WE'RE IN SUCH GREAT COMPANY - AT 2:42 P.M. ET:

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The United States won a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council for the first time Tuesday along with four countries accused of serious human rights violations -- Cuba, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia.

Former President George W. Bush's administration boycotted the council over its repeated criticism of Israel and its refusal to cite flagrant rights abuses in Sudan and elsewhere.

But the United States announced in late March that it would seek to join the council to help make it more effective, reflecting President Barack Obama's desire to create a ''new era of engagement'' with the international community.

COMMENT:  The Bush administration was right.  Without the U.S., this corrupt operation simply languishes.  Now that we're there to "improve" things, the Council gets a new life and vastly increased publicity.  And what will be the result?  Well, we get one vote, along with the likes of Saudi Arabia, China and Russia.  You calculate.

May 12, 2009