By UPDATE: The Big Hominid has more on what he thinks about Ban Ki-moon’s recent statements.Â
Former South Korean foreign minister and now the new UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has come out and made some shocking statements you will not believe:
Incoming United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told Iran on Thursday it was unacceptable to deny that the Holocaust took place or to call for Israel to be wiped off the map.
Ban was responding to a question asked at a news conference about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who since coming to power in August last year has caused an outcry by terming the Holocaust a “myth†and calling Israel a “tumor†in the Middle East.
Ahmadinejad just ended a two-day international conference on the Holocaust that was dominated by speakers who questioned the extermination of 6 million Jews by the Nazis in World War Two.
“Denying historical facts especially on such an important subject as the Holocaust is just not acceptable,†Ban said.
“Nor is it acceptable to call for the elimination of states or people,†Ban said. “I would like to see this fundamental principle respected in both rhetoric and practice by all the members of the international community.â€
A UN Secretary General saying something in support of Israel and against Islamo-fascists? Amazing. I’m betting it won’t last once the rich Arab countries and their cronies get their tentacles around him. Ban is new on the job; give him time and the UN monster that sucks the life out of good men will have him defending Ahmadinejad and bashing Israel before you know it.Â
I wonder if Ban will ever make such a statement with such morally clarity about North Korean leader Kim Jong-il? I doubt it.Â
But to give Ban his fair due, as Rob pointed out, he has been saying all the right things lately and I hope he lives up to the early words he has been preaching. Something that made an impression on me a couple of years ago, is when Ban visited Camp Red Cloud to thank the leadership and the soldiers there for their important service in Korea:
Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon thanked top U.S. military officials yesterday for the role U.S. forces play in South Korea, reaffirming that the government would extend the stay of South Korean troops deployed to Iraq.
Mr. Ban and a small group of Foreign Ministry officials visited Camp Red Cloud, headquarters of the U.S. 8th Army’s 2nd Infantry Division located in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi province.
Arriving by helicopter with U.S. Forces Korea commander General Leon LaPorte, Mr. Ban was briefed on the unit by Major General George A. Higgins, the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division. Mr. Ban had lunch at the commanding general’s mess hall with 80 officers and soldiers.
"The purpose of my presence here today is to express, on behalf of the Korean people, our most sincere appreciation to all U.S. Forces Korea personnel for their vigilant duty here at the front line far away from home," said Mr. Ban.
He said that such sacrifice and dedication have helped to rebuild South Korea "literally from ashes to a place where democracy and a market economy flourish."
Can anyone name anyone from the ruling government that has thanked the USFK soldiers serving in Korea for their service? Ban is the only one I know of. You would think that with now over 4 years in the Blue House that President Roh Moo-hyun would have found the time to make the hour drive up MSR3 to Uijongbu to thank some of the soldiers there for giving a year of their lives away from their families to help protect the republic that he leads. Yet some how Roh has time to set a side to visit with Kim Jong-il? Heck former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld flew to Iraq to thank the Korean Army soldiers stationed there for their service and Roh can’t even make it up to Uijongbu? Heck I’ll even pay his subway fair and cab ride to CRC if he wants. At least Ban did make the drive up to Uijongbu which means something and if he can turn the UN around it will mean even more.
4:49 am on December 17th, 2006 1
He's laying the foundation for a Tokdo push – I can feel it….
Seriously, this was an impressive statement, but I do not expect it to be a trend. As you said, when the oil-rich nations, and all the support they can round up, point out the power they have in the UN General Assembly, it will be over.
This is one of the most disappointing things I've watched in my life time – how the UN, even after the end of the Cold War, can't get jack shit done due to the break up in power camps.
And it doesn't matter if you are a fan of US foriegn policy or despise it; or whether you rail against the colonial powers in favor of the former colonies or the opposite —- there is no way to get around the fact the UN is a busted system that can't function – not as some people like to pretend it should.
12:30 pm on December 17th, 2006 2
Ban seems to much like a consensus builder and not someone who will challenge the nations that make the UN a joke much less be able to spearhead real reform. I really hope I'm wrong and Ban can fix the mess but I forsee the UN becoming more irrelevant in the coming years.
2:56 am on December 18th, 2006 3
Ban's morality — like 99.9% of all pagan or Kristian Koreans — is for sale. Most Koreans have become Purpose Driven in religion … which means money driven. A major reason why the US put a Korean into the UN office.
What is funny with the above commentaries and GI's perspective, however, is one should not even bemoan the ineffectiveness of the current UN.
Why? Because the agenda of the UN is global communitarianism … which is the moral, legal and religious foundation to smiley-faced fascist totalitarianism.
To mock the UN's inefficiency is ignorance and corruption. One should realize the wish for an efficient UN is a wish to empower the UN as a tool for the construction of a global police state.
This is GI's cherished hope: A more "efficient" UN.
ALERT, ALERT, ALERT! COMMIES AMONG THE TROOPS! FASCISTS IN THE RANKS!
3:48 pm on December 22nd, 2006 4
[...] Talk about a coincidence. Earlier this week I criticized President Roh for not visiting and thanking US soldiers stationed in Korea after being in the Blue House now for over four years. Now Nomad has linked to this Yonhap article which shows the South Korean Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook visited and thanked airmen at Osan Airbase. The Stars and Stripes has an article out as well. It is good to see one of the leading politicians in the country thanking US military personnel serving in Korea; it definitely doesn’t happen enough. Now when will we see President Roh come out of hiding and visit a US military post? [...]
5:51 pm on May 9th, 2007 5
[...] UN head Ban Ki-moon. Other Koreabloggers seem to think he’s da shiznit. Check out GI Korea’s take here, and the Nomad’s take here.Please note, fellas, that Ban’s been sworn in, but he doesn’t start his [...]
11:10 pm on July 6th, 2007 6
[quote]Ban’s morality — like 99.9% of all pagan or Kristian Koreans — is for sale.[/quote]
Well, Jack I have news for you (better late than never) – you ain't nuthin but another blind prejudiced racist judging the whole nation by one sell-out punk a*s fool who sits in un and says things like "global warming is to blame for conflicts and deaths". Yes, un got a plan for a police state, no doubt in that. and people like you with your damn prejudices help that thing the best way. of course, white people got the highest morality level in the world, didn't you know?
8:22 am on October 10th, 2007 7
I wonder if Mr. Ban eats dog meat? I'll have to ask him, i wonder if he would even answer. I'm sure he has, i wonder if the world would like to know the answer.
4:23 pm on October 10th, 2007 8
"I wonder if Mr. Ban eats dog meat? I’ll have to ask him, i wonder if he would even answer. I’m sure he has, i wonder if the world would like to know the answer."
Like most today's koreans he probably eats occasinally or not at all. Dog meat is becoming an exotic food in korea even for koreans.
4:08 am on October 11th, 2007 9
I like it personally, but it is rather expensive these days. I prefer the chungol in the winter time when it gets cold, it makes a nice stew.
6:34 am on October 11th, 2007 10
"Like most today’s koreans he probably eats occasinally or not at all. Dog meat is becoming an exotic food in korea even for koreans."
Dog meat is everywhere in Korea. Just look down the ally of some run down neighborhood. Dog and cat stew. Its not exotic or fancy, but Korean men "need" to eat it before they pay for sex.
5:26 am on October 24th, 2007 11
Lots of countries eat non-kosher meats, skippy… Even Switzerland…
Mind you, I have never eaten it nor needed to pay for any voluntary body functions; but I always thought cutting back on liquor and cigarettes–and getting more than four hours sleep a night–was better for one's health than what seems to pass for normal here…
OTOH, Robert Duvall apparently never said "I love the smell of kimchi in the morning… Smells like victory…".
9:35 am on October 24th, 2007 12
It's only found around the rural village of St. Gallen, it isn't a stable of Swiss cuisine.
9:38 am on October 24th, 2007 13
I'm a hypocrite though, i actually enjoy it very much but slam the entire race for eating it. I find myself defending korea while in Canada and slamming it while living here.
Pay no attention to my rants people….