March 31, 2003
UN chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix has some pretty strange notions about war and peace. In an interview with MTV earlier this month, Blix rated the environment a bigger priority than military conflict.
"To me the question of the environment is more onerous than that of peace and war. We will have regional conflicts and use of force, but world conflicts I do not believe will happen any longer. But the environment, that is a creeping danger. I’m more worried about global warming than I am of any major military conflict."
Given Blix’s lackadaisical attitude towards military conflict, one ponders how seriously Blix takes his job as UN chief weapons inspector.
Gorbachev fears collapse of UN
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev seems to think that the UN will come down with the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s Iraq regime.
Noting that he had heard about the U.S. air attack on Iraq by way of a taxi driver in Japan, the 72-year-old Russian politician said, "It’s really too bad. What has become of the world? I’m afraid the UN system has collapsed. We have to give our earnest consideration to the problem."
Hardly a fan of U.S. foreign policy, Gorbachev attacked Americans in his comments: "The United States seems to believe this military action shows its world leadership. Real world leadership is to take initiatives in promoting the Kyoto Protocol, nuclear disarmament and arms control, and solving environmental issues."