UN "Racism" Conference Didn't

Deserve High-Level US Delegation

By Allan Saxe, WBAP Political Analyst

President Bush and his administration were absolutely correct in not sending a high level delegation to the United Nations "Racism" conference in Durban, South Africa the past week. Jesse Jackson has criticized our not being there with high-level representatives. He believes we could have made our views known better with high- ranking officials in attendance. Further, to
snub the conference will earn us world criticism.

Jesse Jackson is wrong! Very often just being in attendance at a function can send a signal of agreement. This U.N. conference, like so many others, was not a just conference with a just and fair agenda. It was determined from the outset, which countries would be signaled out for criticism and others left unscathed. The United Nations has allowed itself to be manipulated and twisted by a group of nations, most of whom, have little or no regard for democratic or freedom loving principles.

There will be little or no criticism of the Sudan where slavery and brutality have existed for several decades. The Christian and animist population of the southern portion of this troubled land have been brutalized for years. There will be little or no criticism of Afghanistan, which has descended into some sort of world little known in modern times. There will be little or no criticism of Iran where public protests, press and artistic freedom have been greatly curtailed. This is the same Iran,
which persecutes what remains of its Jewish population, and other small religious groups like Bhai's. Will we hear any loud outcry at the conference about the treatment of women or public beheadings and floggings in Saudi Arabia? Yes, this is the same Saudi Arabia where we buy oil and where the United States rescued a decade ago from a possible Iraqi invasion?

The United States sent its displeasure at the Durban Conference by sending a low level delegation. It should have sent a much stronger message by not attending at all. Let such an international conference rant and rave at the United States, Israel, India and others. But add to these a list of countries whose policies are much more xenophobic, intolerant and restrictive: for starters, Iran, Afghanistan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and others unfortunately too numerous. Then we could have attended with a proud Secretary of State in attendance.

The idea of a United Nations is a good and noble one. Many of its agencies do good work in providing food, education and health to the world's poor. U.N. groups provide needed information on a myriad of important subjects. It has peace- keepers stationed in world hot spots. But the United Nations also allows itself to be used as a political weapon by some of its member nations.

The United States was one of the principal authors of the U.N. And as the world's great power, needs to use its strength, economy and power to engage the United Nations to more balance and equity. It made a good start by its criticism of the Durban Conference this week.

Allan Saxe serves as political analyst for WBAP News/Talk 820 and writes an opinion column for the Star-Telegram.

Listener Comments:

Three cheers, Allan Saxe. Yes, the United Nations has become a hostage to a few countries' political and nationalist agenda. I've never been less proud.

Karen Prager - Plano

Wow! Two in a row that I agree with you, Allan. I'm sure that's some kind of record. :-> Its understandable that these lesser nations use any available tool to make their point. Its deplorable that the UN allows itself to be such a tool.