Let the U.S. Charge Richard Falk with Slander

We understand the legal absurdity of the title of this piece, but it matches the absurdity in accusing Richard Falk of slander.  Here is the written statement by U.S. Ambassador Susan E. Rice concerning Richard Falk:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

I am appalled by the recent personal blog written by Richard Falk, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on “the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.”

In this blog post, dated January 11, 2011, Mr. Falk endorses the slurs of conspiracy theorists who allege that the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were perpetrated and then covered up by the U.S. government and media.

Mr. Falk’s comments are despicable and deeply offensive, and I condemn them in the strongest terms. I have registered a strong protest with the UN on behalf of the United States. The United States has in the past been critical of Mr. Falk’s one-sided and politicized approach to his work for the UN, including his failure to condemn deliberate human rights abuses by Hamas, but these blog comments are in another category altogether.

In my view, Mr. Falk’s latest commentary is so noxious that it should finally be plain to all that he should no longer continue in his position on behalf of the UN. I would note that U.S. and many other diplomats walked out in protest in September 2010 when Iranian President Ahmadinejad made similarly slanderous remarks before the UN General Assembly.

The United States is deeply committed to the cause of human rights and believes that cause will be better advanced without Mr. Falk and the distasteful sideshow he has chosen to create.


Editor's note:  Rice claims Falk's latest commentary has "similarly slanderous remarks" to Iranian President Ahmadinejad.

To Ambassador Rice,

You describe Richard Falk's statements about 9/11 as slanderous.  Care to describe how his statements are slanderous?  Do you choose to ignore the solid science from over 1400 licensed and practicing architects and engineers who are demanding a new investigation into 9/11?  You could find their work on the following site:  www.ae911truth.org

Better yet, how about finding someone willing to sue Richard Falk for slander over his 9/11 statements?  If you are so confident in your government's official conspiracy theory for 9/11, why not put it to the test and give Richard Falk subpoena power? That way you could prove that jets do demolish skyscrapers. 

Oops, that's right.  Truth is the ultimate defense against an accusation of slander.

Weigh in on the Ambassador's opinion line:  1-212-415-4062

Or send and email

Israel planning massive attack on Gaza: Ahmadinejad

(AFP) – 9 hours ago

TEHRAN — President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that Iran has precise information that Israel plans to launch a "massive attack" on Gaza in the wake of its deadly raid on an aid flotilla.

"We have precise information it has planned a massive attack against Gaza to make up for its past defeats," Ahmadinejad said in a public speech in the western Iranian city of Ilam that was broadcast live on state television.

"I warn you that if this time you commit a crime against any place, against Gaza, the storm of regional nations' fury will uproot you," he said.

The hardliner, who has repeatedly infuriated the world by his anti-Israeli tirades, also lashed out at countries which he said "backed the Zionist regime."

"This time if you back the crimes of the Zionist regime, the anger of regional nations ... will not just be limited to the borders of Palestine, but will also put on trial you and those who are accomplices in the crime," he said to cheering crowds.

Ahmadinejad criticised Washington for adopting a "weak stance" against Israel for its deadly raid on the Gaza aid flotilla.

"The US government has adopted a very weak and biased position. Instead of condemning, it has spoken vaguely and sought to evade taking a stance," he said, while some European countries had adopted a "good" stand.

On Monday, Israeli commandos raided an aid flotilla in international waters of the Mediterranean headed to Gaza that left at least nine pro-Palestinian activists dead, according to the Israeli army.

The attack on the flotilla has triggered a fresh wave of tirades from Ahmadinejad against Israel.

The animosity between the Islamic republic and the Jewish state has worsened under Ahmadinejad, who has repeatedly said Tehran's arch-foe is "doomed to be wiped off the map."

Israel, for its part, has consistently demanded strong action against Iran for pursuing its controversial nuclear programme and has not ruled out a military strike.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »