The U.S. was ambushed today at its first UN Human Rights Council review after Cuba successfully stacked the speakers list with rogue regimes and other vehement critics. Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, Russia, China, Algeria, Bolivia, Nicaragua and several Muslim states accused America of genocide, war crimes, and systematic anti-Muslim and anti-African racism.

"The U.N. system failed today by allowing non-democracies to hijack the session for political propaganda and to drum up anti-American sentiment worldwide," said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, a Geneva-based non-governmental monitoring group. "We applaud the U.S. for setting a model for openness in its approach to the UN review, but it's tragic that many states misused and politicized the process."...

...This morning fifty-six countries lined-up for the opportunity to have at the U.S. representatives, many standing in line overnight a day ago in order to be near the top of the list. Making it to the head of the line were Cuba, Venezuela, Russia, Iran, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and North Korea.

Recommendations to improve the U.S. human rights record included Cuba's advice to end "violations against migrants and mentally ill persons" and "ensure the right to food and health."

Iran - currently poised to stone an Iranian woman for adultery - told the U.S. "effectively to combat violence against women."

North Korea - which systematically starves a captive population - told the U.S. "to address inequalities in housing, employment and education" and "prohibit brutality...by law enforcement officials."

Libya complained about U.S. "racism, racial discrimination and intolerance."...