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An UN-welcome visit

Last Updated: 3:55 AM, October 29, 2009

Posted: October 29, 2009

Comments: 11

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Looks like the notorious UN Human Rights Council has taken a break from its constant bashing of Israel and is focusing on (ready for this?) housing violations in US cities, including New York.

You didn't know that "adequate housing" (whether you pay for it or not) was a universal human birthright?

Neither did we.

Nonetheless, the panel sent its "special rapporteur on adequate housing," Raquel Rolnik, on a whirlwind tour to sniff out these "violations" -- not to say, crimes -- against humanity.

Rolnik launched her US visit last week in the city and is also traveling to places like Chicago, New Orleans and South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

At issue: whether adequate housing is too hard to come by amid the economic downturn.

Never mind genocide in Darfur or, say, Tehran's crackdown on those who protest Iran's stolen June election. (Yesterday, the regime's "supreme leader" said just questioning the results is criminal).

Rolnik says her mission is to "hear the voices of those who are suffering" -- and she doesn't mean overtaxed, rent-controlled landlords struggling to pay their bills. Rather, she's decries "the reduction of the role of the state in housing."

Gee, why not just declare capitalism itself a war crime -- and be done with it?

Actually, since 2000, the UN has had a housing investigator looking into shortages in such obvious places as Cambodia, Kenya and Iran. (Notably, the first place visited was the Palestinian territories.)

But this is its first foray into US territory -- and it remains to be seen whether she'll call for Donald Trump and other landlords to be hauled before the International Criminal Court.

On the other hand, there is a perfect site for new "affordable housing": that patch of land along the East River that's been wasted for 60 years on the UN.

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WeAreBorg

10/30/2009 8:56 PM

the UN is a joke, Oil for food anyone? Whatever came of that? 10 billion dollars stolen and only three indictments. Three, that's it. That's rich.
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KAREEM

10/29/2009 1:57 PM

YOU HAVE TO LOVE ALL THIS BLACK ON BLACK CRIME/MURDER. MEAN WHILE OBAMA DITHERS AND GOV. PATTERSON FIDDLES AND BLACK PEOPLE DIE!!!! LOOK AT ALL THE MURDERING IN CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS TOO!! KEEP PLAYING GOLF OBAMA. YOUR KIDS GO TO PROPER PRIVATE SCHOOLS....NO SCHOOL VOCHERS FOR THE PLAIN FOLK. AND WHAT ABOUT THE SHAM THAT YOUR KIDS GOT THE H1N1 VACCINE. IT WAS A B12 SHOT. YOU LIE PEOPLE DIE!! AND NOW LOOK AT L.A. 20 BLACK YOUNG MEN RAPED A 15 YEAR OLD BLACK GIRL FOR OVER 2 HOURS TAKING TURNS!!!
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TannerNH

10/29/2009 12:10 PM

Return the land back to the slaughterhouses
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steveack

10/29/2009 11:20 AM

the time has come to dump the U>N. and let someone else host this motley collection of foreign lawbreakers and parasites!
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sick & tired

10/29/2009 11:13 AM

Quit the U.N. & throw them out of the Country & may bee we'll get lucky & they will take the KENYEN with them!!!
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Jabonz

10/29/2009 9:55 AM

Put that haz-mat ridden sight on a barge, diplomats all, (after they pay their parking tickets) and send it off with the next moon tide.
If Americans want to join an organization that embraces freedom and liberty, fine. The U.N.? Not even close.
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BluejayNYC

10/29/2009 9:46 AM

Love the last line of this editorial! The UN proves its worthlessness in new ways all the time.
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Wyoming

10/29/2009 9:06 AM

If we stay in the UN, which we shouldn't, then our annual dues should be exactly the same as every other nation. Now we pay about a quarter of their budget. What nonsense for a US bashing organization. Are we fools or what?