The UN Punishes Syria in a Way Only the UN Can

In the past six weeks, the Syrian state has reportedly murdered over 450 citizens who have rallied against their tyrant dictator Bashar al-Assad. Tanks are in the streets, and government snipers shoot indiscriminately into demonstrating crowds.

Many people around the globe are noticing. Five EU member states have summoned their Syrian ambassadors to diplomatic conference rooms to be thoroughly excoriated in strongly worded conversations amid offerings of herbal tea and delicate, flaky scones.

But, if you think the EU is tough, wait until you hear about what the UN is doing to Syria. Next month the UN will elevate Syria to membership in the Human Rights Council.

The brutal crackdown by Syrian President Bashar Assad may finally be getting the attention of world leaders -- but apparently not enough to stop Syria from becoming the newest member of the U.N. Human Rights Council.

And despite calling for an independent investigation into the crackdown, which has left hundreds dead, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon apparently won’t do much about blocking Syria’s path to the human rights group.

"That's not really for the secretary general to suggest to a member state," said Martin Nesirky, a spokesman for the secretary-general, when asked if the U.N. chief would ask Syria to drop out of the running for the post. When asked if Ban had brought up the point during his telephone conversation April 9 with Assad, Nesirsky told Fox News, "that's not really something the secretary general would raise specifically, because it's for other member states to decide on the membership of the Human Rights Council."

One has to wonder what legitimate purpose the UN even has any more.