President Barack Obama waves after addressing the United Nations General Assembly today. (Photo by Stan Honda / AFP / Getty Images)
by Christi Parsons
NEW YORK -- In a sweeping call for international cooperation, President Obama this morning challenged world leaders to set aside "an almost reflexive anti-Americanism" and work together with him and other nations on common goals such as nuclear disarmament, climate change and Middle East peace.
An anti-American sentiment has served as an "excuse for our collective inaction," Obama told members of the United Nations General Assembly, at a time when collaboration is more important than at any time in history.
"Like all of you, my responsibility is to act in the interest of my nation and my people, and I will never apologize for defending those interests," Obama said. "But it is my deeply held belief that in the year 2009 - more than at any point in human history - the interests of nations and peoples are shared."
A message of mutual interest and mutual respect formed the heart of Obama's address, his first to the international body.
But the president did take to task the leaders of Iran and North Korea for ignoring international standards on nuclear weapons.
In fact, nuclear disarmament should be a primary goal of the world community, Obama argued, putting it on a par with global peace and security, a healthy planet and an improved economy as a goal.
A day after convening a meeting among Palestinian and Israeli leaders, Obama reiterated his view that "America does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements" -- a commitment which Palestinian leaders have questioned in the wake of the Tuesday meeting.
"I am not naïve. I know this will be difficult," Obama said of his efforts to get Middle East peace negotiations back on track. But "even though there will be setbacks, and false starts, and tough days, I will not waiver in my pursuit of peace. "
First Lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN Ambassador Susan Rice listened in the hall, but all three left their seats after the president finished - and before the Libyan leader took the podium.
Twice, the president departed from more general remarks about peace and security to single out two would-be nuclear powers by name.
"If the governments of Iran and North Korea choose to ignore international standards," he said, they must be "held accountable. The world must stand together to demonstrate that international law is not an empty promise, and that treaties will be enforced."
With most of his audience listening to translations of his speech through earpieces, the response in the hall was muted. Still, delegates applauded his calls for Middle East peace, human rights and individual autonomy.
There were also nods and applause for particular promises of change - especially when he condemned the use of torture.
"On my first day in office, I prohibited - without exception or equivocation - the use of torture by the United States of America," Obama said. "I ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed, and we are doing the hard work of forging a framework to combat extremism within the rule of law.
"Every nation must know: America will live its values, and we will lead by example."
Comments
Of course the US can solve all the worlds problems! We just need enough bombs and we can "Shock and Awe" a solution to everything!
Posted by: D. Cheney | September 23, 2009 11:38 AM
Nice UN speech from POTUS, but we all know the media will only be interested in trapping Obama in some fabricated awkward moment with Gaddafi or Ahmadinejad. A snap of the lens and Drudge will have his perfect headline…
http://www.political-buzz.com
Posted by: matt | September 23, 2009 11:49 AM
Gosh, his speech was all lofty Obamaisms, the new world's great hope, with his utopian rhetoric and a passionate call for the world to follow. Of course, there were the many useful reassurance to the world that Obama sure wasn't that bad boy, Bush with his "cowboy" attitude. Nope, America would no longer be "selective" in imposing its will on the world. Live and let live, even if your government was a bunch of suppressive thugs. Can't we all just get along. Qaddafi followed with a rebel rousing speech denouncing the UN Charter as unfair, illegitimate, undemocratic due to the veto and permanent membership of superpowers on the Security Council (expressing the desire to leave all decisions up to the more democratic General Assembly members, thus effectively hog tying the UN and rendering it more useless), and ranting about war (especially Iraq). I thought it was more realistic but should have had a potty break. So much for the significance of the UN. Oh, Obama effectively threw Israel under the bus with his demand to stop all settlements and I thought he believed in no preconditions.
Posted by: bubba Porter | September 23, 2009 12:29 PM
The President better decide not to be the Dictator of the World or for sure he going alone.
Posted by: Inky | September 23, 2009 12:34 PM
Did he remember his Teleprompter? Time to sleep w/ my cousin.
Posted by: Stupid GOP troll | September 23, 2009 12:40 PM
Obama's speech, taken as a whole, removes all doubt that he hates America down to the core of his being. He is an utter, hopeless and shameless disgrace to his office. Bush was a disaster on multiple levels, but at least he didn't hate his country.
Posted by: Thoreau | September 23, 2009 12:45 PM
I wonder why he did not tell them "You are either with us, or against us? That worked out so well with dubya.
Posted by: NoTbaggers | September 23, 2009 12:49 PM
Let's see. We can't solve it all. Can you solve the roaring water that is killing people in the state - not the country - of Georgia, USA?
Didn't think so, you'd have to GAD first.
Posted by: Anne | September 23, 2009 1:08 PM
President Obama is not a magician . . . . he is not a miracle man . . . . but he is a truthful man . . . . . he is a conciliatory man . . . . . he is not a combative man . . . . . he is a friendly man . . . . . and I am behind him 100%
robert m kraus
akron ohio
Posted by: Robert M Kraus Sr | September 23, 2009 1:39 PM
Obama has taken his first step in abandoning Israel and appeasing Al Qaeda and Iran.
Posted by: Bryan C. | September 23, 2009 1:42 PM
Executive summary of Obama's speech: America is the source of all evil in the world, but we promise to start being nice if you promise to like us and be nice back.
Posted by: The Crusty Curmudgeon | September 23, 2009 1:48 PM
...an anti-American sentiment has served as an excuse for **our** collective inaction...
An American President said this? Shameful.
Posted by: U.S.A. is Awesome | September 23, 2009 1:49 PM
I wonder why he didn't announce a "new world order".
Posted by: kinda | September 23, 2009 1:55 PM
Thoreau....BO addresses nuclear proliferation, enviromental issues, peace and security, and economics. And you hear hate? His approach is one of diplomacy, conciliation, communication, and responsibility. I think that's a good formula. Let's give it a try. He has a little over seven more years to accomplish things. So, get comfortable.
Posted by: jaykay | September 23, 2009 2:07 PM
I see all the right wing nuttery came out after you got your talking points from fox news.
Don't bother trying deny it or insulted me. We stop listening when GWB started 2 wars, start a netural arm race in NK, and Iran, also, have the rest of the world mistrust us.
Posted by: lilmama | September 23, 2009 2:31 PM
The first reviews of Obama's speech are in. Both Colonel Gadhafi of Libya,and Fidel Castro of Cuba, like what Obama said. In fact, Gadhafi thought Obama should be president for life!
Praise from other dictators is expected soon.
(For Castro, see the AP article at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hrsJ4qSe4ne2_544A7Wzg4_uT7TwD9AT2O683. For Gadhafi, see the LA Times at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hrsJ4qSe4ne2_544A7Wzg4_uT7TwD9AT2O683)
Posted by: Regime Change in 2012 | September 23, 2009 2:35 PM
BO addresses nuclear proliferation, enviromental issues, peace and security, and economics. And you hear hate? His approach is one of diplomacy, conciliation, communication, and responsibility. I think that's a good formula. Let's give it a try. He has a little over seven more years to accomplish things. So, get comfortable.
You better try to sell that rhetoric to Poland, the Czech Republic, Georgia, China, Iran, Isreal, North Korea and about 50% of the American public. Cause all these little people being stepped on by the Obama administration would disagree with your assumptions.
Wonderful speeches filled with apologies and appeasing drivel are not addressing anything of substance yet the sheeple of the US think they are. The rest of the World has heard it before and they aren't falling all over themselves like you faithful followers.
Seven more years? you really are mindless drones.
Posted by: springfield | September 23, 2009 2:50 PM
THAT IS SOME PICTURE OF PREZ SEE YOU IN PITTSBURGH TOMMROW I SAVE THESE SPECIAL PANCAKES YUO LOVE SO MUCH 4 YOU BARRACK
<3 <3 <3
Posted by: ROBIN | September 23, 2009 3:18 PM
Addendum to executive summary: Obama threw Israel under the bus for also being evil, to raucous cheers from all other delegations. May not help Obama's recent peace-making efforts.
Posted by: The Crusty Curmudgeon | September 23, 2009 3:22 PM
Springfield....The fact you can't make a point without insults, invectives, and distortions says more about your position than mine. It's not clear to me that you even read, saw, or heard the speech. What exactly did he say that fired you up. Cite from the speech one drivel, one apology, or one instance of where he was stepping on the 'little people'.
Posted by: jaykay | September 23, 2009 3:30 PM
Springfield....The fact you can't make a point without insults, invectives, and distortions says more about your position than mine. It's not clear to me that you even read, saw, or heard the speech. What exactly did he say that fired you up. Cite from the speech one drivel, one apology, or one instance of where he was stepping on the 'little people'.
Posted by: jaykay | September 23, 2009 3:37 PM
Oh no! Get your tinfoil hats! The aliens are coming people...and they're bringing their one world government! Argh!!
Posted by: LaTiDa | September 23, 2009 3:45 PM
"His approach is one of diplomacy, conciliation, communication, and responsibility."
Nice touchy-feely buzzwords, jaykay, but there's one small problem. Actually there are millions of small problems, i.e., the millions of people in the world who hate us and want to kill Americans no matter how much we try to appease them.
Obama doesn't seem to understand that the real world is not governed by the same rules as your local playground. Playing nice with the Qaddafis and Castros and Chavezes and Ahmedinejads of the world will only get us kicked in the proverbial teeth, and innocent Americans get dead as a result.
Posted by: The Crusty Curmudgeon | September 23, 2009 4:01 PM
"We can't do it alone", this guy can't even get out of how of his own way.
Posted by: Paul | September 23, 2009 4:23 PM
I wasn't talking about his speech today there, jay. Give yourself a rest from the ranting and take a short trip down memory lane.
In the short time president Obama has had international attention, he's given one speech after another in which he degrades the United States of America. He has aplogized, on behalf of America, over and over in most every speech he's given to foreign countries, including his speeches this week.
I guess you can't absorb reality when it hits you in the kisser there jay. So, let me tell you again.
You better try to sell that rhetoric to Poland, the Czech Republic, Georgia, China, Iran, Isreal, North Korea and about 50% of the American public. Cause all these little people being stepped on by the Obama administration would disagree with your assumptions.
Wonderful speeches filled with apologies and appeasing drivel are not addressing anything of substance yet the sheeple of the US think they are. The rest of the World has heard it before and they aren't falling all over themselves like you faithful followers.
Seven more years? you really are mindless drones.
I know, having to repeat myself to dummies like you is not my style but in your case, I can make this exception.
Posted by: springfield | September 23, 2009 4:34 PM
the millions of people in the world who hate us and want to kill Americans no matter how much we try to appease them.
Posted by: The Crusty Curmudgeon | September 23, 2009 4:01 PM
So all we gotta do is kill them bastards first. Ya gotta love the right's foriegn policy efforts. You first in line Crusty?
Posted by: bill r. | September 23, 2009 4:56 PM
I'm not suggesting anything of the sort, Bill. All I'm suggesting is that Bush fell into one ditch and Obama seems to feel compelled to dive into the opposite ditch in an effort to undo Bush's policy. Obama's speech smacked of utopianism, but whether he likes it or not Realpolitik remains the order of the day. The world is just as dangerous, and our adversaries just as conniving and predatory, as they were before Obama was elected, and so they shall remain.
Posted by: The Crusty Curmudgeon | September 23, 2009 5:09 PM
"bill r", shouldn't you learn how to spell "foreign" before you start lecturing others on "foreign policy"? Hint: it's not spelled "foriegn".
Posted by: The Inmates are running the Asylum | September 23, 2009 5:52 PM
"bill r", shouldn't you learn how to spell "foreign" before you start lecturing others on "foreign policy"? Hint: it's not spelled "foriegn".
Posted by: The Inmates are running the Asylum | September 23, 2009 5:52 PM
If you need to resort to spelling...you have already lost the argument.
Posted by: bill r. | September 23, 2009 9:40 PM
The notion that the US alone can't solve the worlds problems implies a ridiculous notion: That the US can solve ANY problems, even of it's own making.
We can't solve anything. K Street has us by the short hairs and won't be letting go anytime soon.
I think it's time to admit the K Street project worked perfectly.
Ex:
Healthcare reform: Baucus Caucus joke.
Financial reform: Not even on the horizon.
Afg/Pak/Iraq: Vague strategy changes that look like last years old strategy. All losers.
Enviro: Mtn Top mining continues.
Posted by: C.Morris✧ | September 24, 2009 8:51 AM
Springfield....I got the insults. Now give me some examples.
And Crusty....you still have this Us or Them mentality from W's years. How'd that work out for us? Nobody said anything about appeasement.
BO didn't talk about 'playing nice' with knuckle-headed tyrants and dictators. Do you have some personal extreme right wingnut radio station playing in your head? What BO does and doesn't understand about the world is beyond most folks' comprehension and that's probably what's stirred you folks up. You don't get. You don't understand it. You distort and criticize. Well keep it up. You have another 7+ years to go.
Posted by: jaykay | September 24, 2009 4:10 PM
Should be, CAN'T SOLVE ANY of the world's problems (with BO in charge)!
Posted by: Harold Reimann | September 24, 2009 5:13 PM
I disagree. I think BHO wants to solve problems, but the task is impossible due to our republican 'system' of government. As I said, the US is not a democracy.
Two main problems;
1. The Electoral College.
2. The Senate, as organized.
These two entities are fundamentally, and intentionally, un-democratic.
Posted by: C.Morris✧ | September 24, 2009 9:00 PM
I think it's great that Barack Obama has learned so much from me, just like his predecessor, George Bush. Passive-aggression works so well, it solved everything for Germany!
Posted by: Adolf Hitler | June 2, 2010 11:00 PM