In my research this morning, I discovered that, barring intervention, Syria will become a member of the UN Human Rights Council. Given the rate at which Assad is currently murdering his citizens, Syria’s inclusion there would thoroughly trash the credibility of that institution.

No, this isn’t a bad joke.

The very same Syria that today is mowing down its own people in the streets could well be elected a member of the UN Human Rights Council on May 20th.

Here’s how it works:

The Council is comprised of 47 member states. Each is elected for a three-year term, with one-third of the seats becoming vacant each year. According to the UN General Assembly resolution creating the Council in 2006, Asia is assigned 13 of the 47 seats, with the other four regional blocs divvying up the remaining 34. Four of the 13 Asian seats become vacant now.

This year, there’s what’s called a "clean slate," meaning that four countries were chosen within the Asia group for the four seats. They are India, Indonesia, Philippines, and, yes, Syria. (Syria’s candidacy has also been embraced by the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.) Unless more Asian countries now opt to vie for the vacant seats, it could soon be a done deal.

Traditionally, when the general vote occurs, the candidate countries selected by their respective regional blocs are automatically endorsed, with perhaps a few dissenting votes, by the larger group.

To indicate its willingness to comply with the Council’s mission, Syria has formally pledged "its commitment to respect and to support the inalienable nature of all human rights," adding it "would contribute to accomplish the objectives of the Council, and would support the national and international efforts for promotion and protection of human rights for all, without distinction and selectivity or politicization."

Don’t laugh. The Syrian government expressed this with all due solemnity. Given the abysmal record of some others who’ve been chosen to serve on the Council, it could be enough to get it elected.

Of course, putting Syria on the UN Human Rights Council would make a mockery of the whole exercise… [emphasis added]