Diplomat: U.S. ‘threatened’ countries that didn’t support Iraq war.
Diplomat: U.S. ‘threatened’ countries that didn’t support Iraq war.
In an upcoming book, Heraldo Muñoz, Chile’s ambassador to the United Nations, writes the efforts by the Bush administration to cajole other countries into supporting the invasion of Iraq “generated lasting ‘bitterness’ and ‘deep mistrust’ in Washington’s relations with allies in Europe, Latin America and elsewhere.” Muñoz describes how the “rough-and-tumble diplomatic strategy” employed by the Bush administration to pressure allies for support included threats and punishment:
In the months leading up to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the Bush administration threatened trade reprisals against friendly countries who withheld their support, spied on its allies, and pressed for the recall of U.N. envoys that resisted U.S. pressure to endorse the war, according to an upcoming book by a top Chilean diplomat. […]
“In the aftermath of the invasion, allies loyal to the United States were rejected, mocked and even punished” for their refusal to back a U.N. resolution authorizing military action against Saddam Hussein’s government, Muñoz wrote.
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Bush, making the U.S. hated worldwide.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:05 pmThe United States has become a monstrous evil, very much like Nazi Germany. And, the world must unite to destroy the USA, like it did to defeat Hitler.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:13 pmThe world sees our government for what it has become. Just a bunch sick, delusional, lying thieves. The Bush Administration truly believes arrogance equals intelligence.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:13 pmSo!
-Dick Cheney, 12 year old Vice President
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:15 pmWe can look forward to more of the same if we allow Crazy McWar to get elected. These people don’t know the meaning of the word “diplomacy”, just the threat of military force; and they’ve proven they’re grossly incompetent at even that.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:15 pmAnd bribed other countries into supporting it and being members of the “coalition of the willing”.
All this speaks volumes of the true intentions of this administration regarding Iraq, and the absolute lack of evidence to justify a military action against that country.
What a train wreck of an administration. And how embarrassing it would have been to them to go back to those same allies they ridiculed, tail between their legs, asking for their help. It would have been, if people in this administration knew what shame even means.
Spying on allies? What a great way to treat your friends.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:18 pmWe are a rogue nation headed by a rogue cabal of thugs…Thanks Bush, this is your legacy…
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:22 pm“Either you’re with us or against us”
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:22 pmSounds like guerilla tactics to me. Is it any wonder that Bush & Co (and this country) is hitting the skids internationally?
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:24 pmAnd bribing Iraq to “not fight” just to save Bush’s sick legacy of doom and failure. How repulsive can we get?
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:25 pmThis should have been exposed and thoroughly aired when it was happening. Now we need to start a very long process of rebuilding trust into our relationships.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:26 pmWe are perhaps THE most hated country now in the world, thanks to the sick, twisted evil of George Bush. What we need now is a “savior” - someone who can mend the fences, repair the damage, and reinstate some trust in this country.
When a country’s own citizens believe it to be evil, I’d say the country’s already slipped into the dark abyss.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:27 pmjb: How do you say “complicit media”??? It’s the fascist propagandizing media whores who need to be put on trial for corrupting this country by cherry-picking what constitutes news. I’d say it’s the kiss of death for the MSM now that the ugly truth is being revealed.
They had their chance and chose the side of darkness and evil. Now it will be the people’s turn to chastise them.
I’ve banned the MSM in my household at this point.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:28 pm[T]he Bush administration threatened trade reprisals against friendly countries who withheld their support, spied on its allies, and pressed for the recall of U.N. envoys that resisted U.S. pressure to endorse the war
The Cartman administration: “Respect my diplomatic authoritay, b*tches!”
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:29 pm“rough-and-tumble diplomatic strategy”
Naaah. From the same group that brought you “diplomat” John Bolton? Pffffft.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:30 pmAnd now our economy is tanking thanks to Bush looking the other way while our financial institutions screwed the rest of the world - all in the name of greed. I’d say it’s pretty much over for this country at this point. Remember how quickly Russia fell apart? They, too, took their eye off the ball and engaged in imperialistic tomfoolery. We’re becoming a carbon copy of what happened to them.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:30 pmGeorge W. Bush’s legacy will be that he IS the quintessential ‘PRINCE OF DARKNESS’.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:31 pmUncle Ho Says:
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
The United States has become a monstrous evil, very much like Nazi Germany.
And, the world must unite to destroy the USA, like it did to defeat Hitler.
_____________
I have this bad, bad feeling you’re right, Uncle Ho. What a complete disaster Botch has been for this country.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:32 pmThis is directly from George Orwell’s script for 1984. Control of the media (control of the message) is critical to controlling the people. This is mind control 101.
Ban the MSM from your households and believe nothing you read at this point. It’s all fascist propaganda.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:33 pmHe has put this nation much at risk for retaliation from these countries. And not necessarily military retaliation.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:37 pmWith so much of our debt in the hands of other nations, we are literally at their mercy. God Damn George W. Bush and his cabal of cronies.
TROS: The ‘bad feeling’ deep in the pit of our stomachs and in the center of our spiritual awareness(for those who are awake and/or enlightened) is real. Unfortunately, the financial situation will continue to diminish because it’s being artificially propped up long enough for the Bush Crime Family to protect their assets. When they’ve protected their millions, then it will crash.
As for the sense of doom we’re all experiencing right now, that’s also very real, thanks to this administration of liars and frauds. Congress has rolled over so as not to have their personal dirty filth aired which was garnered by the illegal wiretapping Bush has done on all politicians. (If you think the breach of passport stuff was ugly, just wait).
As for voting, go to http://www.blackboxvoting.org. They’re testing the magic pens manufactured by (none other) Diebold Corp. right now for the paper ballots. Guess what they believe? Ever hear of “check washing”?? Looks like the official marking pens on the paper ballots which are used in the Opti-Scan machines can be washed and altered - without detection.
It’s all caving in on us and there may be little hope for seeing the light of democracy ever again unless someone fresh like Obama gets in.
Stay tuned to blackboxvoting.org and the “washing” of ballots.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:37 pmWe well remember the push by Bushies to ban the word ‘French’ from all expressions– freedom fries, anyone? Punishing, threatening, & ridiculing other countries was front & center then, and in many instances, still is. An arrogant, bullying group, those Bushies.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:39 pmIs it just me? or has anyone else noticed this? I can’t scroll under this new TP format like I used to.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:41 pmhttp://ccoaler.blogspot.com/ 2008/ 03/ tibet-coverage-biassed.html
Tibet coverage seems to be biassed
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:47 pmthreats and intimidation are Righty’s excuse for diplomacy and government, and that’s how/why they are criminals and losers.
it’s the same kind of threatening and intimidation that works so well on the populace at home, why not use it overseas?
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:53 pmBush has made us hated throughout the world, he’s been successful at that.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:03 pmAnyone remember this, from the runup to the war? Sounds like a good example of how that great and mighty Coalition was cobbled together in the first place:
– US to punish German ‘treachery’.Peter Beaumont, David Roseand Paul Beaver, Observer (UK), 2/16/2003
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:04 pmNoticed that when they stoped using the term “Coallition of the Willing”? That is bexause it always was the “Coallition of the Coerced”! In Latin America, we don’t trust the USA. Not because of this, but because of the ‘Monroe Doctrine’, which later brought to us murderous dictatoships which were financed and supported by the criminals in Washington. That is also why we never believed when Bush says: “We are taking to the Iraqui people ‘Freedom and Democracy’”. What historical credential the USA has as a ‘democracy promoter’?!! None!
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:06 pmThe USA now is trying to undermine a process of integration and independence of Latin American counties. Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales, Raffael Coerrea, Lula da Silva, are all democratic elected presidents. Democratic elected is something Bush will never understand. Not only because he does not possesses intelectual capacity for doing so, but because he was never democratic elected. He call Chavez a tyrant… Chaves is not invading and occupying any foringner country and he does not torture people either.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:11 pmMarch 22nd, 2008 at 4:13 pm
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Bush diplomacy: You are at the table or on the menu.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:25 pmBully Bush in action.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:31 pmObviously he never learned social skills - from the tot lot to the White House — it has always been a power play for him. Diplomacy, negotiation, listening and compromising have no place with Dumbya.
Ma and Pa raised a rich, spoiled brat and he is a fine example of their parenting. Except now he is an adult - his parents, rotten as they may have been, are off the hook — Bush must be responsible for himself.
Bush, however, has no sense of responsibility, accountability or sensitivity.
Can you remember the “you are either for us or against us” speech? You only found out now that he threatened countries? In South Africa he was more subtle - he said either support him in Iraq or we get no aid. He should have checked his facts first. We don’t get aid from him. So we told him where to stick it. http://angryafrican.net/ 2008/ 03/ 19/ obama-is-no-mandela/
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:39 pmWhy does this not surprise me?
This country really needs the leadership skills that Obama will bring to the presidency. He will be able to talk to these countries and let them know that America is really not a bully. Then he will have to go out and prove that we are not a bully.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:42 pmAngryAfrican
Post 35
Thanks for the link to Obama is no Mandela. That was a good read. I had my teeth clenched until the beginning of the second paragraph though….
Quite with integrity. He could take us back to the “speak softly but carry a big stick” era. When America was respected an admired..
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:48 pmRemember Freedom Fries and other French bashing.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:49 pmThe French turned out to be right.
Nothing new. I warmly recommend the following report from the Institute for Policy Studies which is from Feb. 26, 2003:
Coalition of the Willing or Coalition of the Coerced? How the Bush Administration Influences Allies in its War on Iraq
Introduction:
Although Administration officials have said publicly that they will not attempt to bully nations into supporting their Iraq policy, there is ample precedent for the United States using coercion to garner support for its military actions overseas […] Hence, the U.S. public should carefully scrutinize any claim by the Bush Administration that they have assembled a “coalition of the willing.” Almost all, by our count, join only through coercion, bullying, bribery, or the implied threat of U.S. action that would directly damage the interests of the country. This “coalition of the coerced” stands in direct conflict with democracy. In most nations, including those most closely allied to the United States, over 70 percent of the public opposes U.S. military action against Iraq.
http://www.tni.org/mil-docs/coalition.pdf
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:50 pmThe USA is alone in the world community. And if the
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:58 pmWar Criminals in the WH and in the Pentagon do not face accountability, it will remain alone for centuries to come.
I must apologetically correct you. We have done this before and pretty much got away with it. Under reagan we had the Iran/Contra debacle that was treason and Ollie north is still giving speaches and until recently although we weren’t especaially loved around the world, we could travel fairly safely. Our military incursions in Lebanon, etc.
The world was more christain than we were and turned the other cheek.
If, and it’s a big if. If we change policies with other nations when we change presidents, maybe we will be ok again. I don’t see anyone being held accountable for this either…..do you?
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:10 pmcerberus Says:
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I’ve banned the MSM in my household at this point.
There may lie the seeds of our salvation. Personally, I have refused to subscribe to cable for years. I refuse to support entities which lie to me. As long as cable “news” is profitable, they have no reason to change.
If anyone has any ides for a grass roots movement to cancel cable, hit them in their wallets, I’m all ears.
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:17 pmIncentives given by the U.S. to coalition members
Many nations received monetary and other incentives from the United States in return for sending troops to or otherwise supporting the Iraq war.[96] Critics of the Bush Administration such as Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, has said this approach smacks of “bribery”[97] Below is a partial list of some of the incentives offered to coalition members:
Turkey - Turkey was offered approximately $8.5 billion in loans in exchange for sending 10,000 peacekeeping troops in 2003. Even though the US did say the loans and the sending of troops to Iraq were not directly linked, it also said the loans are contingent upon “cooperation” on Iraq.[98]
Singapore - In May 2003 the Bush Administration signed a free trade agreement with Singapore, the first with an Asian country. In announcing the deal, President Bush hailed Singapore as “a strong partner in the war on terrorism and a member of the coalition on Iraq.” Asia Times columnist Jeffrey Robertson argued was a reward for Singapore’s support of the Iraq invasion.[99][100][101]
Australia: In 2004 the Bush Administration “fast tracked” a free trade agreement with Australia. The Sydney Morning Herald called the deal a “reward” for Australia’s contribution of troops to the Iraq invasion.[102][103]
Great Britain: As of 2006, the Independent reported that British companies have received at least £1.1bn contracts for reconstruction work in postwar Iraq.[104]
In addition to direct incentives, critics of the war have argued that the involvement of other members of the coalition was in response for indirect benefits, such as support for NATO membership or other military and financial aid. Indeed, almost all of the Eastern European nations involved in the Coalition have either recently joined or are in the process of joining the US-led NATO alliance (namely Bulgaria, Georgia, Albania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania and Slovakia).[105], the exceptions being Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic which joined NATO in 1999. Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, for example, said on April 21 that Estonian troops had to remain in Iraq due to his country’s “important partnership” with the United States.[106]
At least one country, Georgia, is believed to have sent soldiers to Iraq as an act of repayment for the American training of security forces that could potentially be deployed to the break-away regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.[107] Indeed, Georgian troops that were sent to Iraq have all undergone these training programs.[108]
El Salvador’s President Antonio Saca has been accused of deploying troops in return for membership in the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA),[109] and as a member of the right-wing ARENA party that was supported heavily by the United States during the El Salvador Civil War, is certainly influenced by the United States.
Conversely, Greece’s non involvement (a poll indicated 90% against the Iraq Invasion), may have led to the US recognizing the Republic of Macedonia under its constitutional name.[110]
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:26 pmIf any American doesn’t know this by now then the Media has done a great job for the White House. Right after Powell openly lied to the United Nation countries have said they were threaten by the US. Even Pakistan President Musharraf say it on all the news station and even on Jon Stewart’s show. Does it take a brick to fall on the Americans head to get that fact that the United States of America has become the terrorist to the world. Smaller countries have been paid off their a few men then sent into Iraq. Please talk to a soldier who is or has been in Iraq because the Media wont tell you. If you wonder why Bush got in office twice count how many people say this is news to them and that’s your answer.
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:26 pmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Multinational_force_in_Iraq#Incentives_given_by_the_U.S._to_coalition_members
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:27 pmTo Top the incentives given to coalition troops listed above
43 and the link 45
Poland was given free buses and work visas for the UK each pole was given £1600 ($3000) as a resettlement fee ( many who left and came back got 2 payments) Now half a million poles took all the jobs in every corner of the uk
Now most poles have gone back to Poland because wages went up 300% also the £ weakened against the Pole money by 25%
THIS IS WHAT POLAND GOT
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:32 pmwhat did Bush have on Tony Blair to make hime join the war
George Robertson, now general secretary of Nato,
was a phedophile and involved in a long string of rentboys , he signed a gun license for a Thomas Hamilton, who murdered 16 primary schoolchildren and their teacher in Dunblane.
look again at the 100-year ban placed on a police report on Thomas Hamilton
http://www.guardian.co.uk/ uk/ 2003/ feb/ 14/ ukguns.scotland
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:42 pmYou can fool me once, but you can’t fool me again, or something. So I’m sure the current traitorous administration would say “who could have foreseen” these coerced sovereign nations taking steps to protect themselves so this will never happen to them again. Steps such as abandoning the dollar and going with the euro, or switching from the US to China for its manufactured goods, for example. Therefore, some of the damage caused by this administration is irreversible and is written in stone, forever, and it will be years before we discover the truth and magnitude of the damage, if we ever do in our lifetimes.
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:47 pmat the start of the war George Robertson was UK Defence Secretary
his stooge Hamilton was pimp collecting rentboys for High up Scottish pervert Judges
BUSH FOUND OUT AND BLACKMAILED BLAIR INTO WAR
http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ George_Robertson%2C_Baron_Robertson_of_Port_Ellen
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:48 pmBlair was being blackmailed by Bush to join the Iraq war
Allegations surrounding the Dunblane massacre
In 2003, the Sunday Herald newspaper ran an article entitled “Should the Dunblane dossier be kept secret?”, a reference to documents relating to the Cullen Inquiry into the 1996 Dunblane massacre which are to remain classified for 100 years. In a discussion board on the newspaper’s website, anonymous contributors claimed that Robertson had signed a recommendation for a gun licence for Thomas Hamilton in his capacity as his MP. In fact, Robertson had never been the gunman’s MP, and the claims were totally unfounded. Robertson successfully sued the newspaper. The case became in important test case as to whether publishers can be held responsible for comments posted on their websites.[3][4]
Additionally, The Scotsman and the Mail on Sunday published allegations that Robertson had intervened to help Hamilton out of trouble after Hamilton was accused of showing ‘perverted behaviour’ towards boys at clubs he ran.
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:53 pmGeorge W. Bush and Dick Cheney give new meaning to “The Ugly American.”
March 22nd, 2008 at 6:19 pmRemember this?
March 22nd, 2008 at 8:19 pmThey punish, threaten and ridicule ANYBODY who doesn’t do what they want.
March 23rd, 2008 at 12:55 amNot surprising at all, because the Bush Crime Family spied on U.N. officials (wiretaps) as reported by the Guardian and covered up by the U.S. press . They are a criminal enterprise and all should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
March 23rd, 2008 at 5:46 pmRe: In the months leading up to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the Bush administration…spied on its allies…
Warrantless wiretapping, anyone????
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:28 pmCome on, folks. You must at least give Cheney some credit. He’s the only vice president (except for Aaron Burr) who ever shot a lawyer. Maybe, if we’re lucky, he’ll take dumbya hunting…
March 24th, 2008 at 12:33 amDemocracy Bush style.. Wonderful.
March 24th, 2008 at 2:59 pm