President Obama Issues Stern and Insistent Challenge to the United Nations

President Barack Obama has thrown down the gauntlet at the United Nations and now we shall see who really is our ally in the world and what countries just want us to bear the burden of not only policing the world but saving it from a wide variety of perils.

He spoke on Tueday, the 22^nd , on the subject of the environment and news reports painted his speech as disappointing to those individuals, organizations and countries who wanted to see the United States become more proactive in reducing green house gases and other controversial environmental issues. He failed in their opinion to make the US the leader in this fight on global climate change.

Today, Wednesday, September 23, he delivered a stern ultimatum to the world that the United States was not willing nor able to carry the weight of the world on American shoulders. In his words, " "Make no mistake: this cannot solely be America's endeavor. Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world's problems alone."

In President Obama's first address to the United Nations in New York, he addressed the many challenges that face the world and the need for cooperation amongst all countries to solve them. He highlighted Iran and North Korea's nuclear intentions as part of the major problems facing the global community. "Extremists sowing terror in pockets of the world," Obama said. "Protracted conflicts that grind on and on. Genocide and mass atrocities. More and more nations with lnuclear weapons, melting ice caps and ravaged populations. Persistent poverty and pandemic disease."

To solve these dire problems, the President call for four fundamental solutions; "non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament, the promotion of peace and security, the preservation of our planet, and a global economy that advances opportunity for all people."

It remains to be seen if the President's call for engagement by other world leaders will be heard or ignored. But there remains little doubt that he has clearly enunciated that the United States will not be held responsible for the success of the world alone. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32979199/ns/world_news-united_nations/

Of course, his critics will find some reason that this speech is the wrong message to send at this time, but for many Americans who are are increasingly skeptical about America's ability to be the world's policing agent, it's a message that should resound as fair. The President does not say, we will not be involved, we will not help or even that we won't continue to lead on issues, but he does say, we expect others to be involved.

Sounds fair to this American. Now let's see who tries to hit him over the head with a lead pipe, because we all no, there's little fairness in the world.

Resources:
CNN News Broadcast

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/23/AR2009092300796.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32979/ns/world_news-united_nations/