Day: September 21, 2011

11.25am: Obama’s condemnation of Iran and Syria:

In Iran, we have seen a government that refuses to recognize the rights of its own people. And as we meet here today, men, women and children are being tortured, detained and murdered by the Syrian regime. Thousands have been killed, many during the holy time of Ramadan. Thousands more have poured across Syria’s borders. The Syrian people have shown dignity and courage in their pursuit of justice – protesting peacefully, standing silently in the streets, dying for the same values that this institution is supposed to stand for. The question for us is clear: Will we stand with the Syrian people, or with their oppressors?

Already, the United States has imposed strong sanctions on Syria’s leaders. We have supported a transfer of power that is responsive to the Syrian people. Many of our allies have joined us in this effort. But for the sake of Syria – and the peace and security of the world – we must speak with one voice. There is no excuse for inaction. Now is the time for the United Nations Security Council to sanction the Syrian regime, and to stand with the Syrian people.

11.24am: Key paragraphs from Obama’s UN speech, on the events in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya:

One year ago, the hopes of the people of Tunisia were suppressed. But they chose the dignity of peaceful protest over the rule of an iron fist. A vendor lit a spark that took his own life, but ignited a movement. In the face of a crackdown, students spelled out the word freedom. The balance of fear shifted from the ruler to those that he ruled. Now the people of Tunisia are preparing for elections that will move them one step closer to the democracy they deserve.

One year ago, Egypt had known one President for nearly thirty years. But for 18 days, the eyes of the world were on Tahrir Square, where Egyptians from all walks of life – men and women; young and old; Muslim and Christian – demanded their universal rights. We saw in those protesters the moral force of non-violence that has lit the world from Delhi to Warsaw; from Selma to South Africa – and we knew that change had come to Egypt and to the Arab World.

One year ago, the people of Libya were ruled by the world’s longest serving dictator. But faced with bullets and bombs and a dictator who threatened to hunt them down like rats, they showed relentless bravery. We will never forget the words of the Libyan who stood up in those early days of revolution and said, “Our words are free now. It’s a feeling you can’t explain.”

11.22am: From the transcript of Obama’s UN speech, here’s the section on US military action in Iraq and Afghanistan:

I took office at a time of two wars for the United States. Moreover, the violent extremists who drew us into war in the first place – Osama bin Laden, and his al Qaeda organization – remained at large. Today, we have set a new direction.

At the end of this year, America’s military operation in Iraq will be over. We will have a normal relationship with a sovereign nation that is a member of the community of nations. That equal partnership will be strengthened by our support for Iraq – for its government and Security Forces; for its people and their aspirations.

As we end the war in Iraq, the United States and our coalition partners have begun a transition in Afghanistan. Between now and 2014, an increasingly capable Afghan government and Security Forces will step forward to take responsibility for the future of their country. As they do, we are drawing down our own forces, while building an enduring partnership with the Afghan people.

So let there be no doubt: the tide of war is receding. When I took office, roughly 180,000 Americans were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. By the end of this year, that number will be cut in half, and it will continue to decline. This is critical to the sovereignty of Iraq and Afghanistan, and to the strength of the United States as we build our nation at home.

Moreover, we are poised to end these wars from a position of strength. Ten years ago, there was an open wound of twisted steel and broken hearts in this city. Today, as a new tower rising at Ground Zero symbolizes New York’s renewal, al Qaeda is under more pressure than ever before. Its leadership has been degraded. And Osama bin Laden, a man who murdered thousands of people from dozens of countries, will never endanger the peace of the world again.

11.15am: Former State Department official PJ Crowley tweets his response to Obama’s UN speech:

Obama’s words regarding international support for the Arab transition and other conflicts reinforce the Palestinian UN argument.

President Obama rightly said there is no shortcut to negotiations, but he offered no incentive for the Palestinians to change course.

11.05am: Obama is now meeting with Israel‘s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with a meeting with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas to follow.

11am: The best way of reading Obama’s speech is simple: his primary audience was a domestic US one, with an eye on his flagging approval ratings and diminished re-election prospects.

10.53am: What was missing from Obama’s speech? While he had some pointed lectures for Palestinians and their supporters – telling them that their hostile attitude to Israel doesn’t help their cause – he had nothing to say about the plight of Palestine and Palestinians.

On top of that, Obama certainly did not even attempt to make a direct case against the Palestinian statehood vote, or explain the US’s opposition, other than in vague terms.

10.46am: Now Obama is returning to his central theme:

Peace is hard but we know that it is possible … Together let us see that it is defined by our hopes and not our fears.

And that’s it – 36 minutes long, a decent round of applause, certainly more enthusiastic than the polite smattering for Obama’s introduction. UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon comes down from the podium for a handshake.

Obama did cover a lot of ground – and spent more time talking about the Arab Spring than even Israel-Palestine, with no direct reference to the issue of Palestinian statehood.

The closest he came was something of a snub to the UN itself: “Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the UN – if it were that easy, it would have been accomplished by now.”

In describing Israel as being surrounded by hostile countries, cynics would say Obama was talking to a US domestic political audience. Not a word about settlements and only a brief sideways reference to the issue of Israel’s borders.

10.44am: Away from geopolitics now, and Obama is moving onto wider economic and social issues, including education and human rights: “We must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere.”

10.41am: A brief interlude for domestic US politics: Obama mentions his jobs plan and deficit-cutting proposals, in the context of international economic turbulence.

10.38am: Moving on to the issue of nuclear weapons and disarmaments, Obama brings up Iran and North Korea – calling on both to “meet their international obligations”.

10.35am: “America’s commitment to Israel’s security is unshakeable and our friendship with Israel is deep and enduring,” Obama says, arguing that Palestine’s friends “do it no favours” by refusing to recognise Israel and its position:

The deadlock will only be broken when each side learns to stand in each other’s shoes.

10.29am: Now Obama moves onto the issue of Israel and Palestine, and describes his effort to break the “stalemate” in negotiations.

I know many of you are frustrated by the lack of progress. I assure you, so am I…. There is no short cut to the end of a conflict that has endured for decades. Peace is hard work.

More bluntly, Obama makes a reference to the Palestinan statehood issue, saying that regional peace will not come from resolutions at the UN:

Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the UN – if it were that easy, it would have been accomplished by now.

Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians who must live side by side.

10.27am: Obama moves on to Yemen and Bahrain. “America is a close friend of Bahrain,” he says, but says America will always stand up for the universal rights endorsed by the UN.

“Moreover, the US wil continue to stand with those nations that transition to democracy,” says Obama, offering trade and economic support for governments as well as civil society.

10.26am: “But let us remember: peace is hard,” says Obama. “We have more work to do,” and mentions the regimes in Iran and Syria:

The question for us is clear: will we stand with the Syrian people or with their oppressors?

Obama calls on the UN security council to act:

Now is the time for the United Nations security council to sanction the Syrian regime and to stand with the Syrian people.

10.24am: Obama turns to Libya and the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime: “This is how the international community is supposed to work.”

He reels off a list of the regimes overthrown, concluding: “Gaddafi is gone – and the idea that change could only come through violence has been buried with him.”

10.21am: “It’s been a difficult decade but we stand at a crossroads in history,” says Obama, talking about the “extraordinary transformation” that have taken place since the last such UN general assembly meeting a year ago.

Obama’s theme today apears to be optimistic.

“A vendor lit a spark that took his own life – but he had ignited a movement,” says Obama, referring to the suicide of Mohammed Bouazizi, the Tunisian fruit-seller.

10.17am: “The fact is: peace is hard – but our people demand it,” says Obama. “There are still convultions in our world that endanger us all.”

Now he mentions that he took office at a time when the US was involved in two wars, and mentions Osama bin Laden and terrorism.

“Today we’ve set a new direction. At the end of this year, America’s military operations in Iraq will be over,” says Obama:

As we end the war in Iraq, America and its partners have begun a transition in Afghanistan. ending in 2014 … Let there be no doubt: the tide of war is receding.

“We are poised to end these wars in a position of strength,” says Obama.

10.11am: Obama is speaking now – and says his subject is peace, and harks back to the origins of the UN, quoting President Roosevelt about the search for a lasting peace.

10.10am: President Obama has arrived at the UN for his speech, which will start as soon as President Rousseff of Brazil concludes.

It looks like she’s winding up – and Obama is being introduced. Here he comes.

10.04am: While we are waiting for Obama to begin speaking, here’s the latest by the Guardian’s Chris McGreal in New York on the plan emerging to avoid a showdown over Palestinian statehood:

The deal is being pushed by the Middle East “Quartet” of the UN, EU, US and Russia, which is attempting to persuade Abbas to back away from a diplomatic confrontation with Washington, which says it will veto the Palestinian bid.

The US president Barack Obama is expected to meet the Palestinian leader at the UN on Wednesday as Abbas comes under intense pressure from the US and Europe to compromise.

Diplomats said the proposed compromise would see Abbas submit his letter to the security council, which would then defer action. In parallel, the Quartet would issue the framework for renewed negotiations that would include a timeline for the birth of a Palestinian state.

10am: Barack Obama is due to speak at the UN general assembly, in an address expected to cover a wide range of international issues but especially focussing on the Middle East and the so-called “Arab Spring” – as well as the controversial issue of the Palestinian statehood bid.

You can follow our earlier live blogging coverage here. And you can leave your comments on Obama’s speech below.