Anne Bayefsky has a good synopsis of where things now stand with Durban II, the United Nations Conference also known as "Zionism is Racism." The Obama administration has agreed to attend in a major reversal from its predecessor and despite intense lobbying from Israel. According to officials at the State Department, U.S. participation in these planning meetings does not necessarily indicate participation in the final conference, or that the United States will sign on to whatever document is ultimately produced, but as Bayefsky points out, there is no evidence of an exit strategy here:
Not only will Obama be buffeted by EU members attempting to save themselves and their pocketbooks, the developing world will be overjoyed at the prospect of debilitating Gulliver. The fact that he is prepared to lie down of his own volition and hand them the strings, just makes the occasion merrier. Obama will also come to know the overarching theme of all U.N. meetings, namely, that saving the credibility of the institution itself is the number one priority. This means that having mounted a global conference, any outcome or deal is better than nothing. Such a mindset leaves the extremists in the driver's seat. They will eat multilateralists-in-need-of-a-warm-group-hug for breakfast.
True, State department officials are masters at claiming victory with a straight face regardless of the drivel they draft. The 250-paragraph draft of the Durban II "outcome document" now before Obama, includes provisions which: say Israel's right of return (Jewish self-determination) is racist, accuse Israel of apartheid and crimes against humanity, seek major curbs on freedom of expression, invent global Islamophobia, and allege anti-terrorism tactics are a racist plot. The anti-democratic forces have thrown in the kitchen sink, knowing full well that Westerners will feign a win if even half of it is removed - though the reality will be a giant step backwards for rights and freedoms.
Once State gets into this, they will have every incentive to stay in, and none to get out.
