Lame Duck vs The Year of the Rooster

Picture tweeted by the Russian Embassy in response to "expulsion"

Last week the White House felt it necessary to point out the United States only has “one president at a time.” But it's increasingly unclear if that's still Barack Obama.

Case in point the dispute over United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which reiterated the Security Council′s "demand that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.”

The measure passed 14-0, with the United States abstaining. Typically, the U.S. would use its veto power on a measure like this, upholding the long-standing American policy that the final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian issue must take place between the parties involved and not be imposed from without.

The Chinese Honor Trump as the Mascot of the Lucky Year of the Rooster

However, the Obama administration chose to break with that policy. According to U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power, Washington was sending a message that “the settlements must stop.” But she also confusingly said the historic policy break “does not in any way diminish the United States’ steadfast and unparalleled commitment to the security of Israel.” It is hard to believe that even she believes that.

Read the full article by James S Robbins at USA Today