Gaddafi UN drama serves ace to Brown
I wrote my last post before seeing Gaddafi toss aside a copy of the UN Charter. It was an act - at the end of a 1 hour 36 minute address which provided Gordon Brown with an ideal opportunity to come to the defence of the UN.
The prime minister re-wrote the opening of his speech, which was delayed by over two hours thanks to the Colonel's ramblings, to add the ringing declaration: "I stand here to reaffirm the United Nations Charter, not to tear it up. I call on every nation here to support its universal principles."
Round One to Brown then but Round Two comes tomorrow when both men attend a meeting of the Security Council - or the Terrorism Council as Libya's leader prefers to refer to it.
What will the colonel have in store for us then?
Comment number 1.
At 23rd Sep 2009, West_London_Willy wrote:Not sure about tomorrow - not until we see what else happend to provide Gordy with his next futile, meaningless soundbyte opportunity.
That's all our poor excuse for a PM is good for - pointless posturing before a disinterested audience on his favoured 'world stage', and a reverse Victory Salute to the public he should be serving.
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Comment number 2.
At 23rd Sep 2009, Roll_On_2010 wrote:What will the colonel have in store for us then?
Perhaps an oil contract for Duff to sign with other UN delegates as witnesses!
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Comment number 3.
At 23rd Sep 2009, Pravda We Love You wrote:That is a pretty dull and low key ace. Lobby journalists might be impressed - but nobody else will be.
Round 2 - "The World Statesman of The Year" - locked in a personal battle with Gaddafi. This is a Clash-Of-The-Lilliputians.
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Comment number 4.
At 23rd Sep 2009, Colin wrote:LOL. Even as a wrecked England sinks beneath the waves, the 91热爆 is Clown's indefatigable cheer-leader.
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Comment number 5.
At 23rd Sep 2009, discuss2010 wrote:I have listened today to the speeches of President Obama, Colonel Gaddafi, President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Brown. Colonel Gadaffi's ramblings were indeed embarrasing. The two most outstanding speeches so far, in my opinion, were the visionary and wide ranging speeches of Obama and Sarkozy.
Please allow me to quote President Sarkozy 23/09/2009):
" Hope to those who are paying for errors that they did not make,
Hope to those who are outraged by the behavior of those who still continue to grow indecently rich, after leading the
world to the brink of disaster,
Hope to those who fear that, if we do nothing, they will be the victims of ecological and political catastrophes brought
about by the depletion of natural resources and global warming,
Hope to those who are still dying in absurd wars from another age, while humankind has so many challenges to face,
Hope to those whose lives are growing harder and harder, who feel that they have been lied to for so long about the real state of the world,
To all those we owe an answer."
You can find the full text of these speeches here:
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Comment number 6.
At 23rd Sep 2009, TheBlameGame wrote:"The prime minister re-wrote the opening of his speech"
Nick, was that all his own work? No Kirsty McNeill at hand?
And the UN Charter...is that the same Charter that Kofi Annan said was breached by the Iraq War?
Is that the same Charter that Israel breaks regularly? Israel, a country we sell arms which uses weapons bought from Britain to break that Charter.
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Comment number 7.
At 23rd Sep 2009, dysgwrcymraeg wrote:How quickly are you going to close up these nasty posts this time?
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Comment number 8.
At 23rd Sep 2009, bryhers wrote:The elephant in the room to these deliberations from nuclear non-proliferation to Mr. Gaddafi`s outburst is Iran`s nuclear weapons against which the arabs have no defence.
Accusations of terrorism relating to Lockerbie is the fuse which led Mr. Gaddafi to abandon the `arab` bomb.His attack on the `terrorism council`
reflects his unwillingness to accept responsibility for Lockerbie,and his impotence as a client state of the west in military terms.
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Comment number 9.
At 23rd Sep 2009, BennnotBlair wrote:Whenever i read the comments on Nick's blog it is always full of anti-Brown nonsense, regardless of the subject matter.
Why atack Brown for rebuking Gaddafi for his speech earlier?
Conservative HQ, that's a question for you!
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Comment number 10.
At 23rd Sep 2009, TheBlameGame wrote:Nick, I'm getting a message from my producer.. ask the PM why if he supports the UN Charter did his government invade Iraq? And why if he supports its universal principles does he sell arms to "countries of concern?" Quickly Nick, this entry will be closing soon.
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Comment number 11.
At 23rd Sep 2009, X-Sticks wrote:Complain about this comment (Comment number 11)
Comment number 12.
At 23rd Sep 2009, SilentHunter wrote:I thought only the Guardian closed its comment section as soon as too many anti Labour posts were evident with precious few in support of Der Kluncken Fuhrer.
No one cares what Gordon Brown says anymore - he's just a mouthpiece for Lord Mandelson; Britains 'other' unelected Prime Minister.
Could we just have the General Election NOW please!
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Comment number 13.
At 23rd Sep 2009, X-Sticks wrote:"I stand here to reaffirm the United Nations Charter, not to tear it up. I call on every nation here to support its universal principles."
That's not the same united Nations Charter that Tony Bliar and Gordung Brown wiped their feet on as they marched off to war in Iraq? It surely can't be, as every nation at the UN should support its universal principles. Hypocrite!
And by the way Baroness Scotland broke the law. She should resign.
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Comment number 14.
At 23rd Sep 2009, brwydnos wrote:The Colonel may have an interesting way of expressing himself, but this must not distract from some plain uncomfortable truths he speaks.
That said, popular belief - thanks largely to anti-Lybian propaganda - is that the Colonel 'rambles' and lies. So, judging by the responses to this blog post the fact that the UK public, when contemplating both Brown and Gaddafi's speeches side by side, can't differentiate between the two men's integrity, speaks volumes about the standing of our PM at the moment.
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Comment number 15.
At 23rd Sep 2009, muadib wrote:"That's all our poor excuse for a PM is good for - pointless posturing before a disinterested audience on his favoured 'world stage', and a reverse Victory Salute to the public he should be serving."
Can we trust the same rapier wit will come to the fore if Cameron turns out to be less than the Messiah? Change "his" to "her" and the above reads like the last days of Thatcher. After 3 terms, any government becomes villified.
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Comment number 16.
At 23rd Sep 2009, oldnat wrote:If an ace is served to you, you lose the point.
Gadaffi's speech was directed at the vast majority of countries who weren't the victors in WWII and who don't get the consequent favours that brought about in the UN. I doubt if his audience were impressed by Brown standing up, and essentially saying to them "Things are fine as they are, and don't upset the applecart."
Gadaffi may well have served an ace (though a rather rambling one!)
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Comment number 17.
At 23rd Sep 2009, discuss2010 wrote:Re #14 brwydnos
I doubt many of the previous commentators here have read both speeches. They would have had to read Gaddafi's speech which is 1 hour 36 minutes long. Also, many of Gordon Brown's enemies here might find it difficult to supress their feelings and actually carefully listen to his words.
I would encourage readers to make an effort and to listen to or read those speeches given at the UN General Assembly.
They may actually learn something and their minds could then find out about new perspectives, how other people from different cultures see our planet, with all its tragedies, challenges and opportunities.
Again, all these General Assembly speeches can be found here:
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Comment number 18.
At 23rd Sep 2009, artisticsocrates wrote:Brown may have many failings - but he can deliver a speech.
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Comment number 19.
At 23rd Sep 2009, saga mix wrote:J Cook @ 3
"The World Statesman of The Year" - locked in a personal battle with Gaddafi
yes and I bet there's no love lost there, especially with the Colonel rambling on for hours and thus delaying Gordon's speech - can't be easy waiting in the wings, having to rewrite your stuff just before you go on - and the audience ... well you have to feel for them, don't you? - you're there to see Gordon, but then you find you have to sit through an eternity of Gaddafi first! - kind of like tickets to Beyonce, and she ends up coming on 3 hours late because Cilla has overrun ... can you imagine? - hey, and you can take that WSOTY thing out of quote marks, Jonathan, because I've just found out it's true! - I'd been assuming it was some sort of running Clown gag but no, there he was this evening picking up the shiny trophy from Henry Kissinger, no less - quite sweet really - he looked genuinely happy and proud, didn't he? - nice to see - not sure how many votes there are in it, though ... approximately none, I'd have thought - looking black for Labour, n'est ce pas? - it's too late to change Leader, and it's too late to change public perceptions of their record - plus, there's the most powerful foe of all for a governing party ... Time For A Change! ... that's a killer - one thing they can do however ... the thing they MUST do ... is try and get the public to think about the prospect of the Tories (and in particular THESE Tories) getting landslided in - really think about it, I mean
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Comment number 20.
At 23rd Sep 2009, ARHReading wrote:Isn't this a bit of a side show compared with President Obama's address which was much more significant?
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Comment number 21.
At 23rd Sep 2009, Roll_On_2010 wrote:As Duff lurches on from one catastrophe to the next its getting difficult to see were one ends and the next one begins.
I am staying on, after troubles and health rumours
Mr Brown鈥檚 reputation as a world statesman had already taken a knock as details emerged of attempts to seek a formal one-to-one meeting with President Obama. Mr Brown eventually had to follow the President through the kitchens of the UN after a reception to secure some private 鈥渇ace time鈥.
Roll On 2010
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Comment number 22.
At 24th Sep 2009, Prof John Locke wrote:GB snubbed by Obama.....frequent requests for a meeting turned down.. Brown desperate for photo opportunity....so much for "statesman of the year"...
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Comment number 23.
At 24th Sep 2009, SilentHunter wrote:@18:
Yes, I remember the one on YouTube . . . very funny.
Although I don't think he meant it to be.
His oration skills are second only to John Prescott.
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Comment number 24.
At 24th Sep 2009, Essential Rabbit wrote:The speach was just the rantings of a lunatic, so was Gaddafi's.
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Comment number 25.
At 24th Sep 2009, dennisjunior1 wrote:Nick Robinson:
What will the colonel have in store for us then?
I am unable to answer the question at 100% but, I would like to know also....
=Dennis Junior=
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Comment number 26.
At 24th Sep 2009, stockexplosion wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 27.
At 24th Sep 2009, Steve_M-H wrote:9#
Well, that might just be that because on lonely, frozen, snubbed Planet Brown, he is the centre of the universe and everything else revolves around him.
You can call it nonsense if you wish. Chances are, you're not one of the legions of those unemployed or worse off as a direct result of his actions and inactions as Chancellor and/or PM.
What you cant see is Ghadaffi toying with Brown as a spider would to a web-bound fly. Its an utterly execrable, unbecoming spectacle.
How much longer are you going to put up with this deadweight megalomaniac who is going to consign you to electoral oblivion for 20 years - thats a question for Labour HQ!
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Comment number 28.
At 24th Sep 2009, Steve_M-H wrote:"...can't be easy waiting in the wings, having to rewrite your stuff just before you go on..."
Oh, I dunno Saga.... he had ten years practise waiting for Blair to jump off his perch, didnt he? Cant really start smearing either Ghadaffi or Obama though, like he did with TB and the PLP, to get what he wants.
Oh, what is the WSOTY to do....
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Comment number 29.
At 24th Sep 2009, Steve_M-H wrote:17#
OK.
I followed the link and I did that, actually looked at what was said.
Ghadaffi did indeed ramble, some of it was incoherent and could have only been said by him... but he did make a couple of interesting points along the way which would have been uncomfortable. "You make a speech... and then you disappear", implying that its just a talking shop. He also said that the African Union should have a Security Council seat. Interesting, good point. Meetings of the UN should be held elsewhere periodically, instead of always New York. Fair point, if it is meant to be a global organisation.
And also, for all the talk of preventing wars and conflicts, 65 have occurred whilst the UN has been in existance. So, with the exception of the other bodies, like UNESCO, UNICEF, etc, the core of the UN has basically been long on talk and short on decisive action.
I cant knock him for that. All the other flowery stuff... well, what did you expect?
As for Brown... fine words. Not his own, no doubt, down to Kirsty McNiell, I would venture. And, we have learned through bitter experience that what Brown says hardly ever comes to pass. Fine words, but why should we be taken in and believe a single sentence of it?
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Comment number 30.
At 24th Sep 2009, puzzling wrote:Whatever the culture and age, politicians do not change, in motivations, in methods, in character.
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Comment number 31.
At 24th Sep 2009, Steve_M-H wrote:19#
A bit more research Saga, has shown that past recipients of the World Statesman Award include President Nicolas Sarkozy (2008), Chancellor Angela Merkel (2007) and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2006). Other recipients include former Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher, Romano Prodi, John Howard and King Juan Carlos I.
Oh dear. Thatch? Drat, that wasnt part of the plan, was it?
John Howard? Another Presidential Medal Of Freedom recipient, like TB.
And Lula? "Lula has faced criticism for recurrent corruption scandals benefiting private groups and his own party, and also for alliances made with right-wing politicians, bankers, plantation owners and most of the economic elite of Brazil, which has led observers to question his self-proclaimed position as a socialist leader." (sounds a bit close to Browngabe that doesnt it? Insert "bankers, hedge fund owners, Oligarchs, Private Equity Funds, TV/Goat personalities..." quite close to home)
Illustrious company then. A cabal of political pragmatists who wear their religion like a tie pin when it suits them.
Bit like Time Magazine in 1939's January edition awarding one Adolf Hitler the title of Man Of The Year.
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Comment number 32.
At 24th Sep 2009, Diabloandco wrote:Ooooh! This one is'nt shut down yet!
It has come to a pretty pass when the public are more inclined to give credence to ANYONE other than Brown.
I say Gaddafi's on a winner!
I'm getting really fed up being told just who is our friends and who is'nt.
How come the West and the Wests media has become so arrogant as to believe that it can castigate others as " rogue " and can still look at itself in the mirror after Iraq and Afghanistan?
I fully understand why other nations think of the UK and US as ROGUE.
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Comment number 33.
At 24th Sep 2009, West_London_Willy wrote:15 muadib:
"Can we trust the same rapier wit will come to the fore if Cameron turns out to be less than the Messiah?"
Sure can. That's what happens when you THINK about what's said, rather than just slip on another set of blinkers to obscure what's in front of everybody else's eyes. I am able to call anyone in power to account. Doesn't matter what colour their flag is. But Accountability is something totally lost on our current Government and leader.
Thing is, Brown IS posturing, posing, looking for 'meetings of importance' with Obama, and has ALWAYS been more interested in HAVING the job of Prime minister than he is in DOING the job of Prime Minister.
You yourself are not sure how David Cameron will do on the world stage aftyer the next election (note your use of the word 'if'). For now he gets the benefit of doubt. Doubt that New Labour and Gordon Brown lost ages ago - we KNOW what they are like.
Roll on 2010.
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Comment number 34.
At 24th Sep 2009, DavidHankey wrote:Why is it that Gaddafi was allowed to break the "15 minute rule"? What gives him the right to be different. Is it just arrogance or ignorance?
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Comment number 35.
At 24th Sep 2009, AndyC555 wrote:"Round One to Brown then but Round Two comes tomorrow when both men attend a meeting of the Security Council" - Nick Robinson
Oh, please, Nick. Are you really trying to say this is between Brown and Gadaffi? Are all the other world leaders standing by hoping that the lardy one can save the world from Gadaffi? Stop trying to 'big up' an increasingly inconsequential world leader.
After the release of Al Megrahi, I expect Gadaffi's only reaction on seeing Brown is to try hard to repress a laugh.
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Comment number 36.
At 24th Sep 2009, Barbazenzero wrote:#16 oldnat
"If an ace is served to you, you lose the point."
Quite so, as Nick seems to have done.
#31 Fubar_Saunders
"Bit like Time Magazine in 1939's January edition awarding one Adolf Hitler the title of Man Of The Year."
I agree with the rest of your post, but I think you've got it wrong there. Hitler was certainly on the mind of more people than anybody else in 1939.
More like the situation had Time awarded the title to Neville Chamberlain, I think.
Post or reactive moderation for all except CBeebies, please!
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Comment number 37.
At 24th Sep 2009, AndyC555 wrote:#19
So Sagamix, when you drift off to sleep does Gordon come to you in your dreams, dressed as Beyonce?
It would explain a lot!
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Comment number 38.
At 24th Sep 2009, Steve_M-H wrote:36#
Hah. Yes, on reflection, that would have been appropriate!
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Comment number 39.
At 24th Sep 2009, Robin Rowlands wrote:Rat looked into the cage he didnt get it - rats dont live in cages - cages are for hamsters and Guardian Journalists
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Comment number 40.
At 24th Sep 2009, saga mix wrote:@ 37
not really, Andy ... but the other way around has some appeal
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Comment number 41.
At 24th Sep 2009, DeniseCullum222 wrote:More Jolly boys outings its boring you loose count of the one they are at whats the next one G1000 who cares the same faces and the same rubbish of how they all care for us and how they want everything to go well but... who snubbed this one or that one they are all liars one and all no matter what colour or sex or belief they are all in the game for what they can get away with it has always been the same I was amazed Peter was on up there giving his all but he was here player pretend leader, it is so boring like a unfunny soap.
people those of us who have nothing can not be bothered taking note of what was said and by whom there is many people being killed daily while these cowards do nothing. I see Brown collecting a crystal dove of peace from Kissinger who was give a Noble Peace Prize for Peace ??? the world is ruled by the mad.
And Nick no matter how well you try to bring life to these get together s it will not work evil is banal. I thought we had to tighten our belts and what is Brown doing what Blair did run away from problems at home to collect gongs from the USA. I do not think Barak snubbed Brown he was not going to give him Narcissistic Supply any more he is trying to do the job he is paid for which is to stop the USA from imploding.
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Comment number 42.
At 24th Sep 2009, Steve_M-H wrote:37#
Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww....... that was uncalled for. I'll never be able to look at Beyonce in the same way again.... :-(
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Comment number 43.
At 25th Sep 2009, powermathar wrote:No one wants small countries to have a voice, just like minority groups never have a voice. If all these small countries were allowed to speak, alot would come out. But everytime they speak, they are blackmailed with aid(if you do not do this we do not give you this). It's about time they gained their independence, fair trade pactised and they were allowed to rule with minimal interference.
All these small countries have been painted as poor, babaric, terrorists, but they are fighting outside influence and freedom. Amin, Gaddafi, Mobutu, Mugabe are not bad people, they have been painted bad.Every leader has committed crimes but for small countries it seems to be magnified by the media.
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Comment number 44.
At 25th Sep 2009, grand voyager wrote:Nick
Whatever happened to the Gaddafi's speech blog, you did'nt wake up with a camels head in your bed did you.
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