Interesting read!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


>In a bipartisan, bullish show of outrage, the US House of Representatives
>sought to enforce its way by teaching the United Nations a punitive lesson
>in
>"who pays the piper calls the tune."  They voted to withhold $244 million
>in
>dues next year unless the United States regains its seat on the U.N. Human
>Rights Commission. Democrats joined Republicans in a 252-165 in this
>dictatorial maneuver. The House also stamped America's lone, global
>super-dog
>status by approving 282-137 in a separate amendment that would shun any
>country by withholding U.S. aid if it approves of prosecuting U.S. military
>personnel in the newly created International Criminal Court (ICC).
>
>Not that the world is rushing to have its pulse taken by the US. No, not
>after Florida Butterfly Ballots were hanging by the dimples, warranting a
>divided Supreme Court to select a president, less than two hours before the
>deadline for any redress.
>The " after the fact of who won" is irrelevant because the decision was
>final
>for election 2000. History noted the world witnessed extra-judicial, or
>even
>extra-judicious intervention in the making of a First World president. With
>that, the fallacy that America's torch illuminates enough to prod global
>directions, is giving way to realistic, wake-up reassessments.
>
>America's fits of pique over being thrown out of the UN Human Rights
>Commission, the first time since its inception in 1947 with Eleanor
>Roosevelt, is a lesson in "national self interest and precarious
>journalism."
>These self-righteous or wounded exposes reflect the drum hum of politicians
>from left, right and center, including sages like Jeanne Kirkpatrick,
>former
>US ambassador to the UN, as they flaggingly opined in US media. The US
>trailed with 29 votes out of a possible 54. France, Austria and Sweden won
>the three seats reserved for Western Nations. In a Washington Times
>commentary (Thursday May 10, 200), Amos Perlmutter, a professor of
>political
>science and sociology at American University and editor of the Journal of
>Strategic Studies, moaned, vexingly, about the danger of a rapidly
>consolidating European Union. To wit, America will find it more difficult
>to
>cajole individual nations to foster US priorities. Mr. Perlmutter has been
>exercised, to extents of suggesting more undemocratic ways to secure US
>interests at the UN, beginning with overriding stumbling blocks like one
>nation, one vote.
>
>Can anybody explain how the US intends to win or "rewin" these votes in
>order
>to "reinstate" itself as a member of the Commission, short of all sorts of
>open extortions and covert blackmail? How can this sole superpower enter a
>race, lost, retaliate for loosing, and call any country a rogue regime? At
>least rogue regimes do not camouflage moral/and or democratic hypocrisy;
>they
>outright steal elections. What the US is talking about is fraudulence
>wrapped
>in warp patronage. Among US post-voting anger is the gripe that countries
>had
>pledged their support in public, but voted differently. C'mon, do we need
>elementary civic lessons here? Even communist outlaws would not allow this
>kind of brain confiscation in matters of ABC. It is just like a politician
>calling for damages because the polls showed him/her leading, only to loose
>when voters decided.
>
>Is the United States trying to use its resources to circumvent, bulldoze
>and
>corrupt democratic processes that it cannot manipulate? For five decades,
>instead of continued deceptions that US and other mighty, veto-touting
>nations have been winning by demonstrated merits, why can't we just admit
>the
>open secret: powerful nations have been preying and exploiting weaker
>nations, yet posturing as democrats. There is no democracy that money
>cannot
>hijack. Let's debunk that pretentious stuff and deal with realities of
>self-preservation that weaker nations should catch up, join the club and
>play
>by the rules.
>
>What American journalists, pundits and variety essayists are not amplifying
>are these facts: in the same period, United States voted against providing
>access to cheaper HIV/AIDS drugs to poor people; voted against making the
>"right to food'' a priority for mankind.  The US has taken a stand against
>curbing global warming and landmines that are robbing poorer nations of
>limbs. Do we have landmines in the US that explode and amputate school
>children, maiming and killing American citizens at random? With positions
>like these, what in the name of democracy is US thinking? Unquestioned
>allegiance and deference to US impunities in exchange for its money? The
>likes of global Mobutu Sese Sekou Kuku Bengu Waza Banga may have died, but
>they are still some, and more to come, to master US master-controls.
>
>Long Live America the Raging Bull.
>
>MsJoe Evelyn, African Union Page, Renaissance Connection Network


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