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Obama’s book notes UN failure in Sri Lanka

25 November 2020 09:26 am - 31     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Former US President Barack Obama has referred to Sri Lanka in his just released book which has already sold millions of copies.

The reference on Sri Lanka, though very short, is likely to stir controversy in Sri Lanka and overseas.

The book ‘A promised Land’ notes that UN member states lacked either the means or the collective will to reconstruct failing states like Somalia, or prevent ethnic slaughter in places like Sri Lanka.

He is referring to the final stages of the war in Sri Lanka during which time he was US President.

At the time Obama had made a statement in front of the media calling on the LTTE to release trapped civilians and the then Government to stop using heavy weapons.

In his book, Obama also says UN peacekeeping missions, dependent on voluntary troop contributions from member states, were consistently understaffed and ill-equipped.

“At times, the General Assembly devolved into a forum for posturing, hypocrisy, and one-sided condemnations of Israel; more than one U.N. agency became embroiled in corruption scandals, while vicious autocracies like Khamenei’s Iran and Assad’s Syria would maneuver to get seats in the U.N. Human Rights Council. Within the Republican Party, the U.N. became a symbol of nefarious one-world globalism. Progressives bemoaned its impotence in the face of injustice,” the book, read by Daily Mirror, says.

However, he also says that despite all its shortcomings, the UN served a vital function.(Easwaran Rutnam)


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  Comments - 31

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  • Labby Wednesday, 25 November 2020 11:02 AM

    He is not wrong.

    xaber Wednesday, 25 November 2020 11:03 AM

    Mr. Obama is a respectable statesman but he isn't devoid of typical hypocrisy of American government where they only see one side of the story. If there was a 'ethnical slaughter' in Sri Lanka it happened both ways but just like with Israel they only see what they want to see.

    Yehiya Wednesday, 25 November 2020 11:11 AM

    Now time to reconcile the war defects

    Jude Wednesday, 25 November 2020 11:34 AM

    Hey Obama! Why USA QUIT UNHRC !???

    Jude Wednesday, 25 November 2020 11:39 AM

    Americans Lose billions of dollars as there's NO MORE war in SL !!

    E Fernando Wednesday, 25 November 2020 11:39 AM

    The UN had no influence to stop Obama when he attacked other countries during his terms in office either. Hope he put that in his book!

    BAMA BAMA Wednesday, 25 November 2020 11:45 AM

    No problem re Obama remark we know how to respond. We are not prepared to learn any lessons from others. We only teach others.

    Sando Wednesday, 25 November 2020 11:56 AM

    Biden/Kamala.....will begin an onslaught on Sri Lanka again.

    Jeeves Wednesday, 25 November 2020 12:21 PM

    Does Obama's book note UN failure in Iraq due to US invasion, resulting in millions of orphans?

    Sam Wednesday, 25 November 2020 12:40 PM

    We were lucky to see US /UN both failed in Prabhakaran's rescue mission ,We will still be in a Civil war if the above parties won

    Gilbert, Australia Wednesday, 25 November 2020 12:40 PM

    Tamils in Sri Lanka have suffered so much in the thirty year war, but no one would dare to talk about rapes and slaughter of Tamils by the hundred thousand strong Indian Army in Jaffna, Wanni, Trincomale, and Batticalo.

    Jana Perera Wednesday, 25 November 2020 12:44 PM

    This is the continuation of the project started by Tamils for Obama. Do not know how much he got paid for his comments. Did Obama mention anything in his book on the ordering of killing of unarmed Bin Ladan by US forces instead of capturing him?

    Lionel Robinson Wednesday, 25 November 2020 01:51 PM

    Great...well said.

    Dravid Bakmeena Wednesday, 25 November 2020 01:52 PM

    come on Man, stop making this a racial issue typical of Sri Lankans and Sinhalese in particular sometimes although I am Sinhalese I feel shamed of our stupidity to bring in racial issues to everything. Also who are you to question US taking out one of the top terrorist like Bin Laden? Salute to his leadership and a great Navy seal team who carried out this successful mission.

    Noname Wednesday, 25 November 2020 12:47 PM

    Wonder what is says about Libya in the book? Probably none for it is so easy for the self-righteous to forget their own messes. What a hypocrite. Trump was many things but perhaps less of a hypocrite than this guy.

    Truth Wednesday, 25 November 2020 12:47 PM

    Treacherous LTTE sacrificed the Tamils by keeping them as hostages for days, LTTE even killed the Tamils who tried to flee from the indiscriminate bombing of the area by the Sri Lankan forces.

    Sam Silva Wednesday, 25 November 2020 12:59 PM

    UN should now intervene to solve dire problems facing the US now. Otherwise, it could also be considered as its biggest failure as well. So-called funny democracy and minority rights are looking like a circus there at the moment.

    Senaka Jayasen Wednesday, 25 November 2020 01:01 PM

    This is Obama's 3rd Auto Biography.Apart from the fact that he has a Himalayan Ego and also similar amount of greed to make money out of his books ,his remarks are not accurate about Israel ,Iran and Syria.Actions he had taken did not during his tenure against these 3 countries only made the situation worse in the middle east.Now he tries to pin the dirt on somebody else.

    Hesh Wednesday, 25 November 2020 01:52 PM

    According to western leaders a separatist war ending is a failure just because it didn't end on their terms. We can do nothing other than develop our country. Otherwise these racists will always treat us like this.

    Leo Wednesday, 25 November 2020 01:52 PM

    Obima rubbing it in our face as always.

    Liberal One Wednesday, 25 November 2020 01:53 PM

    Thank god UN and USA failed here. Otherwise we would have been a Palestine by now.

    Jiff Wednesday, 25 November 2020 01:55 PM

    He is just trying to be whiter than the whites. Pity him.

    AH Wednesday, 25 November 2020 01:56 PM

    And your drones killing countless children in Pakistan is a success I guess.

    JeffK Wednesday, 25 November 2020 01:58 PM

    Look who talking. The one who invaded Iraq. Puh.

    Neville Wednesday, 25 November 2020 02:00 PM

    Yes, killing of unarmed Bin Laden in the presence of his children !

    Ram Wednesday, 25 November 2020 02:10 PM

    Obama helped the IS years ago and the brunt of it was seen later. Now talking about terrorism

    Pantha Kumaran Wednesday, 25 November 2020 08:35 PM

    The sad thing is the present government consist of number of racists. If Sri Lanka has to prosper we need reconciliation. If the government is prepared to provide employment to Chinese why not reconcile with Tamils. Chinese have agenda and not the Tamils.

    Demuni Uduwara Wednesday, 25 November 2020 09:48 PM

    US had given our Navy of LTTE armed ships during the war and GR too endorsed it.

    Donald Smith Wednesday, 25 November 2020 10:09 PM

    His failed policies have put middle east in a very unstable situation. It de-stabilized Egypt, Syria and created this massive refugee problems in Europe. He is a good 'talker' though.

    Dee Wednesday, 25 November 2020 10:37 PM

    'Failure'! LoL. We are so used to that word.

    ghry Wednesday, 25 November 2020 11:29 PM

    The United States' worst President in the HISTORY: is non other than OBAMA.


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