[A-List] US imperialism: the power of veto

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Action against Israelis and apartheid blocked regularly

US veto

Oliver Burkeman in Washington
Thursday March 20, 2003
The Guardian

The Bush administration and British government have repeatedly blamed
France's threatened veto for the failure to secure a second UN resolution
authorising military action against Iraq.

What Washington has failed to mention is its own veto over many years to
block initiatives such as opposition to apartheid South Africa, and even the
prohibition of chemical weapons. Below is a partial list of UN resolutions
vetoed by the US since 1972.

1972 Israel condemned for killing hundreds of people in Syria and Lebanon in
air raids.

1973 Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories.

1976 Israel condemned for attacking Lebanese civilians and building
settlements in the occupied territories. Call for Palestinian
self-determination.

1978 Permanent members of the security council to ensure UN decisions on the
maintenance of international peace and security. Living conditions of the
Palestinians criticised. Israeli human rights record condemned. Developed
countries to increase aid to developing countries.

1979 End to all military and nuclear collaboration with apartheid. Arms
embargo against South Africa to be strengthened. Support for the oppressed
under apartheid.

Cessation of the nuclear arms race. Return of all inhabitants expelled by
Israel. Israel to desist from human rights violations. Inquiry into the
living conditions of Palestinians in occupied territories. Protection of
developing countries' exports. Push to improve human rights and fundamental
freedoms.

Opposition to intervention in the internal or external affairs of states.
Call for a UN conference on women. Rights of developing countries in
multinational trade talks to be safeguarded.

1980 Israel to return displaced persons. Israeli human rights practices in
occupied territories condemned. Right of self determination for the
Palestinians. Support for the oppressed people of South Africa. New
international economic order to promote the growth of underdeveloped
countries. Programme of action for UN Decade for Women. Non-use of nuclear
weapons against non-nuclear states. Development of nations and individuals
is a human right. Cessation of all nuclear test explosions. Independence for
colonial countries.

1981 Promotion of cooperative movements in developing countries. Right of
every state to choose its economic and social system, without outside
interference.

Cessation of all test explosions of nuclear weapons. Measures to prevent
nuclear war and curb the arms race. Negotiations to prohibit chemical and
biological weapons. Education, work, health care, etc, are human rights.

South Africa condemned for attacks on neighbouring states and apartheid.
Attempted coup by South Africa in the Seychelles condemned. Israel's
treatment of the Palestinians, human rights policies and its bombing of Iraq
condemned.

1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon condemned. Shooting of 11 Muslims at a
shrine in Jerusalem by an Israeli soldier condemned.

Israel must withdraw from the Golan Heights. Apartheid condemned. Setting up
of a world charter for ecological protection.

Support for a new world information and communications order. Prohibition of
chemical and bacteriological weapons. Development of international law.
Protection against products harmful to health and the environment.
Development of energy resources of developing countries.

1983 Fifteen resolutions about apartheid, nuclear arms, economics and
international law.

1984 South African policies in Namibia condemned. International action to
eliminate apartheid. Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon condemned.
Eighteen resolutions about apartheid, nuclear arms, economics, international
law.

1985 Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon condemned. Excessive Israeli
force in the occupied territories condemned. Three resolutions about
cooperation, human rights, trade and development.

Action against Nazi, fascist and neo-fascist activities.

1986 All governments to observe international law.

Economic and military sanctions against South Africa. Israeli actions
against Lebanese civilians condemned. Israel to respect Muslim holy places.
Israeli sky-jacking of Libyan airliner condemned. Eight resolutions about
cooperation, security, human rights, etc.

1987 Israel to abide by the Geneva conventions in its treatment of the
Palestinians. Israel to stop deporting Palestinians. Israeli actions in
Lebanon condemned. Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon. Cooperation
between the UN and the League of Arab States. Prevention of international
terrorism.

Opposition to the build up of weapons in space. Opposition to the
development of new weapons of mass destruction. Opposition to nuclear
testing.

Proposal to set up South Atlantic "zone of peace".

1988 Israeli practices against Palestinians in the occupied territories
condemned.

1989 US invasion of Panama condemned. US support for the contras in
Nicaragua condemned. Illegal US embargo of Nicaragua condemned. Acquisition
of territory by force opposed. Resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

1990 UN to send observers to the occupied territories.

1995 Land in east Jerusalem annexed by Israel is occupied territory.

1997 Israel must cease building settlements in east Jerusalem and other
occupied territories.

1999 US to end trade embargo on Cuba.

2001 UN to send unarmed monitors to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. UN to
set up the international criminal court.

2002 UN to renew the peace keeping mission in Bosnia.