Back to basics on the UN

Britain joins Ahmadinejad walkout

Given that the underlying ethos of the UN General Assembly and Security Council is to provide a forum for the exchange of views however contentious or uncomfortable, reflecting Sir Winston Churchill's adage of "Jaw Jaw not War War", doesn't the walkout by US and UK delegations at the General Assembly during the speech by President Ahmedinajad run contrary to that ethos and only serve to undermine the richness of debate by their absence?

Judge for yourself