Irresponsible Words
Kofi Annan has, if possible, sunk even lower than his past corrupt and irresponsible behavior. He has made the diplomatic equivalent of a capital charge against a sovereign nation. This is so irresponsible that words fail me.
Some four peacekeepers on Tuesday were killed in an Israel Air Force strike on a UN base in southern Lebanon.
Israel said on Wednesday it regrets the "tragic" deaths of the four and will thoroughly investigate the causes that led to the unintentional strike that killed them.
"Israel sincerely regrets the tragic death of the U.N. personnel in south Lebanon," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had earlier called for an inquery into what he called Israel's "apparently deliberate targetting" of the UN observer force. (Emphasis added)
The four peacekeepers were killed after a bomb directly impacted the building and shelter of an Indian patrol base from the observer force in the town of Khiyam near the eastern end of the border with Israel, said Milos Struger, spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon known as UNIFIL.
"There are casualties among the observers. UNIFIL immediately despatched a rescue and medical team and they're currently on the location but unable to clear the rubble," Struger told The Associated Press late Tuesday.
Despite the use of the word 'apparently' charges like that can not be laid unless there is hard evidence. Unless Mr. Annan produces that evidence - immediately - this charge is unconscionable, irresponsible and grounds for Mr. Annan to lose his job once and for all. Mr. Annan has demonstrated his antipathy toward Israel time and time again. This is the last straw, or should be.
UPDATE: More from CNN.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he was "deeply distressed" by the "apparently deliberate" strike.
"This coordinated artillery and aerial attack on a long-established and clearly marked U.N. post at Khiyam occurred despite personal assurances given to me by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that U.N. positions would be spared Israeli fire," he said in a statement.
"Furthermore, General Alain Pelligrini, the U.N. force commander in south Lebanon, had been in repeated contact with Israeli officers throughout the day on Tuesday, stressing the need to protect that particular U.N. position from attack."
Ayalon called Annan's statement "outrageous," while Israel's U.N. ambassador, Dan Gillerman, said he, too, was "deeply distressed" that Annan alleged that the strike was deliberate.
"I am surprised at these premature and erroneous assertions made by the secretary-general, who while demanding an investigation, has already issued its conclusions," Gillerman said in a statement.
The IDF said it was looking into the report, which came as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice proposed an ambitious plan in which international military forces would help the Lebanese government stabilize southern Lebanon, Lebanese political sources said.
By CajunKate, Tuesday, 25 July , 2006 @ 8:08 pm
I’m so glad to see you comment on this. I agree completely and wish Condi would call Kofi on this. And remember those peacekeepers on the southern border that videotaped the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers in 2000 and refused to share the tape to help in the rescue! Annan needs to go!
By Becker, Tuesday, 25 July , 2006 @ 9:17 pm
The UN is a legitimate target in Lebanon. The fools have been there for 28 years and the only thing they’ve accomplished is to collaborate with Hezbollah. It’s unfortunate that an “outpost” was targeted and not UN headquarters.
By Roland Hesz, Wednesday, 26 July , 2006 @ 1:34 am
Well, given your logic Becker, every US headquarters or buildings are free targets for every terrorism ridden country where the US was not able to change the situation, or even collaborated with terrorists.
I don’t think that 4 soldiers were really responsible for this whole situation.
Neither do I think that the rescue team, that could not get to the spot easily, because they were under fire by the israeli army is responsible for this mess.
And I don’t think you would have said the same if there had been an american soldier among the 4 UN peacekeepers.
By Roland Hesz, Wednesday, 26 July , 2006 @ 5:53 am
It turned out that the UN peacekeeprs called their contact in the israeli army 6 hours before they were hit by the bomb, noticing the army that they are attacking a UN post. They called ten times, each time getting the answer that the attack will stop.
No comment.
By Gaius, Wednesday, 26 July , 2006 @ 6:03 am
Source?
By Roland Hesz, Wednesday, 26 July , 2006 @ 8:07 am
You have posted on it. So you found it.
But sure, http://index.hu
By Gaius, Wednesday, 26 July , 2006 @ 8:13 am
Read the post by Wretchard at the Belmont club. It posts the report in a lot better context.