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Those interested in the role of the U.S. in "policing" the
world through military action might also be interested in this
information about their political role at the U.N. -Gail Kellough United States versus the World at the United Nations Below is an exceprt from the document compiled by William Blum, author of Killing Hope: U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II. This information was submitted to TAF by Paul Laurendeau. America, we have all been taught for half a century, is the leader of "The Free World". If this is so, it's proper to ask: Where are the followers? Where is the evidence that Washington's world view sways the multitude of nations? To enlist support for its wars in Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf, the United States had to resort to bribery and threats. At the United Nations, the US has, with noteworthy regularity, been on the minority side in voting on resolutions. The table below shows a portion of this pattern. It covers an arbitrarily chosen 10-year period, 1978 through 1987, and is composed of the following sections: 1978-1981: All voting in the General Assembly examined; only those resolutions for which the US cast a solitary "no" vote or were joined by one or two other nations are listed. 1982-1983: All voting in the General Assembly examined; only those resolutions for which the US cast a solitary "no" vote are listed. The number of abstentions is not shown. There were many resolutions where Israel cast a solitary "no" vote and the US was the sole abstainer. Voting on resolutions of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council are not included here, but these votes show a very similar pattern. In the Council -- where its solitary "no" vote is enough to defeat a measure -- the United States is free to play its role of international school bully. We were all also taught that the Communists had no respect for world opinion. "... a decent respect to the opinions of mankind ..." -The Declaration of Independence |
| Date/Issue | Resolution Number | Yes-No vote | |
| 1978 | Dec. 15 | 33/75 | 119-2 (US, Israel) |
| Urges the Security Council, especially its permanent members, to take all necessary measures for insuring UN decisions on the maintenance of international peace and security. | |||
| Dec. 18 | 33/110 | 110-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Living conditions of the Palestinian people | |||
| Dec. 18 | 33/113C | 97-3 (US, Israel, Guatemala) | |
| Condemnation of Israeli human rights record in occupied territories | |||
| Dec. 19 | 33/136 | 119-1 (US) | |
| Calls upon developed countries to increase quantity and quality of development assistance to underdeveloped countries. | |||
| 1979 | Jan. 24 | 33/183M | 114-3 (US, France, UK) |
| To end all military and nuclear collaboration with South Africa | |||
| Jan. 29 | 33/196 | 111-1 (US) | |
| Protectionism of developing countries' exports | |||
| Nov. 23 | 34/46 | 136-1 (US) | |
| Alternate approaches within the UN system for improving the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms | |||
| Nov. 23 | 34/52E | 121-3 (US, Israel, Australia) | |
| Return of inhabitants expelled by Israel. | |||
| Dec. 11 | 34/83J | 120-3 (US, UK, France) | |
| Negotiations on disarmament and cessation of nuclear arms race. | |||
| Dec. 12 | 34/90A | 111-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Demand that Israel desist from certain human rights violations | |||
| Dec. 12 | 34/93D | 132-3 (US, UK, France) | |
| Strengthening arms embargo against South Africa | |||
| Dec. 12 | 34/93I | 134-3 (US, UK, France) | |
| Assistance to the oppressed people of South Africa and their liberation movement. | |||
| Dec. 14 | 34/100 | 104-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Against support for intervention in the internal or external affairs of States. | |||
| Dec. 14 | 34/113 | 120-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Request for report on the living conditions of Palestinians in occupied Arab countries. | |||
| Dec. 14 | 34/133 | 112-3 (US, Israel, Canada) | |
| Assistance to Palestinian people. | |||
| Dec. 14 | 34/136 | 118-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Sovereignty over national resources in occupied Arab territories. | |||
| Dec. 17 | 34/158 | 121-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Prepare and carry out the UN Conference on Women | |||
| Dec. 17 | 34/160 | 122-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Include Palestinian women in agenda of UN Conference on Women | |||
| Dec. 19 | 34/199 | 112-1 (US) | |
| Safeguarding rights of developing countries in multinational trade negotiations | |||
| 1980 | Nov. 3 | 35/13E | 96-3 (US, Israel, Canada) |
| Requests Israel to return displace persons. | |||
| Dec. 5 | 35/57 | 134-1 (US) | |
| Establishment of a New International Economic Order to promote the growth of underdeveloped countries and international economic co-operation. | |||
| Dec. 5 | 35/75 | 118-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Condemns Israeli policy re the living conditions of Palestinian people. | |||
| Dec. 11 | 35/119 | 134-3 (US, UK, France) | |
| Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. | |||
| Dec. 11 | 35/122C | 118-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Israeli human rights practices in occupied territories. [Same day, similar resolutions, 35/122E -- 119-2 vote, and 35/122F -- 117-2] | |||
| Dec. 11 | 35/136 | 132-3 (US, Israel, Canada) | |
| Endorse Program of Action for Second Half of UN Decade for Women | |||
| Dec. 12 | 35/145A | 111-2 (US, UK) | |
| Cessation of all nuclear test explosions | |||
| Dec. 12 | 35/154 | 110-2 (US, Albania) | |
| Declaration of non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states. | |||
| Dec. 15 | 35/169C | 120-3 (US, Israel, Australia) | |
| Rights of Palestinians | |||
| Dec. 15 | 35/174 | 120-1 (US) | |
| Emphasising that the development of nations and individuals is a human right. | |||
| Dec. 16 | 35/206J | 137-3 (US, UK, France) | |
| Assistance to oppressed people of South Africa and their national liberation movement. | |||
| 1981 | Oct. 28 | 36/12 | 145-1 (US) |
| Anti-racism; condemns apartheid in South Africa and Namibia | |||
| Oct. 28 | 36/13 | 124-1 (US) | |
| Condemns collaboration of certain States and transnational corporations with the South African regime | |||
| Oct. 28 | 36/15 | 114-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Demand that Israel cease excavations of certain sites in E. Jerusalem< | |||
| Nov. 9 | 36/18 | 123-1 (US) | |
| To promote co-operative movements in developing countries (agricultural, savings and credits, housing, consumer protection, social services, etc.) | |||
| Nov. 9 | 36/19 | 126-1 (US) | |
| The right of every state to choose its economic and social system in accord with the will of its people, without outside interference in whatever form it takes | |||
| Nov. 13 | 36/27 | 109-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Condemns Israel for its bombing of an Iraqi nuclear installation | |||
| Dec. 1 | 36/68 | 133-3 (US, UK, Guatemala) | |
| Condemns activities of foreign economic interests in colonial territories | |||
| Dec. 4 | 36/73 | 109-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Condemns Israeli policy re living conditions of the Palestinian people | |||
| Dec. 9 | 36/84 | 118-2 (US, UK) | |
| Cessation of all test explosions of nuclear weapons | |||
| Dec. 9 | 36/87B | 107-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Establishment of a nuclear-weapon free zone in the Middle East | |||
| Dec. 9 | 36/92J | 78-3 (US, Canada, Brazil) | |
| World-wide action for collecting signatures in support of measures to prevent nuclear war, curb the arms race and promote disarmament | |||
| Dec. 9 | 36/96B | 109-1 (US) | |
| Urges negotiations on prohibition of chemical and biological weapons | |||
| Dec. 9 | 36/98 | 101-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Demands Israelis renounce possession of nuclear weapons | |||
| Dec. 10 | 36/120A | 121-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Rights of the Palestinian people | |||
| Dec. 10 | 36/120B | 119-3 (US, Israel, Canada) | |
| Palestinian rights | |||
| Dec. 10 | 36/120E | 139-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Status of Jerusalem | |||
| Dec. 14 | 36/133 | 135-1 (US) | |
| Declares that education, work, health care, proper nourishment, national development, etc. are human rights | |||
| Dec. 16 | 36/146A | 141-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip | |||
| Dec. 16 | 36/146B | 121-3 (US, Israel, Canada) | |
| Rights of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes | |||
| Dec. 16 | 36/146C | 117-2 (US, Israel) | |
| Revenues derived from Palestinian refugees' properties | |||
| Dec.16 | 36/146G | 119-2(US, Israel) | |
| Establishment of University of Jerusalem for Palestinian refugees | |||
| Dec. 16 | 36/147C | 111-2 (US,Israel) | |
| Israeli violations of human rights in occupied territories | |||
| Dec. 16 | 36/147F | 114-2 (US,Israel) | |
| Condemns Israeli closing of universities in occupied territories | |||
| Dec. 16/td> | 36/149B | 147-2 (US,Israel) | |
| Calls for the establishment of a new and more just world information and communications order | |||
| Dec. 16 | 36/150 | 139-2 (US,Israel) | |
| Opposes Israel's decision to build a canal linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Dead Sea | |||
| Dec. 17 | 36/172C | 136-1 (US) | |
| Condemns aggression by South Africa against Angola and other African states. | |||
| Dec. 17 | 36/172H | 129-2 (US, UK) | |
| To organize an international conference of trade unions on sanctions against South Africa | |||
| Dec. 17 | 36/172L | 126-2 (US, UK) | |
| To encourage various international actions against South Africa | |||
| Dec. 17 | 36/172N | 139-1(US) | |
| Support of sanctions and other measures against South Africa | |||
| Dec. 17 | 36/172O | 138-1 (US) | |
| Cessation of further foreign investments and loans for South Africa | |||
| Dec. 17 | 36/173 | 115-2 (US,Israel) | |
| Permanent sovereignty over national resources in occupied Palestine and other Arab territories | |||
| Dec. 17 | 36/226B | 121-2 (US,Israel) | |
| Non-applicability of Israeli law over the Golan Heights | |||
| Dec. 18 | 36/234B | 127-1 (US) | |
| UN accounting changes for 1980-1 | |||
| 1982 [only solitary US votes] | Oct. 28 | 37/7 | 111-1 |
| World Charter for protection of the ecology | |||
| Nov. 15 | 37/11 | 136-1 | |
| Setting up UN conference on succession of states in respect to state property, archives, and debts | |||
| Dec. 3 | 37/47 | 124-1 | |
| Appeal for universal ratification of the convention on the suppression and punishment of apartheid | |||
| Dec. 9 | 37/69E | 141-1 | |
| Promoting international mobilization against apartheid | |||
| Dec. 9 | 37/69G | 138-1 | |
| Drafting of international convention against apartheid in sports | |||
| Dec. 9 | 37/69H | 134-1 | |
| Cessation of further foreign investments and loans for South Africa | |||
| Dec. 9 | 37/73 | 111-1 | |
| Need for a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty | |||
| Dec. 9 | 37/78A | 114-1 | |
| Request to US and USSR to transmit a status report on their nuclear arms negotiations [USSR abstained] | |||
| Dec. 9 | 37/83 | 138-1 | |
| Prevention of arms race in outer space | |||
| Dec. 10 | 37/94B | 131-1 | |
| Support of UNESCO's efforts to promote a new world information and communications order | |||
| Dec. 13 | 37/98A | 95-1 | |
| Necessity of a convention on the prohibition of chemical and bacteriological weapons | |||