The US, by its actions over the UNESCO vote has done itself no favours.

1. By actually supporting Israel's intransigence, it has made it very difficult, if not impossible, for peace talks to proceed.

2. It has removed its capacity to influence UNESCO proceedings for the foreseeable future.

3. It has seriously damaged its pretensions to be the most democratic society on the planet.

4. By all of the above, it has lost any credibility as a champion of democracy world wide.

A great pity and an affront to the founding fathers.

Don T.