By
Matthew
Russell Lee
Even at that time, Inner City Press quoted well placed diplomatic sources at the UN that "'this would strip from the UN its last scrap of credibility in the Middle East'... Ban might be 'so out of touch' -- or so powerless or craven -- that he would rubber stamp the nomination of a Permanent Five member of the Security Council as he had France's ill-fated and 11th hour nomination of Herve Ladsous as the UN's top peacekeeper" -- another exclusive Inner City Press scoop at the time.
The day after Inner City Press' scoop at the UK's End of Security Council Presidency reception, two telling responses to the story were proffered and published: "'A perfect election year appointment,' one Ambassador told Inner City Press. A red flag for at least some in the Arab and Persian world, said another." Click here for Inner City Press March 29 story with those quotes.
In the seven weeks since, Inner City Press has reiterated its sourcing, and reported further on doubts raised about the conflation of US and UN policy in the Middle East. Dozens of UN Permanent Representatives have checked in with Inner City Press with their views of Feltman.
Now, today, wires report as if brand new that their "sources" tell them that Feltman is the man. First Reuters, which lists three separate reporters but apparently has no policy on giving credit, then CNBC, ANSA.it, The Hill... Where were they seven weeks ago? And where is the analysis? Watch this site.
Update of 5:48 pm -- UN sources highlight to Inner City Press that in his US role on the Middle East, Feltman would for example meet with Ban Ki-moon's envoy to Iraq Ad Melkert. Others repeat shock or "disgust" that Ban would so closely link UN Middle East policy with the US' Middle East official.
