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Obama Administration to Boycott UN's "Racism" Conference
April 19, 2009 8:23 AM
The Obama administration quietly announced this weekend that it would boycott an international conference about racism and discrimination because of concerns that the conference unfairly singles out Israel for criticism and because the conference may set the stage for restrictions on free speech.
The United Nations conference is set to begin tomorrow in Geneva, Switzerland.
Protesting what their leaders see as anti-Semitic and anti-Israel overtones to the conference, Australia, Canada, Israel, Italy and Sweden are also not sending delegations.
Acting U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood Saturday issued a statement saying that the 2009 Durban Review Conference draft outcome document "still contains language that reaffirms in toto the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) from 2001, which the United States has long said it is unable to support" because it "singles out one particular conflict and prejudges key issues that can only be resolved in negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians."
"Its inclusion in the review conference document has the same effect as inserting that original text into the current document and re-adopting it," Wood said. In addition, he added that the United States "also has serious concerns with relatively new additions to the text regarding 'incitement,' that run counter to the U.S. commitment to unfettered free speech." Earlier drafts of the document expressed disapproval of any "defamation of religion."
Wood said: "Therefore, with regret, the United States will not join the review conference."
Human rights organizations expressed disappointment at the decision.
“From the outset we have shared Washington’s deep concern about the efforts by some governments to use the racism meeting to single out Israel for criticism and to promote the idea that religions should be protected over rights, ” said Juliette de Rivero, Geneva advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “But governments have now excised troubling language about the Middle East and ‘defamation of religion’ from the meeting’s draft resolution.”
Congressional Black Caucus chair Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said the CBC was "deeply dismayed" by the President's decision.
``This decision is inconsistent with the administration's policy of engaging with those we agree with and those we disagree with,'' she said. "By boycotting Durban, the U.S. is making it more difficult for it to play a leadership role on U.N. Human Rights Council as it states it plans to do. This is a missed opportunity, plain and simple.''
The announcement was not unexpected.
In February, Wood said that "the document being negotiated has gone from bad to worse, and the current text of the draft outcome document is not salvageable." United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice told Politico's Ben Smith that the document was "rife with anti-Israeli and other problematic substance" and "not a credible basis for a responsible outcome." The Obama administration had worked with the Russian leaders chair the conference, as well as senior United Nations officials, on making changes to the document.
Ultimately some changes were made -- and specific mentions of Israel were removed -- but not enough to satisfy American policymakers.
The draft outcome document specifically "(r)eaffirms the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), as it was adopted at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in 2001."
Much of the debate at the 2001 conference focused on whether or not Zionism was inherently racism, prompting the US and Israeli delegations to withdraw from the conference. An early draft called Israel "a racist apartheid state" and referred to Israel's "systematic perpetration of racist crimes, including war crimes, acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing."
The final language in the DDPA 2001 document, was much tamer, though no other country or struggle except for the Israel-Palestinian conflict was singled out for criticism.
"We are concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation," it stated. "We recognize the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent State and we recognize the right to security for all States in the region, including Israel, and call upon all States to support the peace process and bring it to an early conclusion."
Calling the conference "a celebration of racism and vile anti-Semitic activity" and "further evidence of the U.N.'s inability to demonstrate any semblance of fairness or objectivity on these issues when it comes to the Jewish State," the American Israel Public Affairs Committee issued a statement applauding President Obama's decision as "the right thing to do and underscores America's unstinting commitment to combating intolerance and racism in all its forms and in all settings."
-- jpt
April 19, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (62)
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Smart move as it would have been so funny after the World Leaders hear how the US Law Makers, Media and Press call President Obama racist names. We can't go to a conference for Human Rights anymore either. Yes Bush memos show we do kidnap innocent people and torture them But we also kidnap children and torture them. Torture is now US History and even President Obama can't change History. I am sure those would supported the torture of children are really upset it will not continue.
Posted by: Jackie Rawlings | Apr 20, 2009 8:10:34 PM
Re Posting by: Georgetown Grad | Apr 19, 2009 6:06:09 PM:
Georgetown Grad, would your comments be the same if President Bush or President Clinton boycotted the Racism Conference?
Posted by: Percy | Apr 20, 2009 6:51:32 PM
Clinton and her Boss know that they have a huge problem with Gaza and the horrible conditions.. this can no longer be ignored.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | Apr 20, 2009 9:21:26 AM
comments rock. i love leaving a comment. this article is important and means a lot to me. comment comment comment. can you read my feelings? do you agree with me or not? Oh, comment.
Posted by: comments rock | Apr 19, 2009 9:21:46 PM
What about the covert racism in America? People, you know it exists. You dont see it, but you know its there. lets go there.....
Posted by: son of selassie | Apr 19, 2009 8:17:52 PM
I am so proud I voted for this man. Even though I'm an African American, I've always thought that the Congressional Black Caucus was a bit full of themselves. I don't think that it is fair that these so called "Black leaders" expect him to attend, simply because he is and does associate with the African American community. President Obama is a leader of the United States first and foremost, and represents all people of the United States. There is a sizable Jewish population here who are also to be represented. Everyone knows something about global Jewish history (and the racism that prevailed against the Jewish population in Europe) and I don't see how discriminatory language would be permitted at a global anti-racism conference in the first place. It was a good move.
Posted by: Georgetown Grad | Apr 19, 2009 6:06:09 PM
Fascist Hyena,
20% of Israel's residents are Arabs, but many of them are Christians and Druze, not Muslims.
But that figure also includes East-Jerusalem Palestinians, who are not voting citizens.
Arab parties have never been invited to join a governing coalition in Israel.
It is widely acknowledged that individual native Palestinians in Israel are subject to discrimination, especially in employment and housing and education.
It is also worth noting that non-Orthodox Jews are also subject to discrimination in Israel.
Posted by: Flash Override | Apr 19, 2009 5:32:36 PM
Good call! The UN focuses has been nothing short of fanatical in its criticism of Israel, while there are so many other trouble spots in the world that they've neglected. The UN has overstayed its welcome on the world scene anyway. And they won't pay their darned parking and traffic fines in New York City either!
Posted by: Heather Czerniak | Apr 19, 2009 5:08:53 PM
Please don't delete my post again for what would make the US look like if it boycotts UN's racism conference for "free speech" while it would not allow its own racial minority the free speech?
Posted by: wliao | Apr 19, 2009 4:29:35 PM
why delete my post?
The real reason for US and Canada to boycott the UN racism conference is that they know so well that they are actually the most brutal racist perpetrators, brutalizing the racial minorities in their own country. They only cover it up using their super power status in this world, so they fear one day they would be exposed and scrutinized for racism at UN’s stage. Follow this link, you will see why:
Posted by: wliao | Apr 19, 2009 4:16:47 PM
"Those who bless Israel will be blessed, those who curse Israel will be cursed".
A little bible verse Obama probably never heard in Rev Wright's church.
Obama would have a lot of explaining to do had he attended this conference.
Especially after that bow that supposedly didn't happen.
Posted by: bailey | Apr 19, 2009 4:13:42 PM
President Obama!s decisions for not attending United Nations conference on Racism is a very good step.He takes correct decisions on right time.
Even though, I am a Indian,i like his policies.
Posted by: bngpatsy | Apr 19, 2009 4:00:58 PM
"The Obama administration quietly announced this weekend that it would boycott an international conference about racism and discrimination because of concerns that the conference unfairly singles out Israel for criticism and because the conference may set the stage for restrictions on free speech."
Why boycott this conference? As long as this clown is apologizing for American arrogance and bedding down with dictators, he might as well attend this conference and apologize for American racist and everything else he believes is wrong with our country. Then, perhaps when he's done trashing the United States, he'll find a country that suits his ideals and move there. Let him be THEIR president.
Posted by: JustMe | Apr 19, 2009 3:29:10 PM
President Obama is making some good decisions. He's no genius, but at least thinks, which is a huge advantage over the trash he replaced. The UN conference on racism is indeed dominated by hypocrisy. No religion should be above criticism, particularly islam, which is responsible for much of the violence, intolerance, and immoral behavior in the world today. Consider the plight of religious minorities in Arab nations and consider the oppression of women in these states before signing on with such conferences. The US is by no means perfect, and ew have yet to overcome our racial problems, but - in many ways - we're a beacon of progress in race-related issues. I am completely opposed to the US ever participating in a conference in which a proposal to shield a religion from criticism is even entertained as legitimate.
Posted by: Bob | Apr 19, 2009 3:17:31 PM
Pay close attention. Have you ever heard or seen someone who accuses others of racism NOT also actively practicing racism? Giving perks to someone solely because of their race is as evil a racism as limiting someone based solely on their race.
Pay close attention...especially to yourself and your reactions.
Posted by: Eyes Open | Apr 19, 2009 3:05:35 PM
"I'm fairly certain Muslims and Palestinians are not welcome."
If so, you should check your facts. Twenty percent of the population of Israel is Arab Muslim, and the majority of these are Palestinians. There are Muslim members of the Knesset.
Go do your homework before you show up here with that nonsense.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Apr 19, 2009 2:53:02 PM
WHAT, we're not sending our leading expert on racism Jeremiah Wright ?
Posted by: Ron | Apr 19, 2009 2:48:06 PM
It's not Obama's decision... It's the decision of people behind the curtains!
Posted by: IsraelShmasrael | Apr 19, 2009 2:44:36 PM
Much ado about nothing
Posted by: tucanofulano | Apr 19, 2009 2:31:18 PM
Angela,
If the world we live in was a popularity contest, I would also agree Obama is the right man for the times...
But, it isn't.
This is a world of competing national interests, whether you like it or not.
We hire the President to look after America's interests FIRST.Angola and Zimbabwe have their own interests too.
Should we be just like them?
Do you believe Iran or NK really have the same objectives America does?
Do you believe their leaders are looking out for and working towards America's objectives?
Posted by: J House | Apr 19, 2009 2:23:37 PM
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