The UN’s annual List of Shame is supposed to blacklist countries and groups “engage(d) in the recruitment and use of children, sexual violence against children, the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and/or hospitals and attacks or threats of attacks against protected personnel, and the abduction of children.”
It consistently fails the test of fairness. Syria’s freedom-fighting military was disgracefully blacklisted – courageously combating US-supported terrorists, imported from scores of foreign countries.
No nations more demand blacklisting than America, Israel, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, along with their rogue allies.
Endless US direct and proxy wars continue slaughtering children indiscriminately, devastating the lives of countless millions in numerous countries. Yet it isn’t included on the UN List of Shame.
Israel wages wars of aggression at its discretion. It collectively punishes millions of Palestinians daily, treating young children as viciously as adults, brutalizing, wrongfully imprisoning or murdering them in cold blood. Yet it’s not blacklisted.
Turkey is waging genocidal war on its Kurdish population, as well as against Syrian and Iraqi Kurds, slaughtering children indiscriminately, committing some of the region’s most serious human rights abuses overall. Its high crimes didn’t warrant blacklisting by UN standards.
Yemen is Obama’s war, partnered with Saudi Arabia, other Gulf States and Israel, orchestrating terror-bombing, choosing targets to strike, committing slow-motion genocide against millions of desperate Yemenis – an entire population at risk.
On June 2, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon included the so-called Saudi-led coalition on the UN’s blacklist – citing “(g)rave violations against children,” including “killing and maiming” them, along with “attacks on schools and hospitals.”
Days later, he reversed policy, absolving Saudi killers – claiming he was pressured, saying it was “one of the most painful and difficult decisions I have had to make.”
Again he proved his loyal imperial tool credentials, blaming victims, absolving predators waging naked aggression. Throughout his tenure as secretary-general, he failed to hold Washington and its rogue partners responsible for the highest of high crimes against peace.
NYT editors support his actions, complicit criminality, absurdly calling his position “thankless,” saying “to accuse Mr. Ban of caving in to Saudi intimidation…is not fair…(He) had no real choice.”
False! Claiming loss of Saudi financing, if withheld, would cause millions of children to “suffer grievously” ignores unspeakable horrors they face in all war theaters (largely US instigated ones).
Ban is responsible for his actions. Money won’t solve the problem of high crimes committed against children.
Stopping US wars of aggression complicit with NATO, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other rogue partners, along with holding culpable parties accountable, is the only way to end their suffering.
Countless millions of noncombatant men and women in harm’s way are affected the same way.
America and its rogue partners should head every annual UN List of Shame – its secretary-general demanding they be held accountable.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”
http://www.claritypress.com/
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
