Why does it seem entirely predictable that a post containing the phrase “With respect, Holy Father” is in fact not going to show respect to the Pope? This time it comes from Damian Thompson on his Holy Smoke blog. The post came about because it is time for another attempt at a United Nations conference on racism (the last in Durban being a notable failure), and the Vatican has decided to attend, in the hopes of it being constructive. Maybe it will be, maybe it won’t. Some countries have decided to attend, some have decided to attend and walk out if  the conference disintegrates, and some have decided to boycott it. Each approach has things going for it.

I have no idea which is the best approach.

And neither does Thompson.

UPDATE: Ahmadinejad spouted his usual stuff, and this led to a walkout by some delegates, quite understandably. It's perhaps a little more clear why the United States, in particular, decided not to attend. If it has decided to engage Iran on the diplomatic front, then attending the conference would necessitate a walkout, which would make further diplomatic engagement with Iran much more difficult.