Positive Obama thread

Ok- here's another reason the US sucks.

Diplomats say US blocks UN statement on Gaza

By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press Writer - Sun Jan 4, 5:04 am ET

Alejandro Wolff, US Ambassador to UN waits to speak to reporters at UN Headquarters on the situation ...

UNITED NATIONS - The United States has blocked approval of a U.N. Security Council statement calling for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers, diplomats said.

French U.N. Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, the council president, said the 15 council members could not agree on a statement in closed discussions held after Israel launched a ground invasion into the Gaza Strip on Saturday. But he said there were "strong convergences" among the members to express concern about the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the need for "an immediate, permanent and fully respected cease-fire."

Libyan Ambassador Giadalla Ettalhi said the United States during the discussions late Saturday objected to "any outcome" on the proposed statement. He said efforts were made to compromise on a weaker press statement but there was no consensus.

Several other council members, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations were closed, also said the U.S. was responsible for the council's failure to issue a statement.

The U.S., Israel's closest ally, has designated Hamas a terrorist organization. U.S. deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the United States saw no prospect of Hamas abiding by last week's council call for an immediate end to the violence. Therefore, he said, a new statement "would not be adhered to and would have no underpinning for success, (and) would not do credit to the council."

Libya, the only Arab nation on the council, called the emergency meeting after Israel sent tanks and infantry across the border into Gaza on the eighth day of its offensive against Hamas militants. The ground attack followed a week of air strikes, which Hamas responded to with salvos of rocket fired into southern Israel.

Arab nations demanded that the council adopt a statement calling for an immediate cease-fire and expressing "serious concern at the escalation of violence and the deterioration of the situation in Gaza and southern Israel," a view echoed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

If it had been approved, the statement would have become part of the council's official record but would not have the weight of a Security Council resolution, which is legally binding.

Egypt's U.N. Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz said it was regrettable that one permanent council member - a clear reference to the U.S. - refused to accept any statement at a time when "the aggression is escalating and more people are dying and the military attack on the ground is at its full scale."

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. observer, said: "We have war. We have aggression against the Palestinian people, and it is a sad and tragic moment when the Security Council cannot address this issue by at least demanding from Israel ... to stop this aggression immediately."

More than 480 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 3,000 injured in Gaza, and four people have been killed in Israel.

Israel maintains the offensive is aimed at stopping the rocket attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza that have traumatized southern Israel.

Though the Security Council took no action on Saturday night, an Arab draft resolution circulated by Libya on Wednesday night that would condemn Israel and halt its military attacks on Gaza remains on the table. It would have to be revised, however, since the United States has already called it "unacceptable" and "unbalanced" because it doesn't call for an end to the Hamas rocketing of Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected in New York on Tuesday, along with half a dozen Arab foreign ministers who will be at the U.N. on Monday, to press for a cease-fire resolution.

Mansour said he hopes Abbas and the ministers will succeed in pushing through a resolution "so that we will have a durable and sustainable cease-fire between us and the Israelis."

Asked what kind of resolution would be acceptable to the United States, Wolff said: "The important point to focus on here is establishing the understanding of what type of cease-fire we're talking about and to ensure that it's lasting, and to ensure that we don't return to a situation that led to the current situation."

 Can the world survive 2 more weeks of the Bush administration?

djd- did they certify the election or is this going to end up in court? He's good enough I don't know much about Franken except He's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggonit, 225 more voters in Minnesota like him more than the creepy republican.

mad- I think the school was a good choice. I hope the press gives them their privacy. Sarah Palin paraded her kids out as part of her political persona. She used being a "hockey mom" as her persona so I can understand the press covering Bristol's pregnancy and the arrest of her future MIL, the teens dropping out of HS, trying to sell the baby pics (the trailer trash part apart from the pregnancy). Going after a 16/17 yo trying to financially profit is different than going after kids.The Obamas never used their daughters that way and those girls are much younger so the deserve the respect and privacy of the media. Amy Carter and Chelsea Clinton were treated badly by the press. The Clintons I think took the 'chelsea is untouchable" thing way too far, considering the way she acted in the beginning of her mother's presidency. If you're part of the campaign, you're fodder for the media..... anyway... I digress.

Linda, my theory is that Bush was so anti-scientific because he wasn't bright enough to understand things. I am puzzled why  people who aren't educated or intelligent on certain things don't seek the opinion and value of those who are. I know when I am not unable to do something competently, I seek out help. You'll never see me trying to change a tire or change oil on my (ex)car. I know what needs to be done, but I can't do it myself. Bush would probably say, oil and tires don't need to be changed, lets make laws to prevent people from doing that. I'd like to personally welcome the so called intellectual elite back to washington. They have been sorely missed. Bush's antiscience stance has been hurtful to the environment, to wild life, to people with illnesses, and to women.

Watching the Sunday morning talk shows, I see a big difference between the republicans and the repugs. I think there are some decent republicans who we can agree to disagree with, who hope for a successful presidency for Obama.  A few of the trouble makers are still race baiting and trying to cause democrats to fight amongst themselves with the Blago nomination. I'd laugh if they didn't take themselves so seriously.

Susan Rice is our new UN ambassador. She and Bolton are like night and day.

You guys are right about the last 8 years being hell. Bush treated LGBTs as if we were barely above criminals, deserving of more rights than the hostages we've been holding at gitmo, but not much more. As a country we have invaded, attacked, held hostages, tortured, lied to the American people and the world, spied on citizens, maginalized the poor and middle class, taken away women's medical rights, given tax breaks to the wealthy while cutting services to the poor, left 45 million people without health care, eroded civil rights, killed countless Iraqis and sent our troops into harms way to avenge Bush's daddy's loss, attempted to replace secular social services with religious ones, made a mockery of the constitution and probably alot of other terrible things I can't think of offthe topof my head. We have been an embarrassment and I am so relieved for this to be over in 2 weeks.

So who's showing up in the chatroom for the inauguration???? Does anyone know if there wil be cameras at the inauguration balls? I boycotted tv coverage of Bush's festivities and went into mourning.  It's time to rip of that black dress and party hearty!

I added to my ignore list, but I still think it's smaller than yours felicia ;.

I'm really sad about Bill Richardson. My gut tells me he's innocent and this is a witchhunt. He strikes me as a man of integrity. (just like my gut tells me Blago is in up to his ears). I really like and respect him and I bet when Hillary leaves her post he'll take her place.