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UNITED NATIONS — If the Mafia were asked to provide staff for a Senate Subcommittee on Organized Crime, even in today's non judgmental society, people would look aghast. In other words if the accused can help set the agenda and direct the debate then we can be assured of the desired outcome.
Thus when the United States, a founder and longtime member of the UN Human Rights Commission was voted off the 53 member panel, to be replaced by such distinguished paragons of political and civil rights as Pakistan, Sudan, and Sierra Leone, one should be properly outraged but not irrational.
The diplomatic ambush at the U.N. caught General Colin Powell's State Department off guard and unprepared. While we can rationalize that the new Administration did not make this vote a priority, our new Ambassador is not yet at the U.N., that the Commission now loses its credibility, or that Congress can financially strike back, this is not an alibi. We were snookered.
A little background. The UN Commission holds its annual hearings in Geneva. While the Bush Administration properly pressed for a most deserving human rights censure of Communist China, Beijing and its comrades on the Commission sidetracked the move and stifled discussion. People's China deals with dissent the old fashioned way — just look at Falun Gong, Tibet, or Catholic religious rights.
While the U.S., the Europeans and a number of other righteous countries such as Costa Rica and Japan tried to open debate on Communist China, Beijing's buddies ranging from Cuba, Libya, Venezuela, and Russia saw matters more "objectively." Even though a formal censure would have meant little, Beijing's Marxist Mandarins are deeply offended by foreign concerns over human rights in China!
When the annual secret vote came for new members of the Human Rights Commission, the stage was set to teach the U.S. a lesson. While Sudan and Pakistan won seats (perhaps to properly represent the interests of a slave holding country and a military dictatorship?), America happily did not lose to them head on.
The U.S. was competing in the Western group — against France, a Security Council member, as well as Austria and Sweden. Though most pundits shamelessously blame the French for this graceless coup de grace against America, the issue goes deeper. France, given her diplomatic stature, was expected to easily win the seat as was the U.S.
France, the U.S., along with China, Russia and the United Kingdom, Permanent Security Council members, are expected to retain seats on the Commission; its part of being the UN Founders Club to put it bluntly.
But look at Sweden — now holding the European Union's Presidency and with a Socialist government. Here's where the wider issue emerges.
The EU collectively pays higher dues (37 percent) to the U.N. than does the U.S. (22 percent). European policy is increasingly at odds with Washington over issues ranging from the Bush Administration's shelving of the Kyoto Treaty (an eco-talisman in EU circles), missile defense, a Euro-Army vs NATO, etc. The EU is evolving into a separate foreign policy entity — a reality unappreciated by most Americans. Recently Sweden's Prime Minister Goran Persson visited North Korea to balance the Bush Administration's "hard- line" posture towards Pyongyang.
Sweden logically pressed for fellow EU member Austria to have a seat on the panel. And why not? But then Stockholm also moved to secure itself the remaining seat at America's expense.
A few years ago,despite its sizable contribution, the U.S. was voted off the equally crucial Administrative Committee on Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). The Clinton Administration was baffled and it took a few years for the USA to regain its seat.
What should we do? The Bush White House has not taken the bait and decided to withhold UN dues as some expected (and hoped). Rep.Tom Lantos (D-CA) co-chair of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus said "it is absurd that rogue states and chronic human rights abusers such as Libya, Sudan and Cuba remain on the commission and sit in judgement on the human rights practices of others."
The State Department should admit its mistake, not play the proverbial "we were fooled," and allow rationalization get ahead of reason. The U.N. for its part will reap the whirlwind of Congressional bi-partisan backlash.
Don't for a moment expect Sweden or France to jump in defense of China's policies, yet one may assume a more "open mind" on such issues. Sadly the commission's composition with Pakistan, Sudan, and Sierra Leone, ensures that human rights in Asia and Africa will be given the silence of the lambs. This is a genuine tragedy for the victims.
John J. Metzler is a U.N. correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He writes weekly for World Tribune.com.
