That which we do not speak of
January 4, 2009 by William K. Wolfrum
No nation works harder to make the United Nations irrelevant and impotent than the U.S. Especially when it comes to acts of aggression. Hell, the U.S. won’t even allow the U.N. to make nonbinding statements against aggression.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States late Saturday blocked approval of a U.N. Security Council statement calling for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers, diplomats said.
French U.N. Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, the council president, said the 15 council members could not agree on a statement in closed discussions held after Israel launched a ground invasion into the Gaza Strip on Saturday. But he said there were “strong convergences” among the members to express concern about the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the need for “an immediate, permanent and fully respected cease-fire.”
Libyan Ambassador Giadalla Ettalhi said the United States during the discussions objected to “any outcome” on the proposed statement. He said efforts were made to compromise on a weaker press statement but there was no consensus.
Several other council members, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations were closed, also said the U.S. was responsible for the council’s failure to issue a statement.
The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has designated Hamas a terrorist organization. U.S. deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the United States saw no prospect of Hamas abiding by last week’s council call for an immediate end to the violence. Therefore, he said, a new statement “would not be adhered to and would have no underpinning for success, (and) would not do credit to the council.”
Of course, Israel’s and the United States’ defense of their own acts of aggression are things that we don’t speak of. We are allowed to accuse the UN of being inept and ineffective, of course. We just don’t ever speak of why.
–WKW
Hey, do still living in Uberlandia? I saw your post about soccer team and wondering if you still there….
Yeah, Nelson, I do. I’m traveling now but will be back soon. I really enjoy living there and I’m looking forward to going to see Verdao and Cruzeiro play
Hi Bill,
I’m researching a Gaza post. One of my sources just told me, “Americans will talk about sex and money, but not Israel.”
Ring of truth?
Absolutely, Diane. What’s funny to me is how Israelis have a wide range of debate on their nation’s actions. In the U.S., however, to argue against Israeli policies means you’ll be hit with a charge of anti-semitism. That Jimmy Carter has been so pilloried for his book and his views is shameful in a nation that claims itself to be such a bastion of freedom.
In that same vein, it bothers me greatly that a brilliant mind like Noam Chomsky is almost totally shunned, while someone like Charles Krauthammer is given all the air time he wants.
Believe it or not, Bill, even a little ol’ nobody like me gets pilloried. I was called a “morally bankrupt fool” simply for posting an interview with Middle East peace negotiator Aaron David Miller, who is a moderate, to say the least.
Sticks and stones will break my…well, you know.