Where was she this time? The United Nations Security Council held an emergency Security Council meeting Monday on Israel's raid of a ship headed to Gaza -- and the United States was represented by the deputy at the US Mission. Reporters, UN members and activists were mystified as to why Susan Rice, the American Ambassador to the UN, was a no-show to the roughly 12-hour negotiations which left a key ally fending off global criticism without the top American diplomat to help. The emergency meeting included a public meeting and a series of private consultations. The UN Security Council ultimately issued a statement on the situation in the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 1, after starting deliberations on Monday, May 31 - the American Memorial Day holiday.
All 15 members of the Security Council delivered public speeches about the Israeli raid in which at least nine people were killed. While Arab nations called the ship a humanitarian mission for the desperate situation in Gaza, Israel called the ship's operation an illegal act which defied calls for simple inspections. Israel has a blockade on all deliveries to Gaza, and Egypt, which shares a border with the Gaza Strip, keeps its border crossing closed most of the time.
Arab nations, Europeans and Asian members of the UN jumped to condemn Israel and the attack during the marathon public debate. Turkey's Foreign Minister said, "This is tantamount to banditry and piracy. It is murder conducted by a state." But while UN members were blasting Israel about a developing story with conflicting information as to what had actually happened, the American Ambassador failed to attend the emergency meeting. The U.S. Mission was represented by Ambassador Alex Wolff, the Mission's deputy. Wolff, a skilled diplomat, defended the U.S. position and fended off the barrage of American critics that showed up for the emergency meeting.
One reporter told me, "I have no idea where she (Rice) was. We were there all day and the U.S. only had Wolff." Another reporter said, "It's Memorial Day. Rice doesn't show up during a normal week, why would she show on a holiday?" Porter Speakman, Jr, NGO activist and director of the film "With God on Our Side," said: "This is probably one of, if not, the most important meetings our Ambassador to the UN has seen since she arrived. What kind of message does this send to Arabs, the Turks and to Israel when Susan Rice doesn't show up?"
Rice's absence sends a powerful message to the UN members attending the emergency meeting, unfortunately, the message is that she is either unable to lead or afraid of the consequences that come with taking a controversial stand. The Associated Press said, "...long and difficult negotiations were conducted primarily by the United States with Turkey and Lebanon..." But those difficult negotiations didn't involve Rice who failed to show throughout the 12 hour ordeal.
Coming on the heels of Rice's silence and absence from the meeting where Iran was elected to the UN Women's committee and Rice's refusal to call out Libya after it was elected to the UN's Human Rights Council, Rice's performance is leaving Americans wondering if she really wants to be the American Ambassador to the UN.
The world realizes that the US has always vetoed any sanctions against Israel no matter how distasteful or in humane their actions were.
Hopefully we finally have a president that will be an even-handed broker in the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians.
We have supported Israels bullying tactics far too long and in my opinion our brave young American men and women serving in the armed forces are dying in a Middle East war because of Israels intransigence and obstinate attitude when it comes to building settlements on disputed territory, they have never really wanted peace, what they really want is to drive the Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza so they can expand their biblical imperialism.
We will no longer let the Likud Party get away with confusing their interests with the interests of America -- or suggesting that you are anti-Jewish or anti-Israel unless America pays for and cleans up after their messes.
As long as Israel is expanding settlements, we should write them off. That might get their attention.
As time permits...
I seem to have a comment to this post "stuck"....Or has it been scrubbed?
Thanx
TM
As the song goes... "What have you done for me lately?"
The enemy of my friend is not necessarily MY enemy.....particularly when my friend is so manifestly in the wrong.
Many Americans...myself included...have been waiting in vain for some time for Ms. Rice (and her predecesor) to forthrightyly DENOUNCE the oppression and slaughter in Gaza...and to DEMAND an easement of conditions maintained by Israel there...in what is essentially an open-air prison....if not an outright concentration camp.
Of all the nations of the earth.....Israel should know BEST the horriffic consequenses that ensue:
1:> When "Internal enemies" are seen as of a lower order of humanity than the majority
2:> When suffering by the minority is seen as intrinsically LESS painful than that of the majority
3:> When the oppression and slaughter of the minority can be countenanced and even EMBRACED by the majority simply because it is state-approved in the name of "security"
Whatever the particulars of the recent interdiction of the flotilla:
If Israeli leaders do not now take steps to ease the suffering in Gaza and pursue the peace process in good faith....when virtually the entire world stands apalled at Israeli policies there....they will not only affirm the emnity of their many genuine enemies.......
They will prove to those of us predisposed to offer support that they are FOOLS....and a threat to world peace as signifigant as many OTHER "rogue" nations we caln all call easily to mind.
Regards
TM
Israel is the bully in this one. In the past they were the little guy but not so much anymore.
Israel made a mess for itself, the US wasn't going to put the A Team in to defend it.
And here you are, DEMANDING that America be there to defend those who did that?
Despicable!
That's why she no showed.
She couldn't defend the indefensible.
Their job is to defend America's interests FIRST.
America's interests and Israel's interests are not necessarily the same thing and in this case Israel can clean up its own messes for a change.
Thats what you mean. Right?
And our association with Israel and it obvious respect for other's lives and soverignity is costing this country huge amounts of money and many other as valuable or more valuable allies and Israel.
Israel is no Ally, just a well organized group that has hijacked our Government on their way to stealing other's land.
Then again, maybe it's not hard to believe he worked for four American UN ambassadors.
Absolutely nothing is being done regarding the actions of these nations. Indeed, their policies in some nations are actually praised by the same sort of nitwits we see on these rusty Turk tubs.