U.N. names panel to probe Israel abuses

[tocqueville]

1 hour, 26 minutes ago

GENEVA - The U.N. Human Rights Council on Friday appointed a Brazilian diplomat, a Tanzanian judge and a Greek professor to a commission investigating whether Israel committed systematic human rights abuses in Lebanon during recent fighting with Hezbollah militants.

The commission was created last month by the council, which condemned Israel for what it called "massive bombardment of Lebanese civilian populations" and other "systematic" human rights violations.

The committee is comprised of Brazil's Clemente Baena Soares, a former secretary general of the Organization of American States; Mohamed Chande Othman, who sits on Tanzania's supreme court and Stelios Perrakis, a professor of international studies and a member of the Council of Europe, the continent's human rights watchdog.

The U.N. rights body voted 27-11 on Aug. 11 to initiate the inquiry. European countries, Japan and Canada voted against it, primarily arguing that it lacked balance in failing to mention the Hezbollah militia. The U.S., which is an observer, has no vote on the 47-member council.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060901/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_un_rights

[geek tragedy]

1. Bullshit alert. Bullshit alert.

"The U.N. Human Rights Council on Friday appointed a Brazilian diplomat, a Tanzanian judge and a Greek professor to a commission investigating whether Israel committed systematic human rights abuses in Lebanon during recent fighting with Hezbollah militants.

The commission was created last month by the council, which condemned Israel for what it called "massive bombardment of Lebanese civilian populations" and other "systematic" human rights violations."



Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

"We condemn Israel for systematic violations of human rights. And now, we will appoint a commission to determine whether Israel committed any systematic violations of human rights."

:wtf:

I'm not disputing that there were systematic abuses of human rights--only noting that this commission is nothing but a dog-and-pony show. They already have their conclusion--the entire point is to gather as much evidence to support that conclusion.

[IntiRaymi]

2. I think that it is necessary to highlight these abuses.

It would go a long way towards giving the victims their due.

[The Magistrate]

3. It Will Have No Effect At All, Sir

It will change no minds, nor will it prove anything. It will be a chemically pure sample of posturing for effect on something of little real importance. It is only because this matter is of so little importance that so much energy is devoted to ot; there is little danger of anything being accomplished, or of anything being really effected, and so it serves to sop up excess enthusiasms that might, if channeled elsewhere, achieve some real result....

[Marrak]

4. A sober...

assessment of the lack of forward momentium. I wonder what Bolton's confirmation fight will accomplish? Will any candidate use the podium for a smackdown? It is there for the offering. Bolton looks scary...he thinks scarier! Eat our oats!

<>
Eat our oats!