Posted on 04/18/2009 8:15:21 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
The Obama administration will "with regret" boycott a UN conference on racism next week over objectionable language in the meeting's final document that could single out Israel for criticism and restrict free speech, the State Department said Saturday.
The decision follows weeks of furious internal debate came after fierce lobbying by Israel and Jewish groups against US participation.
A final draft of the statements, released late Friday, made changes to sections that had referred to a "hierarchy" among forms of racism, but left intact sections that the US had said would cause it to boycott the meetings.
The conference is set to begin Monday in Geneva. Its planning has been dominated by efforts by Arab nations to prioritize concerns about Islamophobia and "anti-Arabism" - widely interpreted as a thinly veiled code for the treatment of Palestinians.
Snip
Concern is high that the meeting may descend into the blatant Israel-bashing that marred the last such gathering eight years ago, especially since Iran's president - who has called for Israel's destruction - will attend.
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...
If it bugs even Obama it has got to be bad.
The "objectionable language" was said in his Church for 20 years so I doubt it bugs him that much.
No apology offered.
Maybe we should hand it to him this time: the fact that he refused to attend the conference is a good thing...he easily could have gone if he wanted to.
How would you know that? Obama, even though he is the TOTUS, still does (unfortunately) have the powers of an actual POTUS. If he wanted to go he would have gone, and nothing Rahm or others would have done would have stopped him. He decided not to go. I for one know how to disagree with a person's policies, but accept when every now and then they take the right course of action. This was one of those proper courses of action.
The List, ping
U.S. boycotts racism conference, says it ‘singles out’ Israel
cnn | 04,19,09
Posted on 04/19/2009 11:24:12 AM PDT by Milagros
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2232855/posts
How the CNN & WP Legitimize murdering little chidren (by Islamic bigots)
Posted on 04/18/2009 11:48:43 PM PDT by PRePublic
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2232631/posts
UN Watch Turns Tables on Libyan Chair, Exposes Durban 2 Hypocrisy
unwatch | Apr, 2009
Posted on 04/19/2009 1:25:30 PM PDT by Milagros
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2232913/posts
US boycotting, Iran starring, at UN racism meeting
ap | 041909 | Bradley S. Klapper
Posted on 04/19/2009 12:03:25 PM PDT by VU4G10
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2232871/posts
Note: Photo included.
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http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=46862
“Boycott-Hit Racism Conference Gets Underway”
Monday, April 20, 2009
By Patrick Goodenough, International Editor
(CNSNews.com) –
SNIPPET: “The list of boycotting countries lengthened over the weekend, with the U.S. giving final notice that it would definitely not take part. Others that have confirmed they will not attend are Canada, Israel, Australia, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
Other European countries were planning to send low-level delegations, and warned they could be withdrawn. Of particular concern for many is the presence of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – one of just a handful of government leaders attending – and fears that he may use the opportunity to repeat his numerous past attacks against Israel.
Before flying to Geneva Ahmadinejad told reporters that the “Zionist regime” was the main instigator of racist ideology, the Iranian news agency ISNA reported.
“Today the behavior of the U.S. officials and Europe’s parties and governments are dominated by Zionists, they have monetary and financial systems of the world and have kept nations in poverty and direct their money and fortune to their pockets,” he said.
ISNA said Ahmadinejad’s itinerary includes addressing the racism conference, meeting with pro-Palestinian non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and meetings with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) chief Ekmeledin Ihsanoglu and Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz.
The aim of the April 20-24 conference is to review progress made in combating racism since the World Conference on Racism (WCAR), held in Durban, South Africa in September 2001. That event was overshadowed by the row over attempts to label Israel an “apartheid” state, and the U.S. and Israel walked out.
Ahead of the 2009 gathering, a difficult and drawn-out preparatory process has been dominated by a OIC-instigated focus on Israel and attempts by the Islamic bloc to limit criticism of Islam – or what it calls “defamation of religion.””
CNS NEWS.com: "OBAMA EXPECTED TO ENGAGE IN FENCE-MENDING WITH ISLAMIC NATIONS AT MEETING IN TURKEY" by Patrick Goodenough (SNIPPET: "Some critics see in the AoC's attempts to shape media coverage parallels with a "defamation of religion" campaign long promoted by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the bloc of Islamic states at the U.N.") (March 27, 2009)
AMERICAN THINKER.com: "ISLAMIC STATES PUSH TO CRIMINALIZE 'DEFAMATION OF ISLAM'" by Peter C. Glover (SNIPPET: "Though the 57 nations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), a bloc which also dominates UN's Human Rights Council, have been lobbying for the move since 1999...") (March 25, 2009)
JIHAD WATCH.org (NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, February 26, 2009): "WHY IS THE U.S. STILL ENTERTAINING DURBAN II?" (SNIPPET: "For one, Obama is making new friends. The administration's decision last week to participate in planning meetings for Durban II was very well received by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)") (February 27, 2009)
CNS NEWS.com: "OBAMA'S POLICY SHIFT ON DURBAN RACISM CONFERENCE DRAWS CONCERN, CRITICISM" by Patrick Goodenough (SNIPPET: "Arguing that "Islamophobia" is a "contemporary form of racism," the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is using Durban II to further its campaign to have religious "defamation" outlawed -- a drive which critics say is designed to prevent criticism of Islam and practices associated with it.") (February 16, 2009)
THE MEMRI BLOG.org ("Source: Shahab News, Iran, January 19, 2009"): "IRANIAN MAJLIS DISCUSSES BILL TO ESTABLISH 'ISLAMIC WORLD ARMY'" (SNIPPET: "It was proposed that this army would be part of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.") (Posted January 22, 2009)
FOX NEWS.com: "U.N. ANTI-BLASPHEMY RESOLUTION CURTAILS FREE SPEECH, CRITICS SAY" by Jennifer Lawinski (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Religious groups and free-speech advocates are banding together to fight a United Nations resolution they say is being used to spread Sharia law to the Western world and to intimidate anyone who criticizes Islam.") (October 3, 2008)
LOL @ anybody thinking that Rahm Emanuel is the voice of rationality
Note: Video included.
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/04/20/video-ahmadinejad-prompts-walkout-at-un-conference/
“Video: Ahmadinejad prompts walkout at UN conference”
POSTED AT 3:42 PM ON APRIL 20, 2009 BY ED MORRISSEY
SNIPPET - QUOTE:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/025756.php
April 20, 2009
Ahmadinejad calls for eradication of Israel at racist UN “anti-racism” conference — and 23 EU delegates walk out!
Some unexpected spine in Eurabia — but why were these delegates at the jihad-enabling, Jew-hating Durban II conference in the first place?
“Delegates walk out on Ahmadinejad at Geneva,” from the Jerusalem Post, April 20 (thanks to Carl In Jerusalem):
Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for the eradication of Israel as he addressed the United Nations anti-racism conference which opened its week long event in Geneva on Monday.
“Governments must be encouraged and supported in their fights at eradicating this barbaric racism. Efforts must be made to put an end to Zionism,” he said in the rambling speech he gave at the podium.
As he spoke, some 23 EU delegates were seen walking out the room when Ahmadinejad said Israel was created on the “pretext of Jewish suffering” from World War II.
Ahmadinejad began his speech by pointing the finger at the United States, Europe and Israel and said they were destabilizing the entire world.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=41EC146E-112A-4E5A-8A11-44EE9EF7F189
“Geneva: The Three Ring Spectacle”
By Gregory Gethard
FrontPageMagazine.com | Tuesday, April 21, 2009
SNIPPET: “In what was the most telling sign of yesterday’s United Nations conference on racism held in Geneva, two men dressed as clowns disrupted anti-Semitic comments by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, one of whom threw a rubber nose at the speaker.
What followed was a circus. Ahmadinejad continued his remarks, in which he denounced Israel as “the most cruel and repressive, racist regime.” In the middle of his speech, representatives of at least 30 nations walked out as Ahmadinejad silently watched.
In addition to the walk-out, many world leaders spoke out in fervor against the remarks. Said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon:
I deplore the use of this platform by the Iranian president to accuse, divide and even incite. This is the opposite of what this conference seeks to achieve.
The State Department criticized Ahmadinejad’s remarks, but insisted that it would continue to pursue engagement with Iran, following President Barack Obama’s pledge of attempting to “talk” to Tehran.
Others have dismissed Ahmadinejad’s remarks as nothing more than fodder for his presidential campaign. Said Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, “He is in mid-electoral campaign, he puts on his show and gets what he wants when chaos breaks out in the room.”
However, despite the mass protest, not everyone left the room. And, as Ahmadinejad finished, he was greeted with warm applause.
But while it is commendable that many of those in attendance stood and defiantly walked out of the meeting, one question remains: Why was it allowed to continue?”
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/cartoonjihad/
http://www.truthusa.com/MoreThanCartoons.html
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2235535/posts
“An Islamist ‘New World Order’”
Jerusalem Post ^ | April 22nd, 2009
Posted on April 22, 2009 2:41:52 PM PDT by TaraP
SNIPPET: “The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member-states at the Durban II gathering in Geneva is pushing for “a new world order” that would expand and impose “nondemocratic and illiberal values on the West,” says the Danish editor who in 2005 commissioned and published a series of cartoons, one of which depicted the prophet Muhammad with a bomb in his turban that led to worldwide Muslim rioting....
Flemming Rose, editor of Jyllands-Posten, Denmark’s largest-circulation newspaper, is visiting Israel under the auspices of the Hebrew University’s Shasha Center for Strategic Studies, headed by former Mossad director Efraim Halevy. He’s here to lecture on how nations need to find the right balance between religious sensitivities and freedom of expression.
Rose says the OIC is trying to use Durban II to rewrite the rules of human rights and international law in a way that undermines the values of liberty enshrined in the Western canon - including the US Bill of Rights, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
It’s all part of an ongoing Muslim campaign that has been making significant strides, says Rose.”
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