Hope and Change: US pulling out of Durban II
posted at 2:00 pm on February 27, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Give the Barack Obama administration credit for learning a lesson. Originally, they insisted that the US had to engage the world at the UN conference on racism known as Durban II despite the highly anti-Semitic tone of the first conference. Now, after experiencing it first-hand, they’ve reached the same conclusion as Canada and the Bush administration:
White House aides told Jewish leaders on a conference call today that the United States will boycott the United Nations’ World Conference on Racism over hostility to Israel in draft documents prepared for the April conference.
The aides, including U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice and longtime Obama advisor Samantha Power, said the administration will not participate in further negotiations on the current text or participate in a conference based on the text, sources on the call said. …
Obama is expected to issue a statement on the subject later this afternoon, and the participants were asked not to discuss the call until a formal statement is released.
Well, well, well. I’m not sure whether I’m more surprised to see Obama change his mind or Samantha Power take the side of Israel. Okay, I know I’m more surprised about Power going quietly from Durban II.
We have to see what Obama says formally about the withdrawal, but perhaps we can expect Stephen Harper to issue a four-word statement on behalf of Canada: I told you so. In fact, the man who benefits most from this might be Harper, who took a lot of heat in Canada for his decision to stay out of Durban after the prep work revealed Durban II to be a sequel in every context. Obama had to learn that the hard way.
Blowback
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Obama will just change it to the much shorter “Death to Israel”
faraway on February 27, 2009 at 2:04 PM
What happened to dialog? It never hurts to talk to people…
Feh.
Skywise on February 27, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Ok, so the score for The Messiah is now:
1 good & decent thing
vs
1000 anti American power grabs
I’m so happy now…
/sarc
Mark Garnett on February 27, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Don’t be gullible, Ed.
I’ll just reprint what I just posted on the headline thread:
I wouldn’t read too much into this. The idiot messiah will try to get rid of Israel, one way or another. Once he had the administration start participating in Durban II, that was it. It was an action that spoke for itself, and could not be “taken back”. Pulling out for some small, tactical reason doesn’t make a bit of difference. The idiot messiah hates Israel and wants to ally with the arab/persian/muslim world (that is trying to kill the West) and that’s jut how it is.
progressoverpeace on February 27, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Preconditions.
Ronnie on February 27, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Hopefully he will wake up before it is too late….
DL13 on February 27, 2009 at 2:07 PM
I hope that Samantha Power left behind the ham filled
middle-finger sandwiches for the conference attendees.WashJeff on February 27, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Good for Dear Leader on this. And good for “pulling out of Iraq” means keeping tens of thousands of troops there.
See, I’m being open minded and bipartisan.
rbj on February 27, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Obama had no choice bcs civil unrest is getting bigger every screw up he has.
Obama has no ba!!$ & he’s not totally stupid- just a socialist-commie (not sure which) ignoramus.
I personally will sticks with the Jews. There is a reason they have been able to survive through everything over milleniae so far.
Badger40 on February 27, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Principles? Finger to the wind. Clinton taught us that.
whitetop on February 27, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Bingo. Obama knows he can be soft on the Israel issue right now because Bibi’s back in town, and the low price of oil is largely keeping the tools in Iran quiet. If it flares up again, though, inching away from Israel is quickly going to cause a great deal of consternation for him, and he knows this.
Yeah, no.
MadisonConservative on February 27, 2009 at 2:09 PM
UN conference on racism?
So they’re finally addressing all that rape in the Congo?
Oh, an Israel bashing fest you say.
Oh right, its the UN. Like the Naked Emperor Messiah, putting hope in it is a fool’s errand.
BKennedy on February 27, 2009 at 2:09 PM
I tend to agree with the argument that we need to stay and fight for our beliefs in these international institutions and give a “decent respect to the opinions of mankind.”
But only if those opinions are worthy of respect. I.e., not this time.
Sometimes world opinion, liberal friends, is wrong.
SteveMG on February 27, 2009 at 2:09 PM
I think Obama just likes the thought of ‘pulling out’.
He probably doesn’t want Michelle burdened.
Badger40 on February 27, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Perhaps this better shows the mindset.
Badger40 on February 27, 2009 at 2:10 PM
There will be no engaging of any UN race-directive, unless and until it is aimed directly the United States, for the vestiges of racism that still exist in the United States. It’s rampant. It’s everywhere.
‘Cause, ya know, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and all of the Congressional Black Caucus say so. Oh, and so do all of the kowtowing non-persons-of-color that want to run this country into the ground … they see the racism, too. And, they hate themselves for it. And, they hate America for it. And the only solution is to destroy the country, so that it can be re-born in all of its Socialist glory.
OhEssYouCowboys on February 27, 2009 at 2:10 PM
+10
MrScribbler on February 27, 2009 at 2:11 PM
OT, but if this isn’t red meat, I don’t know what is:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-conscience27-2009feb27,0,6549166.story
capitalist piglet on February 27, 2009 at 2:12 PM
I smell a rat.
-Dave
Dave R. on February 27, 2009 at 2:13 PM
40 years of the UN playing along with the haters…and we are finally seeing officially that this sort of “conference on racism,” this Durban II, is sharply skewed?
If our neighbors to the North were able to see through the flim-flam…and take the heat for saying so…that’s the sort of “change” I am looking for.
coldwarrior on February 27, 2009 at 2:14 PM
And Pres. Bush sips his sweet tea with lemon and chuckles to himself. It won’t be the last time he does it during this presidency.
AubieJon on February 27, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Absolutely not. Only a fool would even entertain the notion of an empowered, peerless, competitionless entity (such as the UN). Just the idea of it is one of the most insane thoughts to ever emerge in public and no one can defend it, not even theoretically. It is always wrong to paticipate, or lend any credence, whatsoever, to such terrible entities. They need to be ignored, at the least, and, preferably, dissolved. The UN is nothing but the lunatic idea of childish utopians.
Respect must be earned. Period.
progressoverpeace on February 27, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Steven Harper for Congressman?
Badger40 on February 27, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Scraps from the plate of the Divine.
Nothing more.
BobMbx on February 27, 2009 at 2:15 PM
But sometimes it can be forced. ;#
Badger40 on February 27, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Obama knows he is the leader of the world and the UN will not step on his toes. If anyone is going to hold a world conference on racism, it will be him.
faraway on February 27, 2009 at 2:17 PM
The reaction toward Hillary’s Gaza babbling might have shaken them too.
Entelechy on February 27, 2009 at 2:18 PM
No reflexive and unapologetic anti-Semite such as Power would ever (nor could ever) “take the side of Israel.” Doubtless she was simply miffed over not being able to shoehorn more openly pro-oven sentiments into the U.N. draft documents.
Kent18 on February 27, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Heh. Very true.
progressoverpeace on February 27, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Obama is going to learn many things “the hard way”. ‘Cause, you know, he’s The One.
Don’t know how all that ‘peace and love’ in the world is going to work out now. I’m sure we’ll be hearing how Obama “sold out to the Jews”.
GarandFan on February 27, 2009 at 2:19 PM
OT:
A sign posted outside the Village Quick Lube business expresses an opinion on the stimulus package
faraway on February 27, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Well, I’m glad the US has left, but I don’t give O any credit for principles.
As jencab said in the Headlines, “Political posturing. He sends money to Gaza (which will fund Hamas terrorists), but is not going to have the US in Durban II. Obama is not a guy to be trusted.”
If he had principles he would have left Wright’s church after visiting a few times and he would never have appointed Susan Rice or Samantha Power.
INC on February 27, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Weak…
RalphyBoy on February 27, 2009 at 2:21 PM
You left out the rest of my post.
Viz.: “But only if those opinions are worthy of respect. I.e., not this time.
Sometimes world opinion, liberal friends, is wrong.”
SteveMG on February 27, 2009 at 2:22 PM
For at least a month a doctor’s office in our area has had this sign up, “End government corruption or let us participate.”
INC on February 27, 2009 at 2:22 PM
The owner of the business is now scheduled for the Gulag. The charge – Anti-Obama Agitation, Article 58, Criminal Code of the Socialist States of America.
OhEssYouCowboys on February 27, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Yes. My mistake, Steve. I’m very sorry.
progressoverpeace on February 27, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Actually, Quick Lube may be a better name for the stimulus
faraway on February 27, 2009 at 2:24 PM
OT:
Toilet paper: Newspaper convention canceled amid industry woes
faraway on February 27, 2009 at 2:26 PM
No problem.
Whether they did it for the right reasons or wrong ones, I’m glad the Obama Administration had enough sense not to be involved with this farce.
That they went this far with it – thinking that, what?, they were going to change the direction? – is still troubling.
SteveMG on February 27, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Must have been some Mohammed cartoons in there.
NoDonkey on February 27, 2009 at 2:28 PM
I agree,,strictly a tactical move. Overall strategy is to throw Israel under the bus. They are throwing everything at us that they can,hoping to overwhelm us[not to mention the things that are sliding under the radar]. Very scary. I am very afraid that by 2010 we will be past the tipping point.
retiredeagle on February 27, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Window dressing. Like every good con artist Obahmba’s slide of hand is very good. Expect a complete undermining of Israel.
portlandon on February 27, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Forgot to ask,,,what is Sen Lieberman saying these days,,he seems to be pretty quiet.
retiredeagle on February 27, 2009 at 2:29 PM
a flying pig moment
Hilts on February 27, 2009 at 2:30 PM
He needed to dampen down the reaction to his appointment of Charles Freeman. Just a head fake, folks.
a capella on February 27, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Very troubling. And once they started, that toothpaste can’t be put back into the tube, no matter how they try.
BTW, my comments on the UN were not directed at you, but just a general rant I do every time the issue of the UN comes up. I consider it to be one of the most dangerous organizations ever, for the theoretical reasons mentioned, and consider even a mild acceptance of the legitimacy of its existence to be dangerous.
progressoverpeace on February 27, 2009 at 2:32 PM
portlandon, the Great Con
faraway on February 27, 2009 at 2:33 PM
?
portlandon on February 27, 2009 at 2:36 PM
I agree wholeheartedly. This organization is EVIL.
I would rather have Dr. Evil running the world.
We could come up with an Austin Powers to fight him.
Badger40 on February 27, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Makes the new administration look indicisive and weak.
But we already knew that.
Sir Napsalot on February 27, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Obama
faraway on February 27, 2009 at 2:38 PM
I keep hoping that I will wake up and find everything from the start of the primaries was all a bad dream…
OBQuiet on February 27, 2009 at 2:40 PM
As Geraghty and Limbaugh points out: All Obama says has an expiration date.
jencab on February 27, 2009 at 2:43 PM
O.K. Barry, good on you for this one, but you still need to stay the hell out of my wallet.
jimmy2shoes on February 27, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Yep. Unfortunately, all of the Western “leaders” are pushing it on us more and more. There is a very dangerous and chaotic future about to bear down on us.
I keep saying that Israel has a prime responisiblity to pull out of the UN (I scream this at all my Israeli friends and write about it every chance I get), but Israel doesn’t have the guts to do it. If Israel did pull out, the UN wouldn’t have anything left to do and the org would probably shrivel up and die on its own. But … the UN continues on, as it is, and it looks like we’re going to suffer the consequences of its grotesque sensibilities and barbaric thinking.
progressoverpeace on February 27, 2009 at 2:46 PM
As a Jewish Canadian former Israeli who loves Bush and was cheering for McCain, I am starting to like Obama more and more every day. Go Obama, and go Harper!
AlexB on February 27, 2009 at 2:47 PM
I really hope[I hate that word now] that everyone who is talking about waking up from a dream or thinking that the O is going to change, is being sarcastic. It is not going to happen,,,we are in the middle of a real live revolution,[yes, just like in the history books] “shots” are being fired and we need to face reality.
retiredeagle on February 27, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Huh? Don’t be fooled, Alex. The idiot messiah wants to destroy Israel.
progressoverpeace on February 27, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Unilateralism!!1!!
DaveS on February 27, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Congressman? No. Let’s join Canada…keep him on as PM; or grant him citizenship and vote him into the White House. /s
(or is it /s?)
The point is, at some stage in the very very near future all these idiots running and staffing the various high-sounding UN committees and councils need to see that they are going to have to pay for their shenanigans on their own dime…not ours. Nest thing you know, they’ll appoint Mugabe to run the World Bank. /s
In this time of fiscal turmoil in the United States, perhaps we need to stop sending money down the rat hole on Turtle Bay…same for that $900 million for Gaza. Who thought of that gem?
coldwarrior on February 27, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Is this what Hillary meant when she referred to ‘soft power?”
ElRonaldo on February 27, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Get used to typing that, Ed.
Kafir on February 27, 2009 at 3:33 PM
The bottom line of all of this is that Obama doesn’t give a jot for foreign affairs. His one and only goal is to turn America into a Marxist state, the other stuff is just a distraction from that goal and can be largely ignored.
johnsteele on February 27, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Which is more horrific Durban 2 or Dick Durbin I?
eaglewingz08 on February 27, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Good for him.
The gop are agreeing with him on Iraq too.
getalife on February 27, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Don’t get me wrong, I would LIKE to believe that Obama and his shadow-cabinet are all a bunch of idealistic retards who’re getting reality sandwiches shoved down their throats every day.
But I’m still not prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt on that. I mean, how do we know Obama gave up on Durban because it’s too anti-Semetic? Maybe it’s the opposite way around.
Obama said he’d happily make overtures to Islamic terrorists, even if they abjectly refused to make any concessions whatsoever. And that was the very first promise he kept upon entering the Oval Office.
It looks to me like Obama became disgusted with Durbin because he saw that they were just screwing around issuing empty proclamations instead of being REALLY anti-Semetic.
logis on February 27, 2009 at 4:28 PM
That may well be. There’s a really big difference between regular Islam and the Chicago-based Nation of Islam. Sure Malcom X and Farrakahn occasionally said the black man should hate all Jews, but that’s never been their real beef.
Bin Ladin, al Qaida and the other extremists among the traditional Muslim faith see attacking America as simply a means to an end.
But with the Nation of Islam, it’s the other way around. When Reverend Wright says “GOD DAMN AMERICA!” he’s not joshing; he means every word of it. Their main goal is the destruction of “White America”; to them, everything else is just a bunch of window dressing.
logis on February 27, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Chas W. Freeman Jr?
But this is why experience on a geopolitical stage matters.
Cr4sh Dummy on February 27, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Don’t let ANYONE tell you the conservative media and blogs do not matter anymore. If it hadn’t been for Anne Bayefsky and Andrew McCarthy at National Review, and a whole lot of bloggers shining a light on this disaster, the U.S. would have been sitting there right through this entire charade of Israel-bashing.
rockmom on February 27, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Didn’t Lebanon chair the UN commission on human rights. But of course all it took to join the UN was to declare war against the Nazis, after they had already lost.
darktood on February 27, 2009 at 10:32 PM
I think Stephen Harper is the leader of the hemisphere right now.
ddrintn on February 27, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Pardonme but does anyone else seeing a pattern here?
http://www.whitehouse..gov/the_press_office/Unexpected_Urgent_Refugee_Migration_Needs_Gaza/ will show you what is below..
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related to Gaza
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
SUBJECT: Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related to Gaza
By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the “Act”), as amended (22 U.S.C. 2601), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Act, that it is important to the national interest to furnish assistance under the Act in an amount not to exceed $20.3 million from the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund for the purpose of meeting unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs, including by contributions to international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations and payment of administrative expenses of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State, related to humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees and conflict victims in Gaza.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 27, 2009
Pardonme on February 28, 2009 at 9:21 AM