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THE NEW AMERICAN -- October 3, 1994
Copyright 1994 -- American Opinion Publishing, Incorporated
P.O. Box 8040, Appleton, WI  54913   414-749-3784

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ARTICLE: A Special Report From Cairo
AUTHOR: William Norman Grigg

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William Norman Grigg, on assignment for The New American in Cairo, filed 
this report:

"Consensus" Through Coercion

The most frequently uttered shibboleth at the UN International Conference 
on Population and Development (ICPD) was "consensus." The term received a 
particularly vigorous workout from Timothy Wirth (CFR), the Clinton 
Administration's Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs and leader of 
the U.S. ICPD delegation. At each of the U.S. delegation's press conferences, 
Wirth extolled the "broad consensus" which had been built around the proposed 
Cairo action plan. On September 9th, three American journalists discovered 
that the new world order creates "consensus" by silencing dissenting views.

Following the U.S. delegation's September 9th press conference, Keith Tucci, 
Sharon Turner, and David Haddon were compelled to surrender their press 
accreditation cards to ICPD security personnel and escorted from the Cairo 
International Conference Center (CICC) under guard. According to Tucci's 
account, which was confirmed by the reports of three witnesses, the security 
officer who seized Tucci's card stated that he did so at Wirth's direction. 
Upon their exit the Americans were placed in detention by Egyptian Security 
personnel, as security protocols required all individuals in or near the CICC 
to present appropriate credentials. "It's a set-up," an associate of Tucci 
told The New American. "First they [the U.S. delegation] took their creden-
tials away, then they had them arrested for not having proper credentials."

The expulsion took place at approximately 8:00 p.m. Officials from the 
American Embassy arrived shortly before midnight after being informed of the 
Americans' plight by Congressman Christopher Smith (R-NJ), an unofficial U.S. 
delegate to the ICPD.

At approximately 2:00 a.m. the next morning, the three Americans were moved 
from the conference center to a hotel near the Cairo International Airport, 
where they remained in the custody of security personnel while background 
checks were performed by both American and UN authorities.

Tucci maintains that the expulsion came about in response to the intervention 
of a member of the U.S. ICPD delegation. "Yesterday [September 8th] a pro-
abortion [activist] noticed me, and recognized me because of my pro-life 
activities," Tucci told The New American. "She grabbed my pass and said, 
'What about this pass?' I said, 'I've got a legitimate pass. I'm here working 
as a correspondent with a newspaper in the states.' She said, 'Well, we're 
gonna get you.'" John Burton, the security guard who took Tucci's pass, later 
confirmed he did so at Wirth's direction.

Tucci, an activist associated with Operation Rescue, confined his activities 
in Cairo to lobbying and free-lance journalism. Sharon Turner, an independent 
journalist and representative of the pro-family organization "The Real 
Majority," also has a background of pro-life activism. Haddon is a correspon-
dent for the Spiritual Counterfeits Project Journal in Berkeley, California. 
Turner and Haddon were asked by Tucci to accompany him to the UN Security 
office as witnesses; without explanation their credentials were taken as well.

According to Congressman Smith, who was involved in the negotiations to secure 
the freedom of the three expelled Americans, Tucci's name was given to UN 
Security by an unidentified American pro-abortion activist. General Fathy 
Tayel of Egyptian Security told Smith that UN Security had "received informa-
tion that Tucci is believed to be behind the murder of two doctors in the 
United States," specifically that he had been "involved in some of the Miami 
shootings" -- a reference to the murders of abortionists David Gunn and John 
Britton.

Operation Rescue, the pro-life protest group with which Tucci has been 
associated, has repeatedly and explicitly denounced the use of violence 
against abortionists. Pro-life activities at the Cairo conference have been 
confined to lobbying and pamphleteering, but these activities may have been 
construed by the pro-abortion contingent within the U.S. delegation as 
crimes against "consensus."

Special Agent John Burton of the diplomatic security service was instructed 
by Wirth to check Tucci's credentials. Once the three Americans were expelled 
from the conference, Burton requested that a background check on Tucci be 
made by UN Security; at this point the accusation planted by the American 
pro-abortion activist was retrieved from the file, and Tucci was placed under 
the custody of UN Security official Fred Carrico. An FBI background check of 
the three Americans disclosed that none of the three had a criminal record. 
"The records of these people were absolutely clean," Congressman Smith told 
The New American. "What we would like to know is who made this false and 
malicious accusation that resulted in the expulsion and arrest of American 
citizens."

Agents of Disinformation?

At least one other journalist has had his accreditation revoked. Christian 
Wernicke, a correspondent for Die Zeit in Germany, was relieved of his press 
card following a sharp exchange on September 8th with Ayman El-Amir, the 
official spokesman for the ICPD. During that day's official  press briefing, 
Wernicke provoked an ovation from the assembled correspondents when he com-
plained about the "lack of transparency" that characterized meetings of the 
ICPD's main committee. Noting that journalists were unable to obtain access 
to the meetings and had to rely upon UN-approved accounts, Wernicke accused 
ICPD officials of trafficking in disinformation. Shortly after this exchange, 
Wernicke's press card was taken from him.

"Here we talk about cooperation and transparency, and the UN itself is closing 
down the window," Wernicke complained to The New American. "There has been so 
much disinformation regarding this conference. It is in the interests of the 
delegates and the UN system itself to allow journalists to have more direct 
access. If you cannot have information firsthand you have to rely on 'inter-
ested' information," Wernicke declared. "Unless a journalist has primary 
access, he is at the mercy of sources with a partisan position." Wernicke 
reports that he was able to regain access to the conference by registering 
as a representative of a German Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).

Pattern of Intimidation?

Some pro-life delegates and activists insist that the detention of the three 
Americans fits into a "pattern of intimidation" visible at both the Cairo 
conference and the UN "PrepCom" held in New York City last April. Miguel I. 
Prado, an adviser to the Peruvian delegation, told The New American, "This 
is how things operate here, and it's how they were in New York. Caucuses that 
are supposed to be open are closed to pro-lifers." Prado had been told that 
the U.S. delegation was collecting names of American pro-life activists at 
the Cairo conference and was vetting the names with the White House. Even 
as The New American was asking Prado to substantiate this report, news became 
available regarding the seizure of Tucci's press card.

Some American pro-life activists in Cairo have described the arrest of Tucci, 
Haddon, and Turner as a manifestation of the Clinton Administration's latent 
"Waco gene." On the basis of a malicious anonymous accusation, an American 
pro-abortion activist was able to have political opponents detained under UN 
authority. This is an ominous precedent worthy of contemplation as the Clinton 
Administration and the UN work to extend "access to abortion" worldwide.

What Is "Consensus"?

The Cairo Conference, like every other significant UN assembly, is essentially 
an exercise in ratifying a pre-ordained conclusion. Even before a single 
syllable had been uttered in the conference plenary sessions, ICPD officials 
were proclaiming that a "consensus" had been achieved. Yet nobody has been 
able to define exactly what the term "consensus" means.

During a September 6th press briefing, an ICPD spokesman assured reporters 
that the Cairo report "will be adopted by consensus." Asked if this means a 
simple majority, the spokesman said "consensus is unanimity." When it was 
pointed out that the report's provisions on abortion, family planning, and 
other matters would hardly be accepted by all of the delegations, the spokes-
man rejoined that "nations may sign the document with reservations" -- meaning 
that there can be "unanimity with reservations." The spokesman also made it 
clear that the report would be signed and put into effect despite objections, 
and that it would not be defeated even by a majority vote, as "that is not 
how things have historically been done at the UN."

However, during a press conference held the very next day, U.S. delegation 
leader Timothy Wirth stated that "consensus is not unanimity" but that 
"consensus" had been achieved despite the intractable disagreements over 
abortion and other issues.

Wirth-less on the Constitution

The Clinton Administration's most notable spokesmen continue to flunk tests 
of basic constitutional literacy. During the U.S. delegation's September 7th 
press conference, Timothy Wirth was asked by The New American to identify the 
constitutional provision which grants authority for U.S. involvement in 
global population control efforts of any kind. Wirth replied: "I think the 
Constitution very clearly says that the powers are left to the government 
except that which is in interstate and foreign commerce, and in the issue of 
foreign commerce, the Congress has clearly over and over again authorized 
funding for this...."

Obviously, Wirth either hopelessly misunderstands -- or deliberately misrepre-
sents -- the concept of reserved powers (i.e., the Ninth and Tenth Amendments). 
He apparently believes that the purpose of the Constitution is to reserve all 
powers to the federal government, except those specifically given to other 
entities. But leaving that matter aside, Wirth contradicted his own premises 
by saying that U.S. involvement in global family planning is justified in the 
name of "interstate and foreign commerce" -- which is supposedly among "those 
powers [not] left to the government"!

Global Governance

"Our Global Neighborhood," the report of the Commission on Global Governance, 
will be released next February in preparation for the celebration of the UN's 
50th anniversary. According to Commission co-chairman Sir Shridath Ramphal in 
remarks made at the ICPD, "What we are talking about requires, as a starting 
point, a new vision of the world." That new vision will be captured in at 
least two new catch-phrases: "Global Neighborhood" -- which will supplant the 
"global village" -- and "global governance," rather than world or global 
government. Notes Ramphal, "We will be saying in the report that we have 
ceased to be the world of nation-states that we once were."

The Commission was inaugurated in 1992 to study ways of revising the "UN 
system" and to "explore opportunities for global cooperation in the post 
cold war environment." Commission members include Co-Chair Ingvar Carlsson 
(former Prime Minister of Sweden), UNCED Chairman Maurice Strong, and former 
EC President Jaques Delors.

According to Ramphal, the Commission may suggest a substantial expansion and 
revision of the UN's mission and assumptions. "How are we going to manage the 
affairs of the planet in the coming years?... How are we going to distribute 
power in the world?... We cannot do this intelligently unless we get right the 
values, the principles, the ethics, the mission that must govern the world in 
the future." Among the reforms mentioned by Ramphal are a reconfiguration of 
the UN Security Council and a strengthening of the mechanisms of "international
law," including the International Court of Justice.

Ramphal insisted that "These are issues of governance -- not issues of world 
government, because the Commission has set its face against the concept of 
government -- but of governance in its broadest sense." This distinction, 
which would elude all but the most devoted eristics, will be repeatedly 
invoked by those who seek to "empower" the UN with additional attributes of 
a government -- legislative and law enforcement powers, an independent 
military, etc.

It must be remembered that "governance" is a less specific -- and therefore 
more dangerous -- concept than "government"; it is less susceptible to limits 
and constitutional guidelines. Those who preside over the UN or a successor 
organization could theoretically increase their powers at any time in the name 
of "governance" while still maintaining that they are not creating a formal 
"government." Furthermore, the ICPD -- like the "Earth Summit" in Rio -- has 
made great use of the "NGO Community," a transnational collection of activist 
groups which provide "grass-roots" ratification for UN decisions and policies. 
Ramphal maintains that these unaccountable private groups are creating a new 
"global civic culture," the management of which will be the concern of global 
governance.

Asked by The New American if the new global regime (however it may be 
designated) would respect the rights and wishes of nations that wished to 
preserve their independence -- perhaps by withdrawing from the UN -- Ramphal 
avoided a direct answer. He characterized as "mistaken" the idea that a 
"structured world government" is in formation and insisted that "This is not 
the time to be talking about world government." Said Ramphal, "I don't believe 
that the world is going to retreat into a situation where people are going to 
run away from this global neighborhood we've become, because there are no 
sanctuaries left -- there's no place to run to."

Ramphal's words offer an eerie echo of Gibbon's description of the world-
spanning and tyrannical Roman Empire: "The empire of the Romans filled the 
world.... The world became a safe and dreary prison for [the Empire's] 
enemies.... To resist was fatal, and it was impossible to fly."

One World Now!

Flanking the Commission on Global Governance to the left is a new group 
called "One World Now!" which calls for immediate reform of the UN and a 
formalized world government.

"We believe the changes have to be immediate and comprehensive.... There has 
to be a system of global government that is democratized and empowered," One 
World Now! founder Brenton Musslewhite told The New American. The organization 
intends to "reform the present UN system and charter to give it the power to 
act, to pass laws that are binding on world citizens." The group plans to 
complete a proposed draft of a revised UN charter in November and to present 
its proposal to the UN General Assembly for the 50th anniversary celebration 
next year.

"Queen" Fonda vs. Population.

"The Queen of Aerobics Takes On The World's Population" was the headline of 
the September 8th edition of ICPD Watch. On September 7th Jane Fonda delivered 
a speech entitled "Cairo -- The Citizen's View" and spoke at a closed briefing 
held by the International Planned Parenthood Federation. During her address, 
the UN's Goodwill Ambassador for Family Planning competently read a carefully 
scripted summary of the UN's preferred themes. Fonda contended that radical 
readjustments in life-style are inevitable: "If we make [changes] now they 
can be humane and good and not too jarring. If we don't, the adjustments are 
going to be made for us by nature and they will be brutal and pitiless." She 
also said that "We mustn't permit our development policies to be dictated ... 
by altruism" -- suggesting that "humane" considerations are hardly a priority 
of the population planners.

Fonda also pointed out that the mass media, including the entertainment media, 
must use its power to alter human behavior in a way compatible with "sustain-
able development" and population control. "We particularly need the help of 
the world's media. It's true that changing our laws and our institutions can 
alter human behavior. But to alter people's consciousness and to do it fast 
the media will have to play its role. We've all experienced the media's power 
to change things." Fonda's husband, CNN mogul Ted Turner, is a devoted partisan
 of radical population control.

Atwood: Everything Must Change

According to USAID director J. Brian Atwood (CFR), the pursuit of "sustainable 
development" and the implementation of the ICPD program will require nothing 
less than a comprehensive revision of institutions, practices, and attitudes 
on the part of every human being. Speaking at a September 5th panel discussion 
sponsored by the American University in Cairo, Atwood said that the conflict 
over population control is "historically typical" of the tensions that "arise 
whenever religious and cultural norms confront social change and new techno-
logy."

Atwood declared that we "must reconcile our convictions with new realities, 
reconcile our dogmas with technological change, reconcile our humanitarian 
concerns with the stark demographic picture that we face." In short, "we will 
all be changed by this global discussion." According to Atwood, opponents of 
the ICPD's assumptions and designs will eventually submit: "In time, individ-
uals will change their outlook. Societies will change their mores. Religions 
will interpret their beliefs differently.... And governments will change their 
policies."

Atwood: America Can Learn From Egypt

During his September 5th speech, Atwood stated that "Egypt is, in many ways, 
a test case for sustainable development. We believe that there is much we can 
learn here that is transferable to other countries, including our own." This 
puts the concept of "sustainable development" into a rather dismal light.

Egypt, the largest Arab state, is one of the poorest nations in the region, 
with a per-capita income of a little more than $600 a year. Egypt is second 
only to Israel in foreign aid received from the U.S.; its economy struggles 
beneath suffocating regulation and taxation. Egyptian consumers wrestle with 
shortages, inflation, and inefficiencies. Nor have Egyptians benefited from 
the country's aggressive population control program: Between 1990 and 1992, 
per-capita income declined by ten percent. The "lessons" referred to by Atwood 
must have to do with the supposed need for "downward harmonization" in the 
American standard of living.

END OF ARTICLE

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THE NEW AMERICAN -- October 3, 1994
Copyright 1994 -- American Opinion Publishing, Incorporated
P.O. Box 8040, Appleton, WI  54913

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