Legacy-seeking Bush calls for 'mission of liberation'

[NaDiNe]

Legacy-seeking Bush calls for 'mission of liberation'


by Mark Silva

President Bush, calling on the United Nations today to embrace a ââ,¬Å"mission of liberation,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ freeing citizens of the world from tyranny, hunger, disease, poverty and despair, said the United States will tighten economic sanctions on the military regime of Burma.

The U.S. will impose an expanded visa ban on ââ,¬Å"those responsible for the most egregious violations of human rights as well as their family members,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ he said, pledging to support humanitarian groups working to alleviate suffering in Burma -- or Myanmar, as its military leaders have dubbed the nation.

There was little mention of the ââ,¬Å"global war on terror,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ or threats on fronts such as Iraq or Iran, in this address to the General Assembly, and much talk of the challenges that the world faces fighting AIDS and malaria, poverty and repression. Bush made only two mentions of Iraq, and one of Iran.

For Bush, this sounded more like a legacy-seeking speech than a call to arms ââ,¬â€œ a reiteration of the theme of ââ,¬Å"ending tyranny in the worldââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ which he had made the centerpiece of his second inaugural address, without the rallying call for a fight that he had voiced five years ago, warning of the "gathering danger'' of Iraq.

Fulfilling the promise of a Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted six decades ago ââ,¬Å"requires confronting long-term threats,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ Bush said at the podium of the General Assembly. ââ,¬Å"It also requires answering the immediate needs today.ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢

ââ,¬Å"Sixty years ago, representatives from 16 nations gathered to begin deliberations on a new international bill of rights,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ he said. ââ,¬Å"The document they produced is called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it stands as a landmark achievement in the history of human liberty. The declaration opens by recognizing the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom and justice and peace in the world.

ââ,¬Å"The nations in this chamber have our differences, yet there are some areas where we can all agree,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ the president said. ââ,¬Å"When innocent people are trapped in a life of murder and fear, the declaration is not being upheld. When millions of children starve to death or perish from a mosquito bite, we're not doing our duty in the world. When whole societies are cut off from the prosperity of the global economy, we're all worse off. ââ,¬ËœÃ¢â,¬â,,¢

ââ,¬Å"This great institution must work for great purposes, to free people from tyranny and violence, hunger and disease, illiteracy and ignorance and poverty and despair,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ he said. ââ,¬Å"Every member of the United Nations must join in this mission of liberation.

ââ,¬Å"The mission of the United Nations requires liberating people from tyranny and violence,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ he said, calling ââ,¬Å"terrorists and extremists who kill the innocentââ,¬Â¦. A threat to civilized people everywhere.

ââ,¬Å"Americans are outraged by the situation in Burma, where a military junta has imposed a 19-year reign of fear,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ he said. ââ,¬Å"Basic freedoms of speech, assembly and worship are severely restricted.

ââ,¬Å"Ethnic minorities are persecuted. Forced child labor, human trafficking and rape are common. The regime is holding more than 1,000 political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party was elected overwhelmingly by the Burmese people in 1990. The ruling junta remains unyielding, yet the people's desire for freedom is unmistakable. ââ,¬ËœÃ¢â,¬â,,¢

Even the name is disputed in Burma. The ruling military junta has changed the country's name to Myanmar. But a democratically elected, yet never convened, parliament does not recognize the change, and the democratic opposition continues to use the name "Burma." President Bush's use of Burma is a nod to support for the opposition to the military government.

ââ,¬Å"In Cuba,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ he said, ââ,¬Å"the long rule of a cruel dictator is nearing its end. The Cuban people are ready for their freedom, and as that nation enters a period of transition, the United Nations must insist on free speech, free assembly and, ultimately, free and competitive elections.

ââ,¬Å"In Zimbabwe, ordinary citizens suffer under a tyrannical regime,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ he said. ââ,¬Å"The government has cracked down on peaceful calls for reform and forced millions to flee their homeland. The behavior of the Mugabe regime is an assault on its people and an affront to the principles of the Universal Declaration. The United Nations must insist on change in Harare and must insist for the freedom for the people of Zimbabwe.

ââ,¬Å"In Sudan, innocent civilians are suffering repression, and in the Darfur region, many are losing their lives to genocide,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ Bush said. ââ,¬Å"America has responded with tough sanctions against those responsible for the violence. We've provided more than $2 billion in humanitarian and peacekeeping aid.ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢

The mission of the U.N. also requires ââ,¬Å"liberating people from hunger and disease,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ the president told the General Assembly.

Citing the growing U.S. commitment to fighting AIDS and malaria around the world, Bush called on ââ,¬Å"every member state to maintain its focus, find new ways to join this cause and bring us closer to the day when malaria deaths are no more.ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢

And the mission requires liberating people from illiteracy, poverty and despair, he said.

ââ,¬Å"In the long run, the best way to lift people out of poverty is through trade and investment,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ he said. ââ,¬Å"A nation that is open and trading with the world will create economic rewards that far exceed anything they could get through foreign aid.ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢

ââ,¬Å"The United States is committed to a strong and vibrant United Nations, yet the American people are disappointed by the failures of the Human Rights Council,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ he said. ââ,¬Å"This body has been silent on repression by regimes from Havana and Caracas to Pyongyang and Tehran, while focusing its criticism excessively on Israel. To be credible on human rights in the world, the United Nations must first reform its own Human Rights Council.ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢

ââ,¬Å"America will lead toward this vision where all are created equal and free to pursue their dreams,ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢ Bush said. ââ,¬Å"This is the founding conviction of my country. It is the promise that established this body. And with our determination, it can be the future of our world.ââ,¬â,,¢Ã¢â,¬â,,¢

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