Yesterday, I noted with disgust that Iran was elected to the UN Disarmament Commission (UNDC). Having found the http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/dc3017.doc.htm relevant UN Document, I can now report that it was elected by acclamation as a Vice Chairman. Chile and Uruguay were similarly elected, and to the same position. Other members of the UNDC include South Korea (Chairman), Cuba, Guyana, Brazil, China, Belarus, New Zealand, Switzerland, Australia, Viet Nam, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Austria, Sierra Leone, and the United States (!).
Would someone please explain to me how the U.S. could vote in favor of Iran?
Background on the UNDC can be found here.
I think you’ll agree many people in the current administration (as well as you and I) feel the UN is mostly a joke thus not really making this a surprise. Wasn’t it Libya that was on the human rights board and Sudan voted for the Responsibility to Protect act?
Second of all, a move like this does make some sense. First of all, I think you’d agree this post doesn’t really make much difference int he first place but it does put Iran in a difficult position. How can it push for arms control when Iran itself is defying it.
My bet is it’s just a small move to try and discredit Iran internationally as the US can now criticize Iran in a “legitimate” multilateral forum whereas our unilateral criticism doesn’t count much for say Europeans.
Maybe the US representative was having a bathroom break at the time?
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