When it comes to making policy in the Middle-East, the United States has consistently and unilaterally pursued a double-standard in favor of Israel. There is no better example of that than the U.S.'s position on the Iranian nuclear issue.
Under the Non-Proliferation Treaty - which Iran is a member of - it has the right to enrich uranium on its own soil for peaceful purposes. That's what Iran is doing. Iran is doing nothing illegal. America and Israel claim that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons, which they say it should not be allowed to do. But just like the claims about weapons of mass-destruction in Iraq, they have presented no evidence of such intentions. But let's dangerously assume that Iran indeed plans to develop nuclear weapons. Then, one wonders, why should Iran not be allowed to do so when Israel (Iran's main open enemy) already has two-to-three hundred nuclear weapons? One argument is that Israel is not a member of NPT and therefore is not bound by its regulations. Is it that easy? So would Iran get a free pass too if it withdraws from the NPT?
The second argument involves the U.N. and IAEA's calls on Iran to suspend enrichment of uranium. But those resolutions have proven to be ineffective because the United States has vetoed tens of U.N. resolutions against Israel for its illegal occupation and other atrocities throughout more than three decades. These vetoes have undermined our legitimacy to claim the moral high ground and undercut the legitimacy of the U.N. as an impartial body. When we have a superpower - the United States - that abuses its veto power to support one side of a sensitive conflict, that unconditional and unqualified support disturbs the balance of power in the region, contributes to the polarization of conflict and ultimately transforms the frustration on the weaker side of such conflict to terrorism as this becomes the last tool to resist oppression.
While killing and terrorism is the wrong response in any conflict, there are real explanations behind it that have to do with our policies that are often misguided and hurt our interests throughout the world. As long as we put the defense of one outlaw state before the defense of our principles, we should expect more terrorism and attacks on our interests regardless of who the next president will be.
UN Security Council Resolutions Against Israel, Vetoed by the United States (1972-2002)
-1972 Condemns Israel for killing hundreds of people in Syria and Lebanon in air raids.
-1973 Affirms the rights of the Palestinians and calls on Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories.
-1976 Condemns Israel for attacking Lebanese civilians.
-1976 Condemns Israel for building settlements in the occupied territories.
-1976 Calls for self determination for the Palestinians.
-1976 Affirms the rights of the Palestinians.
-1978 Criticizes the living conditions of the Palestinians.
-1978 Condemns the Israeli human rights record in occupied territories.
-1979 Calls for the return of all inhabitants expelled by Israel.
-1979 Demands that Israel desist from human rights violations.
-1979 Requests a report on the living conditions of Palestinians in occupied Arab countries.
-1979 Offers assistance to the Palestinian people.
-1979 Discusses sovereignty over national resources in occupied Arab territories.
-1979 To include Palestinian women in the United Nations Conference on Women.
-1980 Requests Israel to return displaced persons.
-1980 Condemns Israeli policy regarding the living conditions of the Palestinian people.
-1980 Condemns Israeli human rights practices in occupied territories. 3 resolutions.
-1980 Affirms the right of self determination for the Palestinians.
-1981 Condemns Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, human rights policies, and the bombing of Iraq. 18 resolutions.
-1982 Condemns the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. 6 resolutions (1982 to 1983).
-1982 Condemns the shooting of 11 Muslims at a shrine in Jerusalem by an Israeli soldier.
-1982 Calls on Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights occupied in 1967.
-1984 Condemns Israel for occupying and attacking southern Lebanon.
-1985 Condemns Israel for occupying and attacking southern Lebanon.
-1985 Condemns Israel for using excessive force in the occupied territories.
-1985 Measures to be taken against Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist activities.
-1986 Condemns Israel for its actions against Lebanese civilians.
-1986 Calls on Israel to respect Muslim holy places.
-1986 Condemns Israel for sky-jacking a Libyan airliner.
-1987 Calls on Israel to abide by the Geneva Conventions in its treatment of the Palestinians.
-1987 Calls on Israel to stop deporting Palestinians.
-1987 Condemns Israel for its actions in Lebanon. 2 resolutions.
-1987 Calls on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon.
-1987 Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States.
-1988 Condemns Israeli practices against Palestinians in the occupied territories. 5 resolutions (1988 and 1989).
-1989 Opposing the acquisition of territory by force.
-1989 Calling for a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict based on earlier UN resolutions.
-1990 To send three UN Security Council observers to the occupied territories.
-1995 Affirms that land in East Jerusalem annexed by Israel is occupied territory.
-1997 Calls on Israel to cease building settlements in East Jerusalem and other occupied territories. 2 resolutions.
-2001 To send unarmed monitors to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Between 1972 and 2002, Russia used its veto power twice.
(Source: University College London)