U.S. makes U-turn on U.N. Gaza vote

[spanone]

ain't we somethin'???

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - In an apparent reversal of earlier promises to Arab states, the United States on Thursday abstained from voting on a Gaza ceasefire resolution at the United Nations Security Council.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the decision to abstain was because the United States first wanted to see the outcome of Egyptian mediation efforts to end the 13-day Israeli offensive which has killed more than 750 Palestinians.

"The United States thought it important to see the outcomes of the Egyptian mediation efforts in order to see what this resolution might have been supporting. And that is why we chose to abstain tonight," she said.

The U.S. abstention lessens the resolution's clout and could weaken pressure on close U.S. ally Israel to abide by the U.N. decision, which also called for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Hamas-ruled Gaza. The council's other 14 members voted for the resolution.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/burningIssues/idUKTRE50813J20090109

[Are_grits_groceries]

1. I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter.

I'm not sure what can stop this "war" now.

[spanone]

4. if the united states threatened to withdraw our military contracts it would end in 10 seconds

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. I don't think that would do it now.

We are in transition, and I'll bet the Israelis would just continue and bet
that the US wouldn't follow through.

[Yes We Did]

7. Call it what it is.

It's an extermination in making.

[kickysnana]

2. Are our Dems bargaining away our right to prosecute the BFEE for these things? Just askin. n/t

[SpiralHawk]

3. "As usual, you can't trust our word. Smirk." - Republicons

eom

[Junkdrawer]

6. Israel wants a "decisive victory" in Gaza....

Does anyone here think the US will get in the way?

I believe the Obama administration wants the worst of it completed before they take office. That means this week will be particularly bloody. But don't expect to hear more that a peep about it in the Corporate Media. Israel is losing US popular support for this, so expect silence from the usual suspects.

[Broadslidin]

9. Using the word "wants", evidently the Obama group is going along with the imperial Bush Doctrine...?

:nuke: :patriot: :nuke:

[Junkdrawer]

10. Yes, but they would prefer to seem more even-handed....

The timing of this is not an accident

[ladjf]

11. Exactly what does "a decisive victory" mean? nt

[Junkdrawer]

13. That's why I put it in quotes...

I don't think they can do it. Krauthammer thinks they can...

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/columnists/krauthammer/

[BeFree]

8. Abstain vs Veto

Are we making progress?

Abstain seems to be a move away from the previous position of all Israel all the time.

[dynasaw]

12. Boycott Israel

Take Naomi Klein's advice: Boycott Israel the way South Africa was boycotted for its apartheid policies. Without the backing of the U.S. and the billions we've poured into the right wing Israeli agenda they'd go no where.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/10/naomi-klein-boycott-israel