Undiplomatic diplomacy
US Ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, continues to justify his recess appointment to his current position. I guess the Democrats would rather the United States be represented by someone like Madeline Albright.USUN PRESS RELEASE #165 (06)
From a Statement by Ambassador John R. Bolton, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on Draft Middle East Resolution, at the Security Council, July 13, 2005
The United States worked hard with other delegations to achieve a more balanced text, one which acknowledged that Israeli military actions were in direct response to repeated rocket attacks into Southern Israel from Gaza and the June 25 abduction of Israeli Defense Force Corporal Gilad Shalit by Hamas. Regrettably, we were not able to reach consensus.
Note how Bolton’s “balance” means justifying Israel’s actions. I don’t think that there should be balance when one side is right. But this is a rebuke to the Qatari resolution, which we know was unbalanced the other way.
Towards the end of the statement he also delivers a strong condemnation of Israel’s (and the West’s) enemies
Establishing the foundations for a lasting peace, however, will require us to focus our attention not just on Hamas, but on the state sponsors of terror who back them — particularly Syria and Iran. Let us be clear that without the financial and material support of Damascus and Tehran, Hamas would be severely crippled in carrying out its terrorist operations. We call upon Syria and Iran to end their role as state sponsors of terror and unequivocally condemn the actions of Hamas, including this kidnapping. We yet again call upon Syria to arrest the Hamas ringleader, Khaled Meshal, who currently resides in Damascus. We stress again our condemnation of Syrian and Iranian support of Hizballah, which has claimed responsibility for the other kidnappings along the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon.
We further call on the Palestinian Authority government to stop all acts of violence and terror and comply with the principles enunciated by the Quartet: renounce terror, recognize Israel, and accept previous obligations and agreements, including the Roadmap. The failure of the Palestinian Authority government to take these steps hurts the Palestinian people.
That’s nice and direct. And how does he address the UN Security Council?
We are obviously concerned about the duration of the present difficulties and the lack of a solution, but the issue for us is whether action by this Council makes such a solution more or less likely, not simply whether or not the Council seems to be “engaged”.
The United States remains firmly committed to working with others to establish the foundations for a lasting peace in the region — a foundation that would have been undermined had this draft Resolution passed.
He’s calling the Security Council irrelevant, though in uncharacteristically diplomatic language, accusing them of wanting to be “engaged” even at the expense of being efffective. Nice touch.
Technorati tags: John Bolton,United Nations, Israel.
Crossposted on Israpundit and Soccer Dad.
Why do Israel and the US keep playing this UN game, what purpose does it serve? Just quit the UN, kick it out of New York, and let it go bankrupt.
Comment by Peretz Rickett
— July 14, 2006 @ 6:12 am
The mutual needs of the world’s nations for a forum such as the U.N. is as obvious as the fact that the ability of the U.N. to serve those needs has been subverted and its usefulness therefor sorely compromised.
Still nations, including the U.S. and Israel, whose interests are most prejudiced by the efforts of many 3rd world nations, the O.I.C., China and Russia seem to find some rationale for staying the course with the U.N., while shouting to deaf ears about reforms that will enable the U.N. to far better serve the purposes outlined in the U.N. charter.
In the result, the U.N. which is little better than nothing for nations such as the U.S. and Israel, is still for whatever reason, seen as better than nothing.
Comment by Bill Narvey
— July 14, 2006 @ 8:49 am
Here is the respect civilized people owe the UN
http://www.omdurman.org/cartoons/UN_pot.jpg
http://www.omdurman.org/cartoons/UN_food.jpg
Comment by Bill Levinson
— July 14, 2006 @ 11:28 am
My compliments to Ricky and, Bill, no disrespect but your respect for the UN has no basis. Tell me one thing that the UN has accomplished beside coruption of the Food for Oil fiasco.
Comment by Ed D
— July 14, 2006 @ 3:17 pm
The UN is not only useless, but worse, it aids and abets every tyrannical and terrorist state.
Comment by Laura
— July 14, 2006 @ 5:54 pm
Ed,
I expressed no respect for the U.N., that does nothing but gall and give me heartburn.
I simply noted that for whatever reason, America, Israel and other nations to hang in there.
U.N. resolutions, be it the General Assembly or Security Council still greatly influence political discussion and color the media’s views and therefor the public’s view on international matters.
If only to ensure that America and Israel get their points across to the media regarding U.N. debates or resolutions over anti-Israel or anti-American issues, is one reason for Israel and America to hold their respective U.N. seats and speak out.
Obviously the U.N. has served the interests of the O.I.C. as regards their countless annual ritualized anti-Israel resolutions, which has aided their propaganda war against Israel.
Note that the EU has often voted yes to those resolutions because of the pact they made with the anti-Semitic Arab oil producing nations that in return for EU support of their anti-Israel policies, the EU oil dependent economy would remain stable and the huge financial rewards the EU derived therefrom would remain intact.
I share your view Ed that there is little reason to be happy with the U.N.
On a positive note related to the U.N. however, Canada under the Liberals spoke loudly against anti-Semitism, but their two faced nature always led them to abstain or sometimes voted yes to the anti-Israel U.N. Resolutions.
Canada under the new Conservative government has served notice they will not stand on the sidelines and they have voted no to such unbalanced anti-Israel resolutions.
Comment by Bill Narvey
— July 14, 2006 @ 6:28 pm