Friday 7 October 2011

America Issuing More Threats Over Palestinian Bid

In 2009, President Barack Obama stood at the podium in Cairo and declared his support for a Palestinian state, explaining that: 'The Palestinian people have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than 60 years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations—large and small—that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: The situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. And America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.'
Fast forward two years and it was with some degree of awkwardness that Mr Obama last month directed his representatives to vote against a plan that would lead to Palestinians achieving the dignity, opportunity and a state of their own.
The US president must be acutely aware how hypocritical he must appear in voicing support for democratic transitions across the Middle East at the same time as scuppering Palestinian aspirations for recognition. Americas reputation in the Middle East is in tatters already so Mr Obama would hardly wants to be seen as being on the wrong side of the change sweeping through the volatile Arab world.
The threat of veto followed by news that Congress has blocking $200 million of aid to the Palestinians as punishment for their UN bid (admittedly Obama is attempting to get this rescinded) hardly shows America in a good light.
Now, after the Palestinians have asked to join UNESCO, the UN's cultural organization, the Obama administration is warning UNESCO to stay out of the question of Palestinian statehood or face the consequences, as America threatening to withhold tens of millions of dollars in U.S. funding if the organization agrees to admit Palestine as a member.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called UNESCO's deliberation on whether to admit Palestine 'inexplicable' at a time when the Palestinian bid for U.N. recognition and membership was being examined by the Security Council stating: 'I would urge the governing body of UNESCO to think again before proceeding with that vote.'
One good thing to come from the veto threat is that America is being asked to justify its failure to support a democratic state in the face of an illegally occupying military force and why it feels it has to issue bribes and threats to vote no and avoid the gathering of the nine votes for the resolution which would force Obama to have to cast the veto leaving the world in no doubt that despite it's fanciful talk about backing the Arab people against tyrants and repressive regimes, it is supporting the illegitimate military occupier and it will be yet another shameful day for America.

6 comments:

David G said...

Lucy, America is incapable of feeling shame. It sees itself as the ruler of the world and thinks therefore it can do no wrong.

It suffers from the same delusions as the Israelis which is why the world is in such danger. If they put their nukes together they could create a lot of Shock and Awe!

Like Australia, it's time Britain got out of the American/Israeli web. The world needs to unite to block both these deranged, fascist-leaning countries whose only interest is self-interest!

Anonymous said...

but he sounds so good...

q

ps - exactly david, australia should partner with china or russia and save the world

David G said...

I trust China and Russia more than I would ever trust America, Q.

The cages and rendition and assassination squads and torture and cluster bombs and depleted uranium and napalm and phosphorous shells and landmines, and hypocrisy and duplicity and support for Israel, and the 1,000 military bases and drones and the blatant imperialism and the killing of millions, etc, etc, is what did it!

Chris said...

I'm not sure i would trust the Russians, Putin seems like a right nutter to me. They need another Gorby.

Falling on a bruise said...

If there was some kind of Wrestlemania for World leaders, i would bet on Putin. I think the Russians would go stomping being bullies as bad as America has been. Not so sure about the Chinese, they seem to be a bit more subtle.

David G said...

Lucy, I think that Merkel would provide some stiff opposition for Putin! She would use her womanly wiles to put a sleeper hold on him or cut off his hair or winkiepop him!

Men are so puny really. They see an inch and imagine it is a metre!

Women are better suited to sexual gymnastics and are virtually inexhaustible!