U.S. to boycott Durban II anti-racism meet

[henank]

It's now definite.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1079121.html

The State Department says the Obama administration will boycott a UN racism conference next week over language about Israel and the West in the meeting's final document.

"The Obama administration will with regret boycott a UN conference on racism next week over objectionable language in the meeting's final document that could single out Israel for criticism and restrict free speech," the State Department said Saturday.

Earlier Saturday, State Department Spokesman Robert Wood said that despite improvements from an earlier draft, the changes in the final text do not address U.S. concerns of anti-Israel and anti-Western bias. The administration had lobbied hard for more revisions so that it could participate.

Concern is high that the April 20 to 25 conference in Geneva may descend into heated debate over Israel that marred the last such gathering eight years ago, especially since Iran's hardline president - who has called for Israel's destruction - will attend.

[azurnoir]

1. It is a bit disappointing but OTH perhaps wise

considering the bigger picture

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x271869

[Kurska]

2. This was inevitable the second Iran's head of state decided to show up to the party.

Regardless of what the final draft said, I knew the US wasn't going to be showing up when they made that announcement.

[cali]

3. There's something truly and deeply Orwellian about this conference

and its selective and blinkered view of racism and oppression. Not surprising considering who's taking the lead in the conference.