Via Gateway Pundit and Breitbart.com. I haven’t seen any news stories yet that explicitly say that the U.S. delegation stayed put, but there are several on the wires mentioning Israel’s walkout with no other countries mentioned so it seems safe to assume. “Walkout theater” has always seemed pointless to me but both sides do it so it’s part of the diplomatic arsenal during “UN week” in September — which is what makes this interesting. Maybe it’s nothing, but note that Americans walked out on A-jad in both 2010 and 2011, back when the U.S and Israel were far more simpatico on Iranian nukes. Was sitting through Dinnerjacket’s latest deep thoughts about the scourge of Zionism and the unsolved mystery of the Holocaust a small signal to Iranian diplomats that we’re decoupled from Israel and therefore shouldn’t be held responsible if Netanyahu orders a raid on Iran tomorrow?

Before you say “maybe!”, two caveats. One: This isn’t the Ahmadinejad speech this week. He’s due to take his turn in the roll call of world leaders addressing the General Assembly on Wednesday. Today’s address was at a special meeting devoted to, uh … the rule of law. (He flashed the peace sign too, so in case you were worried about Iran’s intentions, rest easy.) If Obama wants to make a show of turning America’s back on Ahmadinejad, he still has an opportunity on Wednesday. Two: The White House did condemn the eliminationist chum that Ahmadinejad was tossing to Middle Eastern media before his speech. Quote:

“We don’t even count them as any part of any equation for Iran. During a historical phase, they (the Israelis) represent minimal disturbances that come into the picture and are then eliminated,” he added.

In 2005, Ahmadinejad called Israel a “tumor” and echoed the words of the former Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, by saying that Israel should be wiped off the map.

In Washington, White House spokesman Tommy Vietor reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security.

“President Ahmadinejad’s comments are characteristically disgusting, offensive and outrageous. They underscore again why America’s commitment to the security of Israel must be unshakeable, and why the world must hold Iran accountable for its utter failure to meet its obligations,” Vietor said.

Maybe they’ve decided to dispense with walkout theater from now on and metaphorically flip the bird to America’s enemies exclusively with angry statements afterward instead? If so, it’d be a shame to change our habits now: Wednesday will be A-jad’s last address to the GA as president of Iran, so we really should send him off properly. Almost makes me wistful to think that next year it’ll be some other fanatic holding court with the press in New York and laughing at the fatwa imposed on Salman Rushdie. Then again, on the plus side, we’ll have a fresh new take on what really happened on 9/11. Can’t wait.