Posted on 10/17/2010 1:14:37 PM PDT by HearMe
United Nations Security Council seat goes to Portugal in secret vote; Islamic states thought to have voted as a bloc against Ottawa.
Canada lost its bid to acquire a seat on the prestigious United Nations Security Council when the UN General Assembly voted to give Portugal the coveted position. The Canadian press was abuzz with speculation over possible reasons for the losing the vote, with many commentators attributing it to the Conservative government's strong support of Israel.
....
Voting for the 10 temporary seats on the most powerful UN body is cast by secret ballot, but the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which represents 56 countries in the UN General Assembly, have historically voted as a bloc in order to affect the outcome of UN votes and consistently vote to censure Israel for its treatment of Palestinians.
The current prime minster of Canada, Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper, came to power in February 2006 after 13 consecutive years of Liberal Party rule. Under his tenure, the Canadian government abandoned its traditional multilateral diplomacy which Harper called a "weak-nation strategy," according to the Economist and embraced Israel with increased vigor, while its relations with the Palestinian Authority cooled considerably.
Soon after Hamas emerged victorious in elections for the Palestinian parliament, Canada's conservative government broke off all contact with the group and cut off financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority, which had previously amounted to $7 million annually, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
Good on Canada for taking a principled stand.
Ping.
Canada not being on the UN Security Council officially increases their cool factor.
As many men and ships as Canada contributed to the Allied victory in World War II (much more than most people realize) they should have had a seat there from the beginning.
All the more reason to Kick the UN out of the US and stop throwing our money into this stinking toilet.
Is this the same UN Security Council that has terrorist nations on it????
I really wish that George Bush had taken advantage of all the scandals early in his first term, notably the oil for food scandal, and just pulled out of the UN.
We continue to pay a quarter of the costs of an organization that is dedicated to helping all of our enemies—and using our money to do it.
The only possible reason any decent country would want a seat on the Security Council is to limit the damage the organization could do to you and your friends.
Dump the UN!
If they’re smart they will withdraw from the UN.
BUMP.
Good on Canada!
“Did Canada’s support for Israel cost it a seat on UN Security Council?”
Yes.
Obama and his masters don’t like it when someone defends freedom.
There is nothing prestigious about the UN, NOTHING!!!
I wish the US would withdraw from the UN.
UN out of the US
Eh?
I’m sure the good people of Canada know this is a true badge of honour. Being diskliked because of one’s backing of Israel can be nothing but.
You have my vote. It is a taxpayer funded debating society (one that does far more harm than good).
In 2002 we had all three slots and pulling out of the UN never occurred to the Republicans. We could have at least cut our annual dues.
We need to get rid of the Soros clan.
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