U.S. Likely to Avoid U.N. Racism Forum: Sources

Reuters ^ | Sat Apr 18, 2009 | Laura MacInnis

[nickcarraway]

The United States is likely to sit out next week's United Nations conference on racism or take part only as an observer, diplomatic sources said on Saturday.

The United Nations organized the forum to help heal the wounds from its last such forum, in Durban, South Africa. The United States and Israel walked out of that 2001 conference when Arab states sought to define Zionism as racist.

The Obama administration has largely kept its distance from preparations for the "Durban II" meeting, that opens on Monday at the U.N.'s European headquarters in Geneva. A formal U.S. announcement is expected later on Saturday or on Sunday.

Israel and Canada will not attend next week because they fear a repeat of the "Israel-bashing" at the last conference.

Juliette de Rivero of Human Rights Watch said that without Washington there, the meeting could lack diplomatic gravitas.

"For us it's extremely disappointing and it's a missed opportunity, really, for the United States," she said of its expected absence.

"If the U.S. fails to participate, it will disappoint many who invested hope in the Obama administration's commitment to engage internationally to protect human rights."

Several European Union members also share U.S. reservations about the possibility that the conference, which Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will address on Monday, will be dominated by criticism of Israel.

[Prospero]

As far-fetched as it might seem to some folks, I will bet a friendly nickle that the administration made a decision to back away from this because of the nationwide Tea Party gatherings.

There are good reasons for thinking this might be true, especially after Urkel got sand bagged by Ortega and loved up Hood style by Hugo, yesterday.

The Party Line spew and hatred toward Conservatives is one thing, but what they say to each other around the breakfast table is something different.

[The Pack Knight]

Finally, a sensible foreign policy decision from these clowns. There is absolutely no reason for the U.S. to participate in this farce.