The U.S. Votes 'Present' at the U.N.

WSJ ^ | 1/12/09 | John Bolton

[Molly Pitcher]

Last week, the United Nations Security Council adopted a British resolution calling for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Resolution 1860 was a slap at Israel's self-defense, but, unusually, the United States abstained on the vote.

That's no way to lead. If Washington concluded that a harsh resolution on Gaza was warranted, the proper course was to vote for it. And that is, apparently, what Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had hoped to do. Speaking to the Security Council, Ms. Rice endorsed the basic content of the British draft, saying "this resolution is a step toward our goals." She also said that the U.S. was abstaining to give Egypt's ongoing mediation efforts time to work.

[mojito]

I must say that I was puzzled when I heard about this vote.

Thanks for posting this article.

Ambassador Bolton makes it all too clear.

[Mogwai]

Present... *groan*... Did they swear Obama in early?

[joe fonebone]

thank god for one thing.......condi rice is gone from state, she was a disaster from the start...

[NonValueAdded]

If this JPost article is correct, then it was at the request of Israel: here. The question would be was Olmert's instructions "not to vote for it" taken at face value when a veto was the desired outcome? Olmert yanked GWB off a podium to make that request.

[mquinn]

I am bit bothered by the notion that ANY foreign leader thinks he can “yank” our president away, essentially demanding that he take his call. And that this demand was apparently heeded.

[weegee]

Barack Obama is going to wish he was in the UN instead of the White House when he realizes that he can’t just vote “present” anymore.

[Larousse2]

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