Going Nuclear

Barack Obama, in an attempt to establish a new co-operative relationship between the US and the United Nations, has assigned former Green jobs czar Van Jones as his representative to chair the 15-member United Nations Security Council nuclear summit.

The topic for discussion on September 24 is nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament – one of several global challenges that the US now wants to see addressed at a multinational level.

“The council has a very important role to play in preventing the spread and use of nuclear weapons,” Susan Rice, US envoy to the UN, said last week. “We need a bold, fresh, radical approach to nuclear weapons. Van Jones’ experience as Green Jobs czar makes him uniquely qualified to be the voice of the United States at this most important meeting. And besides (Iranian President) Ahmadi-nejad and (Libyan President) Gaddafi will be there. Van Jones has a lot in common with these guys. He speaks their lingo.”

Her remarks were the latest by the Obama administration to emphasize a shift from the strategy of the previous Bush administration.

“They (the Bush Administration) always wanted resolutions passed in the UN that actually meant something. Like when Saddam (Hussein) wouldn’t obey resolutions Bush went to war,” Rice claimed. “The Obama Administration has a different approach. We know that a UN resolution isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.”

When asked for comment press secretary Robert Gibbs was hopeful that the summit would be productive. “I fully expect to have a resolution from Ahmadi-nejad stating that Iran will dismantle all of its nuclear programs. But we do not really think they will actually do it. It’s the UN for Pete’s sake! See a problem, pass a resolution, problem solved! They’re worse than Congress!”