UN accomplishes nothing as usual

Another pointless United Nations conference draws to a close, having achieved absolutely nothing: Diplomat Tries to Salvage U.N. Conference.

UNITED NATIONS - The job of trying to salvage a monthlong conference to tighten controls on nuclear arms, now down to its final two days, rested in the hands of its Brazilian president on Thursday.

Sergio de Queiroz Duarte had little to work with, since the conference’s three main committees, caught in a crossfire of issues ranging from Iran’s nuclear centrifuges to U.S. weapons plans, all failed to produce consensus recommendations for the full conference to adopt.

“There’s no hope for a consensus final document,” a key player said privately after meeting Wednesday with the Brazilian diplomat, who may have to settle for issuing a preside