Annan to blast U.S. in farewell - USATODAY.com:
"In a farewell speech on U.S. soil today, retiring United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan plans to deliver a tough critique of President Bush's policies. He will accuse the administration of trying to secure the United States from terrorism in part by dominating other nations through force, committing what he termed human rights abuses and taking military action without broad international support.
Though Annan has long been a critic of the war in Iraq and other Bush foreign policies, the planned speech is among his toughest and is unusual for a U.N. secretary-general concluding his tenure.
Annan's remarks, provided to USA TODAY by his office, list principles for international relations, among them 'respect for human rights and the rule of law.'
These ideas can be advanced only 'if America remains true to its principles, including in the struggle against terrorism,' the speech says. 'When it appears to abandon its own ideals and objectives, its friends abroad are naturally troubled and confused.'
[...]
Critics of Annan in Congress, including Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., faulted the Ghana-born, U.S.-educated diplomat for lax management of the $64 billion U.N. oil-for-food program. The 1996-2003 effort was tainted by $1.5 billion in kickbacks to the regime of Saddam Hussein.
"Annan's legacy will be one of missed opportunity and failed leadership," said Coleman, who urged Annan to resign last year. "
"In a farewell speech on U.S. soil today, retiring United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan plans to deliver a tough critique of President Bush's policies. He will accuse the administration of trying to secure the United States from terrorism in part by dominating other nations through force, committing what he termed human rights abuses and taking military action without broad international support.
Though Annan has long been a critic of the war in Iraq and other Bush foreign policies, the planned speech is among his toughest and is unusual for a U.N. secretary-general concluding his tenure.
Annan's remarks, provided to USA TODAY by his office, list principles for international relations, among them 'respect for human rights and the rule of law.'
These ideas can be advanced only 'if America remains true to its principles, including in the struggle against terrorism,' the speech says. 'When it appears to abandon its own ideals and objectives, its friends abroad are naturally troubled and confused.'
[...]
Critics of Annan in Congress, including Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., faulted the Ghana-born, U.S.-educated diplomat for lax management of the $64 billion U.N. oil-for-food program. The 1996-2003 effort was tainted by $1.5 billion in kickbacks to the regime of Saddam Hussein.
"Annan's legacy will be one of missed opportunity and failed leadership," said Coleman, who urged Annan to resign last year. "
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