A well-known columnist has claimed the United States is no position to complain about other countries using their veto power in the U.N. Security Council.

The columnist, Rami G. Khouri, said the U.S. had used its veto power in the Security Council 42 times since 1972.

Washington used its veto power to "kill resolutions that sought to affirm international law and stop assorted Israeli actions in the occupied Palestinian territories," Khouri said.

Khouri made the accusation in response to the anger of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice at the veto of a U.N. Security Council Resolution on Syria by Russia and China.

Rice reportedly said she was "disgusted" by the double vetoes.

In a signed article titled "42 reasons why Susan Rice's anger is unconvincing", which was published by Jordan Times on Feb. 17-18, Khouri said he could not take Rice and the United States seriously here, "because the U.S. has set the world's gold standard on using vetoes in the Security Council to shield criminal activity -- by Israel in particular."

He cited several recent examples of US vetoes of Security Council resolutions that were critical of Israel.

"We can pretty much ignore her (Rice) and her government's public display of anger because they lack that essential combination of consistency, sincerity and credibility that are so vital for those who wish to be taken seriously," he said.

"If she is so disgusted by this veto episode, can she imagine how it feels to be at the receiving end of such actions by her government 42 times over the past four decades?" he asked.

"Rice's anger and disgust at the Russian-Chinese veto at the U.N. last week loom largely hollow and meaningless, because, in reality, that are a reflection more of American hubris and pride than of any credible diplomacy," he said.

On Feb. 4, Russia and China vetoed a draft Security Council resolution calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to hand over power to his deputy to end the escalating conflict in the Middle East country.

China said it vetoed the resolution because it opposes armed intervention or forcing "regime change" in Syria.

On Feb. 18, China, together with several other countries, cast a "No" vote on a similar resolution in the U.N. General Assembly supporting political transition in Syria.