By denying Mendez access to Bradley Manning, the United States not only looks like it has something to hide about the treatment of this one individual, but it is undermining the entire system of international human rights monitoring.
First they came for the human rights activists. Now, Bahraini authorities are looking to censor the media. In the meantime, the rights community is showing exasperation with perceived American passivity.
UN and French helicopters pounded the residence overnight with missiles and heavy caliber weapons. French troops mounted an assault and have apparently turned Gbagbo over to forces loyal to legitimate President Alassane Outtara.
Here in Washington DC, they say my trash collection will stop if the Federal Government shuts down. That's infuriating. But it is all the more so if my trash is no longer collected because of a mistaken belief about what UNFPA is and what it does.
UN Foundation President Tim Wirth has an item in the Huffington Post for World Health Day yesterday about the harmful effects of traditional cookstoves.
It's a big day for the United Nations here on Capital Hill. Fresh from a private breakfast with Ban Ki Moon, several members of Congress filed into the room for a hearing with UN Ambassador Susan Rice. Later, Ban Ki Moon will hold a press briefing with Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar who head the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.