Political Grapevine: 9/18

" And now some fresh pickings from the political grapevine the New York version. Less than a week before the United Nations General Assembly here in New York a new UN human rights council report has cast further doubt on the organization's ability. To do its job fairly. Critics say the probe of the Israel Hamas war last December and January has an anti Israeli bias. The document alleges both Palestinian militants and Israel committed war crimes by terrorizing and killing innocent civilians. But Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the report was quote a kangaroo court -- was -- from the start. US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice says quote we have very serious concerns about many of the recommendations in the report. Adding that the human rights council's approach to the investigation was quote unbalanced one sided and basically unacceptable. A New York Daily News editorial says the report has quote one fundamentally flawed premise that a nation defending itself. From terrorists who targeted in a sense with a nonstop use a lot of rockets. It's no different from the terrorists who started the fight. But the author of the UN report says he was completely independent and unbiased. A New York hotel has canceled an upcoming banquet after finding out that Iran and president Mahmoud on the dinner job was scheduled to attend. The New York Post reports that Helmsley hotel pulled the plug on next week's event after the group. United against nuclear Iran told hotel officials Saddam that Ahmadinejad was listed to speak at that function. -- the did the job will be in town for the UN General Assembly here in New York next week. And -- and student group booked the space months ago but apparently did not mention its special guest. A hotel spokesman said quote neither the Ronnie -- nor president Ahmadinejad on his welcome at any Helmsley facility. And Russian President Dmitry Medvedev who is also scheduled to attend the UN General Assembly says he would like to meet with US dissidents during his visit. Russian news agencies say Medvedev told a group of foreign experts earlier this week quote. I believe there are dissidents in the United States let them tell me what problems the United States hats. That won't be bad considering the Soviet experience. Some news outlets suggested the comment was a subtle dig at the US which has frequently criticized Russia for backsliding on democracy."