Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Notable & Dignified: Israel's U.N. Ambassador In a Duel with Castro's

"Who is this group [the Non-Aligned Movement] representing since the Cold War has already ended?"Israeli U.N. Ambassador Dan Gillerman, at a Security Council meeting, February 5, 2008

Responding to Castro's representative at the U.N., the contemptibly-named Isodoro Malmierca, who had accused Israel, in the name of the so-called Non-Aligned Movement, of maintaining a "blockade" on the Gaza Strip (now even the desert is being "blockaded?"), Ambassador Dan Gillerman dismissed Malmierca's charges and the fanthom organization which he claimed to represent with those memorable words.

It is reminds one of King Juan Carlos' confrontation with Hugo Chávez at the Inter-American conference last year. It shows the same impatience with hypocrisy and cant. Of course, it is not a king who said it, but dignity is not the exclusive realm of kings. At a place where diplomatic protocal is a cover for the most uncivil conduct and truth is always inopportune and almost in bad taste, the words of Ambassador Dan Gillerman are all the more to be commended for their uncompromising candor. The so-called Non-Aligned Movement is the biggest anachronism in international politics. Even in its heyday it was nothing but a naked lie. Cuba's prominence in that organization and Castro's election as its head could have left no doubt in anybody's mind that all its members, to one extent or another and absolutely as a collective, were in Moscow's service.

Now that there is no Soviet Union, what master does it serve? To whom does it answer? And what possible relevancy can it have in a world where polarities have changed? The Non-Aligned Movement is nothing more now than an enemy of the West, and, in particular, of the United States and Israel. It is a club of losers and opportunists in the scrabble of geopolitics, worthy of no more consideration than Mr. Gillerman accords it.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love it! How does one say "por que not te callas" in yiddish?

Anonymous said...

It pains me deeply to agree with your post. :-) Bravo.

Vana said...

What a slap in the face, I too love it! about time someone stood up and call a spade a spade, Iloved the Malmierca last name, reminds one of something else...lol

Anonymous said...

We are called the Jews of the Caribbean for some reason.... Israel will no doubt have a presence in the future of Cuba, as Jews were very important for Cuba in the past.... They have taught us that we should write in the entrance of our houses in the free Cuba "never again".

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

George:

Thank-you for your kind words, "Bravo" and smiley face. I am sure it doesn't pain you at all to agree with me, and, if it did, you would be in pain a lot of the time. Since reciprocality is the glue of civilization, I will be looking for something of yours to praise. Don't on that account make it difficult for me.

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

Friends:

I am sure that you all know Isodoro Malmierca's nickname in Cuba among Castro's own cronies: "Inodoro de Malamierda."

Anonymous said...

I had heard "Inodoro Masmierda".
Mierda mas, mierda menos....

Anonymous said...

Isidoro Malmierca's other last name is Peoli.
Which makes him into INODORO MAS MIERDA PEO OLI.
We use to say that as children....
So, I don't know if this Inodoro Mas Mierda, is the son or if this is the old man himself, the original.....

Vana said...

Inodoro Masmierda, hahahaha I told you it reminded me of something else...lol

Alex said...

"Don't on that account make it difficult for me."

Oooooh, snap!

Manuel, dude, don't be so cutthroat. Poodle painfully extends an olive branch and this is how you respond?

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

Alex:

Yes, I replied to George with the generosity that has always characterized me. Although, I confess, I now find myself in something of a pickle because I promised to return the compliment.

At times like this I use you as a source of inspiration. I well remember the time that you were asked to name one positive thing that Cuban exiles had done in 50 years in this country and you answered that they had preserved the art of Cuban gastronomy.

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

Charlie:

It's actually Isodoro Malmierca Peoli's son, [Isodoro] Rodrigo Malmierca y Díaz, who is Cuba's permanent representative to the U.N. I should have clarified that, though obviously the boy is a turd off the old inodoro.

Anonymous said...

Shvayg shmekel

Anonymous said...

Ziva, dear, you and I should start a school to teach people how to address all those commie tools in Yiddish!
gut werk!