying to tag Annan with Bush's failure seems like a smokescreen to me, and nothing more.

[tuvor]

63. In these days of instant communication, that's a pretty arbitrary rule.

I'm seeing a lot of assertions on this thread, but nothing that stands up to any real scrutiny.

[mediaman007]

49. Since when do we have to worry about the "freepers?"

They don't need facts. They'll go with anything, I've never known them to worry about being correct.

[MGKrebs]

53. I will be selectively critical, and so what?

Why should I give a damn whether the freeps think I am a hypocrite or not?

Bill Clinton was not perfect, but I don't go looking for things to criticise him about. There are plenty of others who will do that.

Anyone who thinks that you have to be non-partisan to be truthful is mistaken.

[diamond14]

51. I notice that YOU deliberately skipped Kofi's answer, so here it is

YOUR deliberate OMISSION of Kofi's answer, reminds me of FOX and bush* minions....so I am putting the WHOLE queston/answer here, so as NOT to deceive DUers...notice how Kofi mentions NOT TO SEND HIGH PROFILE VISITORS like bush* just did by sending his brother jeb, and colin powell...

----------------------------------------------

Q: Mr. Secretary, picking up on Richard's question, I think a lot of people are asking exactly why you waited three days on vacation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, before you decided to fly back to New York in the face of this extraordinary crisis. Could you give us a full explanation of your thinking on that? Secondly, what kind of signal does that 72-hour delay send to the nations to which you are now appealing for greater help?

SG: First of all, there was action. It wasn't inaction. We live in a world where you can operate from wherever you are. You know the world we live in now. You don't have to be physically here to be dealing with the leaders and the Governments I have been dealing with. You don't have to be physically here to be discussing with some of the agencies that we have done.

I came back here because we have reached a level that I wanted to have meetings with all the people that I have met with today. So, we have taken action. And I don't have to be sitting in my office to take action. I think the same goes for you in your profession.

Q: Given the magnitude of this disaster, shouldn't the United Nations, rather the United States, have taken the lead in establishing a coalition of donor and affected countries to deal with this disaster? And following up on the last two questions, shouldn't you, as Secretary-General, possibly be visiting the affected region to show moral support to the affected communities?

SG: First of all, on the question of how we pool the international community together, I think it is important that an initiative has been taken. We ourselves were discussing our possible initiative, but I applaud what has been done by the United States Government, by the United States Administration and President Bush. As I have said, we have spoken to other countries which are also going to join the group, and that group will be in support of the efforts that the United Nations is leading. So, we are very satisfied with that.

On the question of visits to the region, as I indicated, that is not excluded. But let me also say that we all need to be careful. When you have these sorts of massive emergencies, the urgent need is assistance to the people - shelter, food, water, health and other things. When we sometimes overwhelm them with high-profile visitors, we move people away from their work, and in fact we become more of a problem, an impediment, than actual assistance.

So, one should go to the region, but at the right time. Those who go to the region should make sure that they do not detract from the essential work that is being done, because it takes lots of efforts, and they have limited facilities. In some of these places, you often would not have even accommodation - and all the essential accommodation should go to those who actually doing it. So, yes, visit the region, but at the right time.

[Zenlitened]

61. I keep hearing that. Is it really true Bush is afraid of horses?

Maybe that's why the brush-clearing is as far as his little Reagan-wannabe act goes. :D

Edit: Oops, meant to post this in response to #59.

[K-W]

62. What a joke.

Kofi did exactly what he was supposed to, utilized modern technology to address the situation immediately rather than taking a rushed trip to New York to prove a point to a bunch of people who apparently would rather have thier leaders conform to an outdated model of behavior than react quickly to SAVE LIVES.

It doesnt matter that Bush could have said the same things. I havent critisized Bush for not going to Washington and even if every liberal in the country did, it wouldnt make me, or them a hypocrite.

Im glad that the last thing anyone thought of during this tragedy is where a bunch of forum posters would feel better about them being while they took action.

[Goathead]

73. James Baker III has a ranch near there

In Pinedale, WY, it is where he and Bush Sr. used to hold high level meetings to cut the world up into smaller pieces for them and their cronies.