U.N. Ignores U.S., Approves (Human Rights) Council 170-4

[sabra]

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/1-03152006-626915.html

U.N. Ignores U.S., Approves Council 170-4
The Associated Press


UNITED NATIONS - U.N. member states ignored U.S. opposition and overwhelmingly approved a new Human Rights Council on Wednesday, attempting to strengthen the world body's machinery to deal with major human rights offenders.

The vote in the 191-member General Assembly was 170 in favor, 4 against, and 3 abstentions.

The Bush administration refused to back the new council, saying it was not the radical reform Washington wanted to ensure that countries like Cuba, Sudan, Myanmar and Zimbabwe - known as rights abusers - are barred from membership.

But U.S. officials said Washington nonetheless will give its financial backing and seek a seat on the new council.

[MadMaddie]

1. The US is now the outsider.....

[apnu]

2. Has been for a couple of years now... (n/t)

[Canuckistanian]

3. They're like spoiled rotten little boys

If they're not allowed to play the game their own way, they'll take the ball and go home.

But they still demand to get to go out for treats after the game.

Unbelievable!

[Barrett808]

4. Thanks, Bolton. n/t

[IChing]

5. vote breakdown on- Against - Abstentions

Joining the United States in a "no" vote were Israel, Marshall Islands and Palau.

Abstaining were: Belarus, Iran and Venezuela.


link on edited

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-03-15T173725Z_01_L15130144_RTRUKOC_0_US-RIGHTS-UN-USA.xml

[IChing]

10. I am surprised on Venezuela's Abstention

Can anyone get an official Venezuelan governmental response for this?

[bemildred]

14. It is interesting that it's those three.

I notice Cuba had objections but voted yes anyway.
It would be nice to know the reasoning of the abstainers.

[LynnTheDem]

6. But bush doesn't mind Pakistan, Saudi, Egypt, Uzbekistan etc

having membership.

MY WAY or NUTHIN'! bush screams and whines as he stamps his wittle feet.

So bush, you got it; NUTHIN'. That's what America now is thanks to you, bush. NUTHIN'.

[saigon68]

9. He doesn't WHINE he just looks on with a blank stare

LIKE THIS

[Beetwasher]

7. I Feel Sorry For John Bolton

's dog. He's going to be spittin' mad when he gets home tonight, and assholes like that usually take it out on someone or something that can't fight back.

[JohnnyRingo]

8. I thought John Bolton was going in there, kicking ass, and forcing reform

sounds like the rest of the world is excercising their option to ignore the control freak.
Who could have seen that coming? hahaha
This has to enrage the freep mentality that held hope that he would lay waste to the UN leaving the "only superpower" to carry on it's work alone.

Maybe the Head Dumbass at the White House should have appointed someone with diplomacy skills if he wanted something done.

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. US is becoming "irrelevant" - countries making trade alliances elsewhere

.
.
.

SURE

The USA is the toughest bully on the block

So us "wimps" will just have to deal elsewhere

300 million against 5 billion

hmmmmmmm

[0007]

17. .....and junior's got balls to say that we're sending a bad message

to the world by refusing the Port deal of the UAE.

[no_hypocrisy]

12. UN dealing with major human rights offenders -- are we on the list yet?

[HuffleClaw]

13. "Washington nonetheless will give its financial backing and seek...

...a seat on the new council." bwahahhahhaahaaa. such bald-faced hypocrisy. it boggles the mind.

[Bassic]

15. So, it didn't take them long to get bored of Bolton's frown.

And the more power to them for it!

[CoffeeCat]

16. Could this human rights council...eventually come after the US?

Interesting that the US would have been against a Human Rights council. We're torturing people and we have secret prisons--in which torture is probably the nicest of behaviors that happens there.

Whenever someone wants to ban a law, resolution, etc--but appear as if they are not against it--it's typical to say, "Well! This doesn't go far enough! We can't vote for this law because it doesn't do enough!"

In reality--they fear the law or the policy, because it will impede their behavior and make them accountable.

I think it's interesting timing. The UN is focusing on Human Rights at a time when the US is out of control and has remained unaccountable for Gitmo, Abu Graib, secret prisons, etc.

Maybe they're trying to hold us accountable, and we voted against it--because we very well recognize what's going down.