183-4

Today the United Nations renewed their annual call for the United States to lift its longstanding embargo on Cuba. In a General Assembly vote, 183 states voted in favour of lifting sanctions while four states demurred. These four states were the United States, quite obviously, Israel, never far behind their masters, Palau and the Marshall Islands, those paragons of Polynesian virtue.

Cuba is hardly a great power in the world. Yet almost all states on earth sided with them against the world's only superpower. That speaks volumes. The United States and Israel essentially do what they please in the world today. They invade countries, they place embargoes on countries, they assassinate whom they will. Best of all they wrap themselves in a cloak of righteousness and claim that they alone are right and just. I remember long ago, writing in this blog, that if you think you're just, you probably aren't. Over the years this unilateralism has made them isolated, a fact exemplified by today's vote. Doesn't there come a point when you think: maybe I'm out of step, not everyone else. Aren't 187 friends better than 3? Maybe Bush needs a Friendster site to get him started.

The resolution is not binding on the United States in any way and they are expected to continue to subject Cuba to crippling sanctions until they, childishly, get their way. Once George W Bush is replaced in two years don't expect this course to change without divine intervention. Please God(dess) intervene!