Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

UN General Assembly adopts resolution on C****-**
CHINADAILY

The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a wide-ranging resolution on tackling the c****av***s p******c Friday over objections from the United States and Israel, which protested a successful last-minute Cuban amendment that strongly urged countries to oppose any unilateral economic, financial or trade sanctions.

The 193-member world body adopted the resolution by a v**e of 169-2, with Ukraine and Hungary abstaining. It was a strong show of unity by the UN's most representative body, though many countries had hoped for adoption by consensus.

The General Assembly says the p******c poses "one of the greatest global challenges in the history of the United Nations", and calls for "intensified international cooperation and solidarity to contain, mitigate and overcome the p******c and its consequences".

The resolution urges UN member states "to enable all countries to have unhindered timely access to quality, safe, efficacious and affordable diagnosis, therapeutics, medicines and v*****es… as well as equipment for the C****-** response".

Cuba succeeded in changing a paragraph in the resolution that originally called for "the urgent removal of unjustified obstacles in order to ensure the universal, timely and equitable access to, and fair distribution of, all quality, safe, efficacious and affordable essential health technologies and products, including their components and precursors that are required in the response to the C****-** p******c".

By a v**e of 132-3, the assembly amended the resolution to urge all countries "to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that impedes the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries".

The United States was then overwhelmingly defeated in attempts to remove two paragraphs from the resolution, one referring to women's rights to "sexual and reproductive health" and the other to "promoting global sustainable t***sport".

In addition to arguing against the language on sanctions, the United States opposed all references to the World Health Organization, which the administration stopped funding, accusing the UN agency of failing to do enough to stop the v***s from spreading.

It accused China of hiding the t***h about the outbreak from the world in the early days which "imperiled all of us and caused needless additional suffering and death".

Chinese diplomat responded, referring to the recent revelation that the US administration "recognized the danger of the v***s at a very early stage, but deliberately played it down to avoid panic". He asked: "Who is hiding the t***h?"

The diplomat also asked why the US, with the most advanced medical system in the world, has the most C****-** cases. "If the United States is serious about fighting the p******c, it should focus on protecting lives and health of its people, instead of being busy with blame-shifting," he said.

Singularity

At least I have had a long and generally prosperous life, some healthy opposition to keep me on my toes and some excellent friends and adequate family for when I've been off my feet.

For now, I rest and gather myself and hope that as the coming dark days gather on the horizon that I can face what comes with stalwart resolution.

I just hope I won't have to howl or blubber. And especially, I hope I never do that thing that people do when they cry where a little bubble of snot forms in one nostril and grows and shrinks raggedly as one breathes....

That's just grossly undignified, eh?

Gatsby

The first action of the U.N. was the division of Korea, to maintain a peaceful balance of power.

Their ambitions and accomplishments have only gone downhill ever since.

The U.N. is a "Black Hole" for Freedom & Liberty!

Kevyn

In his short time in office the Cheeto Faced S**tgibbon ha turned us from the shining light on the hill to a toxic waste dumpster fire. He can’t be gone soon enough.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Eh

Hope I'm among those folk... An adequate friend perhaps

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

I find it difficult to point to any UN accomplishments as well

Lonewolf

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Shining light on the hill

Singularity

Stormy weather today.

I believe you would at least offer a tissue to pop the bubble.

Attached file:
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Singularity

The race r**ts of the '60's lit up a lot of landscapes.

working class stiff Loc: N. Carolina

Response to the title question: Yes

I think most folks underestimate the 'soft power' that the US wields. Since WWII the US has had military power second to none. Still does. It's the soft power that is eroding. From diplomacy to economics, the US has lost it's dominant position. Ironically, I think that is due to the success of those policies: the world is wealthier and safer for most folks, no matter where they live thanks to US leadership.

Those are not the only soft powers. There's a reason folks imitate American culture, from blue jeans and tee shirts to music and movies, etc., and that has to do with liberation from traditional ways of thinking around the world. Whether one credits (or blames) DARPA, IBM, or Bill Gates and Apple, Facebook or Twitter, the US is still sending revolutionary shock waves around the globe. The sciences unleashed by US technology companies are head spinning.

I have listened to rap music from Mexico, Egypt, India, S. Africa, and Japan. Didn't understand a word of it, but can still appreciate another cultural influence grown in this country.

In conclusion, I do think the US has lost some of it's influence in economics and diplomacy. But mainly, I think that's because the rest of the world is catching up to us. Could be a good thing: fewer Earthlings living in abject poverty, better health care, etc. However, it's hard for me to see how to stop some of the other influences that are inevitably going to come out of our revolutionary culture. Americans are unafraid of the new. Traditionalists (both here and around the world) may not be happy with that, but so far I don't see how that will stop. Every generation of older Americans has died in a country that was different than the one they were born into.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Well stated...

Times are changing...