Feb. 28, 2006 - 21:40 MST

BOTH WAYS

Sometimes as humans we seem to carry the "make nice" theory way too far. Vincent Carrol, editor of the editorial pages in his On Point section today has a shorty on just such a thing. In full herein:

HUMAN RIGHTS CHARADE

"Jimmy Carter, Desmond Tutu and a number of Nobel Peace Prize laureates have declared their support for the latest plan to replace the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, but heaven knows why. So long as oppressive regimes such as Sudan, Cuba and Zimbabwe are allowed to sit on a human rights panel, its pronouncements will not be taken seriously and its focus will be diverted from many of the most serious abuses around the globe."

"Unfortunately, the U.N. might vote as soon as this week on a plan for a new Human Rights Council that is likely to feature the same grave defects as the commission it is meant to replace, the new design might even aggravate them."

"The best way to block murderous regimes from a seat on a U.N. human rights council is to give the world's democracies the equivalent of a veto -- by requiring for example a two-thirds vote of approval by the General Assembly. But to the dismay of U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, such a requirement is missing from the plan presented to the world last week, as is any semblance of a process to discourage nations such as Saudi Arabia from sullying a future council with their presence."

"The New York Times has dubbed the plan a "pathetic draft" and even managed to praise Bolton, whom the paper mostly treats with contempt, for his fierce opposition to the farce. That is a miracle in itself -- but we'll probably need another for the plan to be defeated."

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A good part of the time I am not in agreement with things Mr. Carroll comes up with, but this time we seem to see eye to eye. It has seemed to me that for quite a number of years the U.N. has been inviting the Rhiner into the Diner without making sure that the precepts of the U.N. will be fully observed.

The name in itself is a dead give away of its intentions. Nations - United, does not to my mind indicate the kind of behavior exhibited by a man and wife always at swords points. Of course some of us hopelessly optomistic and idealistic folks look for and expect more peaceful and gentle actions to come out of the U.N.

Considering the way our administration is going, I am not to sure I would invite them to take part in anything to do with the U.N.

Still, the naive group doing their U.N. thing seems to continue to try to have things BOTH WAYS . . . . . . . . . . .

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