Hmmmmm.... that's strange...

[Skeptic]

In the last week, the US destroyed buildings where they believed terorrists were hiding, killed six Iraqis Saddam sympathizers with a missile, and conducted house-to-house searches after them.

For some reason, the UN did not condemn the US for "accelerating the cycle of violence"; Amnesty international did not condemn the US for "extra-judicial assassinations"; Kofi Annan didn't note that if the US continues like this, the chances of "future peace with Saddam's Sympathizers is lowered"; no protestors sat inside the houses to be demolished crying about the "heartless occupation"; there was no late-night special meeting of the security council specifically for the purpose of comdeming the USA's "agression".

Strange, isn't it? There seems to be a double standard here--one for israel, which is automatically condemned for everything, and another for the rest of the world. (More precisely, three standards: one for israel, another for the USA, and yet a third for murderous dictatorships, which, after all, have the majority in that august conference of humanity, the UN).

I'm shocked, SHOCKED!, I tell you.

 

[Mr Manifesto]

I don't know about the UN, but there are plenty of people protesting against the US's actions. Take a look at Bush's reception when he goes to London- if the UK will let any protestors within a mile of Bush.

 

[Mr Manifesto]

"; no protestors sat inside the houses to be demolished crying about the "heartless occupation";

The Americans aren't putting American settlements on the demolished buildings. You could say that the Americans are clearing trees within 2 miles of Baghdad airport, but no anti-logging protestors are chaining themselves to the threatened trees, and make just as much sense.

 

[Crossbow]

Well, if Israel were a member of the UN Security Council and if the annual dues paid by Israel composed a rather substantial fraction of the UN operating budget, then I am sure that official international criticism of Israel would be greatly diminished.

On the other hand, the USA is a member of the UN Security Council and the annual dues paid by the USA do compose a substantial fraction of the UN operating budget.

And just to remind those who may have forgotten, there have been many countries that have officially said 'no' to official requests from the USA for troops, materials, and other resources that would be used to support Iraq. While such refusals may seem trivial since they do not the shooting of guns, mass protests, UN Resolutions, or other such things, they do clearly indicate the considerable degree of international disdain for the USA policy and goals of Iraq.

 

[a_unique_person]

Well, if Israel were a member of the UN Security Council and if the annual dues paid by Israel composed a rather substantial fraction of the UN operating budget, then I am sure that official international criticism of Israel would be greatly diminished.

On the other hand, the USA is a member of the UN Security Council and the annual dues paid by the USA do compose a substantial fraction of the UN operating budget.

If the US gets around to paying them.

And just to remind those who may have forgotten, there have been many countries that have officially said 'no' to official requests from the USA for troops, materials, and other resources that would be used to support Iraq. While such refusals may seem trivial since they do not the shooting of guns, mass protests, UN Resolutions, or other such things, they do clearly indicate the considerable degree of international disdain for the USA policy and goals of Iraq.

There is a lot of news out there about innocent Iraqis dying. It is just not as visible as the news about US troops dying. Heavy handed reactions by the US are part of the process that is reducing respect for them. Also, it may well be that those killed were Saddam sympathisers. We will never know for sure. There are also stories about innocent civilians being killed. How many of them were classified as 'sympathisers'?

 

[Dancing David]

Interestingly enough, Amesty has very little about israel on thier current web site, there is an appeal concerning the detention of a minor in the occupied territories. But no condemnation of the Israelis government's actions in general.

So either Israel has cooled out or they have desensitized the observers.

I personaly am much more upset about our ally Pakistan.