US Fails Global Test Again
Today the United States vetoed another sickeningly biased United Nations Security Council resolution backed by Arab dictatorships, that would have demanded an immediate end to Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip: U.S. Vetoes Plan to End Israeli Operation. (Hat tip: Luigi.)
UNITED NATIONS - The United States on Tuesday vetoed an Arab-backed resolution that demanded an immediate end to military operations in the northern Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, saying the measure was “lopsided and unbalanced” and “absolves terrorists in the Middle East.” …
The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 11 in favor, one against, and three abstentions — Britain, Germany and Romania.
U.S. Ambassador John Danforth cast the U.S. veto after British and German efforts to find compromise language failed. “Once again, the resolution is lopsided and unbalanced,” Danforth told the council just before voting “no.”
“It is dangerously disingenuous because of its many material omissions. Because of this lack of balance, because of these omissions, the resolution lacks credibility and deserves a `no’ vote,” he said.
After the vote, Algeria’s U.N. Ambassador Abdallah Baali, the only Arab member of the council, thanked the resolution’s supporters and noted that the measure got more than the minimum nine “yes” votes needed for adoption.
Citing the high casualty toll and extensive destruction during the Israeli offensive, he said, “It is a sad day for the Palestinians and it is a sad day for justice.”
If John Kerry becomes president, of course, this kind of unilateral veto would never pass the Global Test. Who knows how many moderate Arabs have been radicalized forever by today’s veto?