In first speech at U.N., Trump to single out North Korea, Iran

[webfact]

In first speech at U.N., Trump to single out North Korea, Iran

By Steve Holland and Jeff Mason

 

U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a session on reforming the United Nations at U.N. Headquarters in New York, U.S., September 18, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will urge United Nations member states on Tuesday to turn up the pressure on North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, using his maiden speech to the world body to address what he considers the top global challenge.

 

Senior White House officials said Trump would also target Iran's nuclear program, single out Venezuela for criticism and refer to Islamist militants as "losers," in his first appearance in the green-marbled U.N. General Assembly hall, where applause from world leaders is generally muted.

 

Trump's 10:30 a.m. (1430 GMT) speech will mark his latest attempt to lay out his "America First" vision for a U.S. foreign policy that is aimed at downgrading global bureaucracies, basing alliances on shared interests, and steering Washington away from nation-building exercises abroad.

 

Trump's first major turn on the global platform offered by the United Nations has been dominated by Iran and North Korea, which have been the focus of his talks with other world leaders.

 

Even so, he has found time to criticize the world body, alleging gross mismanagement and demanding that the United States, the largest donor to the United Nations, get more for its investment.

 

In his speech, he will seek to rally the world to help the United States and its Asian allies reduce North Korea to pariah status and pressure Iran to rein in everything from ballistic missile launches to interference in Syria.

 

With North Korean nuclear tests and missile launches stirring global tensions, Trump's move on Pyongyang comes as the U.S. ambassador to the United States, Nikki Haley, says that most non-military options have all but been exhausted.

 

The U.N. Security Council has already imposed several rounds of sanctions on North Korea.

 

A senior White House official, briefing reporters on the contents of the speech, said Trump would single out North Korea for "destabilizing, hostile and dangerous behavior."

 

North Korea's official KCNA news agency said on Monday that the more sanctions that Washington and its allies imposed on Pyongyang, the faster it would move to complete its nuclear plans.

 

'SHARED MENACE'

 

Trump will also voice concern about Iran, which aides say he considers in violation of the spirit of a 2015 deal negotiated by his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, and aimed at containing Iran's nuclear program.

 

"Theirs is a shared menace and nations cannot be bystanders to history and if we don’t confront the threats now, they will only gather force and become more formidable," the official said of North Korea and Iran.

 

Trump has set U.S.-Iran relations on a far more confrontational path than the detente Iranian President Hassan Rouhani enjoyed with Obama.

 

Trump's rhetoric against Iran, coming as he appears to be leaning against recertifying the nuclear deal by a mid-October deadline, prompted a retort from Rouhani on Monday.

 

Rouhani told CNN that exiting the Iran nuclear deal "would carry a high cost for the United States of America, and I do not believe Americans would be willing to pay such a high cost for something that will be useless for them."

 

Trump is already using his four days in New York to voice his concern about Venezuela, telling Latin American leaders on Monday night the United States would take additional steps if Caracas moved toward authoritarian rule.

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland and Jeff Mason; Writing by Steve Holland; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-09-19

[Jack Mountain]

The UN isn't meant to be a place for war mongers ....

[ballpoint]

Donald Trump praises Boris Johnson for bravely making the most of it after discovering his wife only packed half of his suit jacket.

[Cats4ever]

I don't think that Iran is a beacon of light & understanding, but the US seems to hate it disproportionately (after the wonderful Shah stood down, in any case). I don't have any great love for theocracies, but why poke the bear. Is it because they are backing Saudi, which is at least as bad? Is it at the behest of Israel? Theocracies one & all, even if structured differently. I am not equating the three, they have differing levels of ignorance and achievement.

Is the current deal done re nuclear development failing, or is it some good ol' boy's prejudice?

[kamahele]

1 hour ago, Cats4ever said:

I don't think that Iran is a beacon of light & understanding, but the US seems to hate it disproportionately (after the wonderful Shah stood down, in any case). I don't have any great love for theocracies, but why poke the bear. Is it because they are backing Saudi, which is at least as bad? Is it at the behest of Israel? Theocracies one & all, even if structured differently. I am not equating the three, they have differing levels of ignorance and achievement.

Is the current deal done re nuclear development failing, or is it some good ol' boy's prejudice?

Yes, America is backing the Sunni's in their bid to control the middle east. Simple as that. Iran does some horrible things but in the scheme of things, they should be the lesser evil compared to Saudi Arabia.

[craigt3365]

25 minutes ago, kamahele said:

Yes, America is backing the Sunni's in their bid to control the middle east. Simple as that. Iran does some horrible things but in the scheme of things, they should be the lesser evil compared to Saudi Arabia.

Perhaps Trump indicates this, but it's not the policy of the government.  Actually, quite the opposite.  IMHO, one of the reasons for doing this deal with Iran was to hurt Saudi Arabia.  Which it has done.  Iran's pumping more oil than ever.  And killing SA.  My little conspiracy theory. LOL

[mikebike]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump is already using his four days in New York to voice his concern about Venezuela, telling Latin American leaders on Monday night the United States would take additional steps if Caracas moved toward authoritarian rule.

 

As the USA move toward authoritarian rule. Massive face palm.

Edited September 19, 2017 by mikebike

[Skywalker69]

Trump Threatens to ‘Totally Destroy’ North Korea

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/world/americas/united-nations-general-assembly.html?emc=edit_na_20170919&nl=breaking-news&nlid=76310506&ref=headline

 

[Jack Mountain]

Jack Bauer, James Bond or Jason Bourne still alive? Yes, then shoot the bastard and that Mormon filth and Ivanka will take over ...

[Ruffian Dick]

14 hours ago, Cats4ever said:

I don't think that Iran is a beacon of light & understanding, but the US seems to hate it disproportionately (after the wonderful Shah stood down, in any case). I don't have any great love for theocracies, but why poke the bear. Is it because they are backing Saudi, which is at least as bad? Is it at the behest of Israel? Theocracies one & all, even if structured differently. I am not equating the three, they have differing levels of ignorance and achievement.

Is the current deal done re nuclear development failing, or is it some good ol' boy's prejudice?

I wonder if the same "bad deal" had been made with N Korea, would they be lobbing missiles at Japan and Guam today?

[selftaopath]

Most individuals with low self esteem use name calling etc. to falsely "feel better" about themselves. 45 loves to "nick name" anyone who disagrees w/ him e.g. little Marco, crooked Hilary, Rocket Man. When will the world start giving 45 a nickname and what might they be? Maybe for consideration: Cry Baby, Lying Lizard, Corruption King, Draft Dodger. The use of nicknames might not be allowed on TV but the world at large could certainly use them. So why not? Fair play eh? Oh that's right 45 can only dish it out.

[Scott]

The topic is about the UN speech.   Off-topic posts removed.