Just sat through a panel hosted by Yglesias, Ackerman, Rossmiller, and Goldenberg -- an impressive group of foreign policy bloggers without doubt. Unfortunately most of the conversation was focused on how Iraq is a failed endeavor and that our best strategy at this point is simply to get out. Clearly Netroots participants are more interested in the domestic political ramifications, but I would have been interested in hearing about what ways in which regional diplomacy might be employed to move the ball forward.

However, there are two points that were made that you might find interesting.

First, Goldenberg noted the severe strain that the refugee population is having on Syria and Jordan, which are both hosting a 10 percent increase in their population. It's nice to see that this issue, which we have frequently posted on, is being thought about. It would be even better if it were coupled with vocal support for the UN's efforts to take care of those populations.

Second, the point was made that a number of recent peace deals, not limited to the one in Lebanon were made without.the assistance of the U.S.

Maggie Farley of the LA Times has the goods on the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's choice for the next UN human rights commissioner -- a South African judge, of Tamil origins, named Navanethem Pillay.

Pillay, born in 1941, also served as a judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda prosecuting crimes related to that nation's genocide. She presided over landmark cases in international law that established rape as a war crime, convicted a former head of state for atrocities committed during his rule and prosecuted media for inciting genocide. She has served for five years on the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

Pillay may not be as outspoken as the current commissioner, Canadian Judge Louise Arbour, who often shamed governments and leaders that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon would not criticize by name.

I've heard that criticism before -- that Ban was likely to pick someone not as vocal as Arbour in calling out Member States -- but, having little familiarity of Pillay, I'll reserve judgment until she begins her tenure. It's a tough job, dealing with countries that routinely abuse human rights, but lacking much real enforcement power outside the bully pulpit.

One criticism that can be made legitimately is the unnecessary opacity of the S-G's selection process. Every NGO I've talked to has complained about how little insight into the process has been available to the public. I understand that some aspects of the search would have to remain confidential, but others certainly do not have to be so secretive that not even the candidates themselves know if they're being offered the position.

From the UN News Center:

Despite recent progress, more than 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation, while nearly 1.2 billion people defecate without sanitary facilities, posing a major health threat to their communities, according to a report released today by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN World Health Organization (WHO).

"At current trends, the world will fall short of the Millennium [Development Goals] sanitation target by more than 700 million people," said Ann Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director. "Without dramatic improvements, much will be lost."

The report shows some progress in access to improved drinking water sources, with the number falling below one billion for the first time since data were first compiled in 1990. At present, 87 per cent of the world's population can access improved water sources with the figure expected to rise to 90 per cent by 2015.

Unicef TV has more on the situation in the Niger, where less than 45% of the population has access to clean water and less than 10% have access to adequate sanitation.