There are strong candidates in our regional group, with long records of support for human rights, that voted in favor of the resolution creating the Council. They should have the opportunity to run....
Since the credibility of the Council depends on its membership, the United States will actively campaign on behalf of candidates genuinely committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, and which will act as responsible members of this new body. We will also actively campaign against states that systematically abuse human rights.
With a strong collective effort in the coming months to make the new Council effective, the United States will likely run for the Council next year.
A cynic must ask: Does the U.S. lack a "long record[] of support for human rights" or a "commit[ment] to the promotion and protection of human rights"?
More fundamentally, does the question really come down to "we can't fade the heat for Abu Gharib just yet"? Probably not.