Meanwhile, the Americans were working closely with Spanish diplomats at the UN to push the Security Council resolution in words which suited Madrid.
America’s permanent representative to the UN, John Negroponte told reporters that the Bush administration was satisfied with the Aznar government’s explanation.“It is the judgment that these attacks were carried out by the ETA and we have no information to the contrary.” The resolution, adopted unanimously, “condemns in the strongest terms the bomb attacks in Madrid, Spain, perpetrated by the terrorist group ETA on 11 March 2004.”
Oh, wait. That’s the wrong resolution. This is the one they vetoed:
U.S. vetoes U.N. resolution condemning Israel
Although the US is expected to use its veto if necessary, such a move will put Washington in an uncomfortable position amid worldwide denunciation of the killing, diplomats said.
However, US ambassador John Negroponte yesterday reiterated US opposition to any Security Council resolution that fails to spell out Hamas’ responsibility for the waves of suicide bombers who have attacked Israel.
“These questions must be put in a context and there cannot be unbalanced resolutions that condemn one side without looking at the overall context of the situation,” Negroponte said.
“If the Security Council is going to pronounce itself on these questions, it must recognise the reality,” he said.
I’m sure no one thinks the Americans are total hypocrites or anything.
The vote was 11 countries in favor, three countries abstaining and one country – the United States – against.
As usual.
UPDATE: Here’s the text of what the Americans vetoed:
“The Security Council, recalling its resolutions 242 (1967); 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1435 (2002), 1515 (2003),
“Expressing its grave concern at the continued deterioration of the situation on the ground in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as a result of the escalation of violence and attacks,
“1. Condemns the most recent extrajudicial execution committed by Israel, the occupying Power, that killed Sheikh Ahmed Yassin along with six other Palestinians outside a mosque in Gaza City and calls for a complete cessation of extrajudicial executions;
“2. Condemns also all terrorist attacks against any civilians as well as all acts of violence and destruction;
“3. Calls on all sides to immediately undertake an unconditional cessation of acts of violence, including all acts of terrorism, provocation, incitement and destruction;
“4. Calls for the cessation of all illegal measures and practices and for respect for and adherence to international humanitarian law;
“5. Calls on both parties to fulfill their obligations under the road map endorsed by Security Council resolution 1515 (2003) and to work with the Quartet to implement it in order to achieve the vision of the two states living side by side in peace and security;
“6. Decides to remain seized of the matter.”