Obama didn't know Russia can veto UN Resolutions (Putin, vote, security)

[Trevor92]

The Campaign Spot on National Review Online=

This is quite scary to think that Obama could become the next president of the United States when, as a junior Senator, he doesn't understand how one of the most important international organizations works. He apparently needed 3 tries before somebody told him that the UN Security Council won't condemn Russia's aggression toward Georgia because Russia has veto power in the UN. This is something that a presidential candidate should already know, he will after all be taking over on day one.

[smd1998]

Cannot wait to hear the excuses for this.

Why has this not been brought up?

He looked like a total fool when he said this.

[sandycat]

well, um, he wasn't running for VP and people weren't questioning his experience since he was not seeking second highest office in the world.

[JoeP]

...from wingnuts

Asking the UN to do something despite a threat of veto doesn't make one unknowing of another state's veto power.

But this ridiculous claim from Nat'l Review - and wingnuts here - demonstrates a clear wingnut lack of understanding of the political dialogue and ways of UN and international politics in general.

[Trevor92]

Very true. Just some links to some other commentary.

Tampabays10.com | Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater | McCain, Obama react to Georgia fighting
Will somebody please tell Obama about Russia's veto power in the UN Security Council? - Sean Hannity Discussion
http://www.politicususa.com/en/Obama-Russia-Georgia

Here's the article on where Russia actually rejects the UN's draft.
BBC NEWS | Europe | Russia rejects UN Georgia draft

It could be viewed as a symobolic gesture with the veto, and perhaps that was all he was trying to accomplish.

[LNTT_Vacationer]

What's shocking is this is a great political gaffe by Obama; a guy running for the top spot! -- that clearly shows why his 143 days in the senate just hasn't prepared him for the big time. In Obama's defense, by the third press release four days after the invasion, he finally got it right. . . . by just copying McCain's initial statement.

If McCain or Palin made a gaffe of this magnitude it's all we'd be hearing from the media for days. Why Obama gets a free pass is an interesting aspect to the campaign.

[Miborn]

But he has had 18 months of campaign training...................

[Korel]

This doesn't surprise me. He had no clue the average age of a soldier in the military last night.

[WinterinAmerica]

"The U.S. should lead within the U.N. and other international forums to cast a clear and unrelenting light on the decision, and to further isolate Russia internationally because of its actions,"

Ah, actually it is too bad that the National Review and the thread author don't understand that "vetos" (which don't exist by name because a negative vote by any one of the 5 permanent members results in non-passage) are only applicable to substantive resolutions. Nor, does a "veto" a substantive resolution from being presented.

In the 60 year history of the UN both the US and the Soviet Union/Russia has put forth resolutions condemning the actions of one or the other, knowing full well that these resolutions would be "veto" by the respective nations, because the effort to raise such objections has been historically consider one more tool in the diplomatic tool chest for expressing opposition.

As anyone with unclouded eyes can see, the quote provided by the NR shows that Obama following in the diplomatic tradition of both Republican and Democratic administrations is calling for raising the issue within the frame work of the UN. Whether that condemnation results in a substantive resolution is totally irrelevant.

I might also point out, if one wishes to denigrate the use of the UN as an international forum when it comes to the Russian incursion into Georgia, I am all ears and eyes to hear or read just what they think would be an effective punishment. So, far all I've heard from McBush/Palin is "We are Georgians." I am sure that this has Putin and Medvedev quaking in their Feregamos.

[smd1998]

3000 advisers and still got it wrong. How stupid is he?