One Man's Force is Another Man's Invasion

Personally, I think it's really swell that countries in general and the UN in particular have spoken out against Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad comment about wiping Israel off the map.

CNN reports that the UN Security Council has condemned the comment:

The U.N. Security Council has condemned recent comments by Iran's president that Israel should be "wiped off the map" but did not say if the world body planned any action against Iran.

In a written statement, the council pointed out that all members of the United Nations "have undertaken to refrain from the threat or use of force against ... any state." [emphasis mine]

I would still feel more confident if the Security Council was more serious about 'refraining'. One of the permanent members of the Security Council is China and has threatened Taiwan on more than one occasion:

A senior Chinese official warned that Beijing would not rule out war with Taiwan if the island's president pursues his plan to adopt a new constitution by 2008 [July 2004]

and

CHINA increased regional tensions yesterday when the annual parliament in Beijing tabled an anti-secessionist Bill that explicitly threatens the invasion of Taiwan if the island declares independence. [March 2005]

So Abbas' Fatah is off the hook because there is not yet a Palestinian state.

Nor did this apply to Arafat when he came to the UN and announced:

Today I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom fighter’s gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat: do not let the olive branch fall from my hand.

When the members of the Security Council say that they "have undertaken to refrain from the threat or use of force against ... any state"--do they mean like a binding promise?

Or more like a pledge at an AA meeting?

Technorati Tag: Israel.