You fuckin with the wrong nigga this time...

[Xyun]

As per the NYTimes

As the war between Israel and Hezbollah continued, four unarmed United Nations observers were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit their observation post near the Israeli border, United Nations and Lebanese officials said. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said that Israel “regrets the tragic death” of the observers, and that it would investigate thoroughly.

The United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, in Rome for talks on the Middle East scheduled to start Wednesday, issued a statement saying that he was “shocked and deeply distressed by the apparently deliberate targeting” of the United Nations post by the Israeli military. He said the post, at Khiam, was clearly marked, and called on the Israeli government to conduct a full investigation. The official New China News Agency said one of the dead was a Chinese observer.

Confirming the death of its United Nations observer, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Israel’s ambassador to Beijing was summoned Wednesday and asked to convey China’s request that Israel fully investigate the incident and issue an apology to the victim’s relatives, The Associated Press reported. “We are deeply shocked by this incident and strongly condemn it,” the ministry said in a statement.

seriously, don't piss off china.

[Siji]

There were reports on the radio this morning that the attack seemed deliberate and that the UN buliding had been there a long time and was clearly marked. Should be interesting to see how much criticism they get from this.

[Kelshara]

At least 14 more shells were fired after the rescue mission started as well.

[Skogen]

I smell WWIII!!

[Winnow]

The Chinese are overrated. They won't even take back Taiwan. Pussies!

[Cotto]

For the Red Army!

[kyoukan]

fuck israel for this. this was deliberate murder and I hope every goddam one of them gets poked in the eyes by crazed muslim fundies.

they would not even exist as a country were it nof for the UN.

[Metanis]

The U.N.'s years-long record on the Israel-Lebanon border makes mockery of the term "peacekeeping." On page 155 of my book, "Inside the Asylum," is a picture of a U.N. outpost on that border. The U.N. flag and the Hezbollah flag fly side by side. Observers told me the U.N. and Hezbollah personnel share water and telephones, and that the U.N. presence serves as a shield against Israeli strikes against the terrorists."

Yep

Picture here.

Once again the UN proves its corruption. Re: When one sleeps with dogs... don't be surprised when they shoot you like the rabid animal you've become.

[Nick]

It would be nice if just for once you didn't talk out of your asshole Metanis.

What possible future do you envisage? Is it a positive peace driven one or what? You never quite made it clear in all those posts where you disparage anything that doesn't involve mass murder and American hegemony.

[Winnow]

The UN sucks cock. Even liberals should know that much. The UN can't stop shit from happening anymore.

Vetos from Russia, France, Germany, U.S. China...yeah, like someone's not going to veto one way or the other.

Nice concept, corrupt as hell.

Bill Gates' "Gates Foundation" will do a bazillion times more good helping the world than the UN can.

[Nick]

I fully agree that the UN is at this point a completely useless organisation. It doesn't uphold any of the laws it laid down and is therefore a complete waste of resource. There is one country responsible for that situation and one country that has abused the UN over any other.

The reason the UN is so useless?

Well, frankly, it's because the USA is the only real power that inspires fear or submissiveness in the world.

Why doesn't the rest of the world challenge this? Because we know what a war hungry bunch of morons we are dealing with and our utter lack of desire to stage all out war with you (since, you know, peace isn't a card you even begin to understand).

When that is the case and the USA refuses to acknowledge the UN or warcrimes commited by its allies or itself then the wider worlds opinion is pretty much left beholden to the whim of American hegemony.

Maybe one day that will change - the rest of the world hopes.

Not that I expect you of all people to care when important X box 360 downloads are waiting.

The funny thing is, inhabitants of the most infamous "peace loving freedom supporting" nation on the planet flaunt their sincere disregard for peace or freedom at literally every turn.

That's the most mind numbingly retarded aspect of all this. (Although, in fairness, there is a massive majority of US citizens who share my belief, going by the latest opinion polls - not that that matters in a democracy).


Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuulshit.

[Cartalas]

"Not that I expect you of all people to care when important X box 360 downloads are waiting."


Where?

[kyoukan]

Yes using diplomacy before war makes the UN irrelevant. Because we all see in Iraq, Vietnam and Beirut how smashingly successful America's military incursions have been.

Oh, and Afghanistan.

The UN always flies the flag of the local government next to theirs. It does not matter who that government is. If they flew a Lebanese flag the outpost would have been burned down years ago. At least Hezbollah wouldn't have adopted a phony "who, us?" attitude after blowing it up.

The United Nations have been extremely successful in stopping many conflicts and of course, providing aid to civilians caught up in these conflcts. It is too bad that you fucking morally bankrupt chickenhawks only point out when they don't succeed and use that as a springboard for your neocon cheerleeding faggotry. The UN doesn't have a mandate to interfere with the internal affairs of a country and only adopt a stance when they go over borders.

[Metanis]

The UN doesn't have a mandate to interfere with the internal affairs of a country...

UN Resolution 425. March 19, 1978

3. Decides, in the light of the request of the Government of Lebanon, to establish immediately under its authority a United Nations interim force for southern Lebanon for the purpose of confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restoring international peace and security and assisting the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area, the force to be composed of personnel drawn from States Members of the United Nations.

When you remove the hyperbole from Kooky's statements there isn't much left of substance.

In this case the UN forces actually had a strong and compelling mandate NOT to cozy up to Hezbollah.

If you are not part of the solution then you might be part of the problem. Perhaps those UN observers should do their jobs for a change?

[Pherr the Dorf]

Israel would not exist if they had not managed to conduct the most decisive military victory in history, the UN had nothing to do with the utter trouncing of multiple enemy countries at the same damn time. The Jews are easily the 5th best army in the world... I'd put them 3rd behind the US and China, China is not stupid enough to take on Israel.

[Winnow]

Reorganize the Red Cross to "aid" the civilians caught up in conflicts. The diplomatic side of the UN is just a waste as it is.

It's plain to see that in any real crisis that the UN is ignored anyway. The U.S. isn't going to listen to them and nothing is going to happen to the U.S. if they don't.

waste...of...time.

[kyoukan]

3. Decides, in the light of the request of the Government of Lebanon, to establish immediately under its authority a United Nations interim force for southern Lebanon for the purpose of confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restoring international peace and security and assisting the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area, the force to be composed of personnel drawn from States Members of the United Nations.

Good job on taking one part of my post that you thought (hey at least you are thinking) you could dispute with a line from the article you already posted. The UN now has a mandate to go in and remove Hizbollah from power in south lebanon because of the cross border conflicts that have been going on over the last couple of weeks. Until something like this happens, the United Nations can do nothing but observe and comment. The UN exists to keep countries from attacking each other, not from solving internal problems.

Being a hardened military veteran like Aruman I thought you would already know such basic international diplomacy. But then the USA likes to conduct the majority of their diplomacy from the deck of a missile frigate lately.

[kyoukan]

Reorganize the Red Cross to "aid" the civilians caught up in conflicts. The diplomatic side of the UN is just a waste as it is.

It's plain to see that in any real crisis that the UN is ignored anyway. The U.S. isn't going to listen to them and nothing is going to happen to the U.S. if they don't.

waste...of...time.

I try to impart knowledge on you and your brain rejects it like it is cancer. It is like a defensive mechanism designed to keep you stupid.

"reorganize the red cross"? who even says such stupid fucking shit?

[Metanis]

3. Decides, in the light of the request of the Government of Lebanon, to establish immediately under its authority a United Nations interim force for southern Lebanon for the purpose of confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restoring international peace and security and assisting the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area, the force to be composed of personnel drawn from States Members of the United Nations.

Good job on taking one part of my post that you thought (hey at least you are thinking) you could dispute with a line from the article you already posted. The UN now has a mandate to go in and remove Hizbollah from power in south lebanon because of the cross border conflicts that have been going on over the last couple of weeks. Until something like this happens, the United Nations can do nothing but observe and comment. The UN exists to keep countries from attacking each other, not from solving internal problems.

Being a hardened military veteran like Aruman I thought you would already know such basic international diplomacy. But then the USA likes to conduct the majority of their diplomacy from the deck of a missile frigate lately.

blah blah blah back blah blah blah pedal

[kyoukan]

How is that in any way a backpedal?

It is patently fucking obvious the UN is allowed to intervene once borders have been crossed in a conflict. This is how they invaded Iraq in the gulf war, and how they intervened in the congo and in Bosnia.

So please explain to all of us how this was a backpedal. Or did you just want to use your patented "blah blah blah" counter argument that we haven't seen for a few weeks?

[Canelek]

I can see Metanis fervently searching the google to find something to site....

go go the argument, eh met? How many years have you lived in your parent's basement??

[Winnow]

*gets a chuckle out of kyoukan's attempt to make the UN appear significant*

I want a new org chart for the Red Cross by noon tomorrow god damn it and it better include "aiding" civilians caught up in conflicts!


hmm let me check the Red Cross front page and see if they've ever done anything like that:

wow, the number one article for Thursday, July 27th:

Repatriation of Evacuees from Lebanon

Saturday, July 22, 2006 — As the violence in the Middle East continues, American citizens have been fleeing the country for safety. The recent outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began after two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped in northern Israel on July 12. Today, as the conflict enters its tenth day, violence continues to escalate on both sides of the border.

The first plane carrying evacuees landed early Thursday morning at Baltimore-Washington International/Thurgood Marshall Airport. The 150 passengers aboard were evacuated by the U.S. Government from Lebanon to the island country of Cyprus by ship, helicopter and plane. They were later flown back to the United States via a government chartered aircraft. More flights are scheduled to arrive throughout the weekend in Philadelphia and Baltimore, bringing an estimated 3,000-4,000 evacuees back to the U.S.

Upon arrival at the airport, the evacuees were met by American Red Cross workers who distributed comfort kits containing hygiene items such as a washcloth and soap, toothbrush, toothpaste and other items. At the request of the federal government, the American Red Cross is working to provide evacuees with shelter, food, first aid and emergency communications. Child care, mental health counseling may also be provided if requested.

The American Red Cross is providing assistance in the Middle East by responding to appeals, or formal requests for support, issued by International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement) partners and based on need. To date, appeals have only been issued for assistance in Lebanon. While the American Red Cross enjoys strong relations with the Magen David Adom in Israel and the Palestine Red Crescent Society, and has provided assistance to both societies in the past, neither Magen David Adom nor the Palestine Red Crescent Society has issued an appeal for assistance at this time.

The American Red Cross stands in solidarity with our National Society partners who are providing humanitarian aid overseas to those affected by this crisis. Red Cross services are carried out consistent with the Fundamental Principles of the Movement, including humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

another:

In 2006, the ICRC in the Middle East and North Africa has maintained its focus on activities to alleviate human suffering related to past and present conflicts and to increase respect for international humanitarian law.

Its permanent presence around the region has allowed it to intervene rapidly in ongoing crises and to react to new outbreaks of violence, such as those affecting the Gaza Strip, Israel and Lebanon.

Its wide range of protection and assistance programmes in the region will continue to reflect strict adherence to its principles of neutrality, independence and impartiality in order to help victims of armed violence.

The total 2006 field budget allocated to the Middle East and North Africa is CHF 102.7 million ($ 78.4million/€ 66.1 million).

Fuck the UN and their blue hats. Give their "aid" money to the Red Cross and give me all the money they currently waste on "emergency sessions" where little countries protest or someone "strongly urges" other country to do the right thing (whatever that right thing may be in their world view that is quickly ignored).

[vn_Tanc]

A lot of people on this thread ought to read up on the realities of the UN before spouting their ill-informed bullshit any further.

[Kelshara]

When one sleeps with dogs... don't be surprised when they shoot you like the rabid animal you've become.

Did you just give us a valid excuse for shooting you?

[Siji]

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2006/ ... 51-ap.html

JERUSALEM (CP) - UN observers in Lebanon telephoned the Israeli military 10 times in six hours to ask it to stop shelling near their position before an Israeli attack destroyed their border outpost, killing four observers and sparking widespread international anger with Israel.

One of the dead is believed to be a Canadian, Maj. Paeta Hess-von Kruedener of Kingston, Ont., but officials have not confirmed this. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed "deep regret" for the deaths and dismay over UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's accusation that Tuesday's attack on the observation post in Khiam, near the eastern end of the border with Israel, was "apparently deliberate."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the observers' deaths a "terrible tragedy," but said he doubts the bombing was deliberate.

He said the Canadian military will consult with the UN and the Israeli government to find out what happened. He also he wants to know why the post was still manned by UN observers even though it was in the middle of a war zone.

"We want to find out why this United Nations post was attacked and also why it remained manned during what is now, more or less, a war during obvious danger to these individuals."

Harper acknowledged Wednesday afternoon that Hess-von Kruedener is missing and presumed dead.

"This regrettable event underscores the dangers that our Canadian Forces members face, in all the roles they undertake, to serve our country with distinction and honour and provide assistance to citizens in countries far from our shores," Harper said in a statement.

The bombing put Israel on the defensive two weeks into its campaign against Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon.

The United States blocked the UN Security Council from issuing a statement that would have condemned Israel's bombing of the UN post.

U.S. diplomats refused comment and U.S. Ambassador John Bolton was in Washington preparing for a new confirmation hearing before the Senate. But several diplomats said the United States objected to one paragraph, which said the council "condemns any deliberate attack against UN personnel and emphasizes that such attacks are unacceptable."

Earlier Wednesday, Bolton had said the thrust of a council statement should be to express regret, send condolences and support an investigation to find out exactly what happened - not "to make it a back door to get into other political and military questions."

After several hours of negotiations that ran late into the evening, the council gave up on a statement addressing the bombing of the UN post and agreed to come back tomorrow.

As a last-ditch bid, China, which had sponsored the draft because a Chinese national was one of the four killed, proposed dropping the language entirely. But Qatari diplomats refused because they could not reach anyone back home for permission to do so, the diplomats said. They spoke on condition of anonymity.

Austria and Finland, both of which also lost citizens in the attack, condemned the bombing, with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja calling it "truly tragic."

"These so-called precision attacks seem to be mainly targeting everyone else except the Hezbollah," Tuomioja said.

"The longer this continues the more likely it is that there will be more similar victims."

Olmert told Annan in a phone call Wednesday that the attack was inadvertent and he promised a "thorough investigation," according to a statement from Olmert's office.

The Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday that a high-ranking military source confirmed that Israeli jets mistakenly fired on the UN building, but rejected claims that the strike was intentional.

"We made a mistake in identifying the target and thought it was a Hezbollah outpost," the officer told the Post.

The base near Khiam came under intense Israeli fire 21 times Tuesday - including 12 hits within 100 metres and four direct hits - from 1:20 p.m. until contact was lost with the four peacekeepers inside at 7:17 p.m., Jane Lute, assistant secretary general for peacekeeping, told the UN Security Council in New York.

Officials in the outpost called the Israeli army 10 times during those six hours, and each time an army official promised to have the bombing stopped, according to a preliminary UN report on the incident, which was shown to an Associated Press reporter.

Once it became clear those pleas were being ignored, the force's commander sought the involvement of top officials in New York, a senior UN official in New York said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation of the incident was not yet complete.

Israeli officials had told the United Nations that the bombing around the base was part of an "an aerial preparation for a ground operation," said the senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

UN officials said the observation position was well-marked, and a picture the world body released Wednesday showed the three-storey building was painted white with the letters "UN" emblazoned in large black letters on all sides, and a light blue UN flag hung from a nearby flagpole that was roughly 15 metres high.

Witnesses said the building, which was surrounded by concrete blast walls and barbed wire, also had the letters UN painted on the roof and was illuminated by floodlights at night.

During the shelling, the observers took refuge in a bomb shelter designed to withstand a strike by a 155-mm artillery shell, UN officials said. The bunker collapsed in the attack, and the extent of the damage suggests it was hit with a large bomb, said Brig.-Gen. J.P. Nehra, the deputy force commander for the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon known as UNIFIL.

"We can only say the destruction of the bunker was quite devastating, of the kind that aerial bombs can achieve - the ones of the very heavy variety," he said.

UN officials said Hezbollah militants had been operating in the area of the post, a routine tactic to prevent Israel from attacking them.

"We did repeatedly in recent days say (to Israel) that this was an exposed position, that Hezbollah militants were 500 metres away shielding themselves near UN workers and civilians," UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland said. "That's why it is so inexplicable that what happened happened."

Fuck Israel, and fuck the American government.

[Boogahz]

Just from what you posted there, I see that the objection is said to be due to assuming it was intentional rather than waiting on further investigations.

Don't forget, "precision weapons" are precise when it comes to hitting their target...not necessarilly the "right" target.

How they could have missed the UN outpost while guiding the weapon is what I want to know. It would be more understandable if it hit a residence (understandable, not acceptable) which was not as clearly marked.

[Nick]

Don't forget all those ignored phone calls from that outpost where they begged not to be bombed, since you know...they are there to observe the situation for everyone elses benefit.

Anyone who defends this really is a fucking moron who needs a bullet in the head.

[Boogahz]

Don't forget all those ignored phone calls from that outpost where they begged not to be bombed, since you know...they are there to observe the situation for everyone elses benefit.

Anyone who defends this really is a fucking moron who needs a bullet in the head.

The only thing I could think of in regards to the phone calls were basically "fog of war" issues. Maybe they were calling someone who had to call someone who had to call someone, etc.. I have trouble picturing any reason they would have done it intentionally. I am not trying to defend what happened, I would rather know how that kind of mistake could have been made.

[Nick]

It's pretty apparant the fog of war must have been as thick as the Israeli commanders then.

[Sionistic]

They were calling isreal for 6 hours, what kind of thick ass fog is that?

[Winnow]

If the Israeli army was poiinted in my direction, and they had been warning everyone to leave the area with United States, who doesn't answer to the UN while vetoing arab cease fire proposals, backing them 100%, I'd leave and whine about it later in the safety of the New York UN building.

[Brotha]

http://www.nysun.com/article/36860

Mr. MacKenzie, who after retiring from the Canadian military became a politician, had a very different interpretation. "I happen to know" the now-deceased Canadian U.N. observer, Major Paeta Hess-von Kruedener, Mr. MacKenzie told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in a radio interview yesterday.

"We've received e-mails from him a few days ago and he was describing the fact that he was taking fire within, in one case, three meters of his position ‘for tactical necessity — not being targeted,'" Mr. MacKenzie said he wrote.

In one such e-mail, obtained by The New York Sun, Hess-von Kruedener wrote about heavy IDF artillery and aerial bombardment "within 2 meters of our position." The Israeli shooting, he added, "has not been deliberate targeting, but has rather been due to tactical necessity."

The correspondence between the trooper and former commander amounted to "veiled speech in the military," Mr. MacKenzie, who once commanded the U.N. troops in Bosnia, told the CBC. "What he was telling us was Hezbollah fighters were all over his position and the IDF were targeting them, and that's a favorite trick by people who don't have representation in the U.N. They use the U.N. as shields knowing that they cannot be punished for it."

LOL

[Neost]

Hmmm...

How do you pick up the phone and call Israel?



UN Observers: "Hello? Israel? Hey, we're sitting here, don't bomb us!"
Israel: "Who is this again?"
UN Observers: "This is a UN Observation post in Lebanon. Don't pay any attention to the Hezbollah flag flying next to us!"
Israel "I'm sorry, who can I direct your call too?"

[kyoukan]

Yeah I'm sure a UN watchpost on the border of Lebanon and Israel wouldn't have the foggiest idea on how to contact the IDF's chain of command.

It's cool that you can make jokes about the tragic killings of peacekeepers though.

[Nick]

It's cool that you can make jokes about the tragic killings of peacekeepers though.

Lock this thread, Kyoukan nailed it. While you're at it, kill the fucks like Brotha and Metanis with a violent torture - its more than they deserve.

[Metanis]

It's cool that you can make jokes about the tragic killings of peacekeepers though.

Lock this thread, Kyoukan nailed it. While you're at it, kill the fucks like Brotha and Metanis with a violent torture - its more than they deserve.

The depth of your stupidity, blindness, illogic, bigotry, and callowness is truly enlightening. My Christian faith compels me to give you the benefit of the doubt however only God himself can value your soul. Perhaps you are intended to be the poster boy for the evils of a soulless generation?

[Zaelath]

It's unfuckingbelievable how someone can nail their own attributes so accurately, but then project them on someone else without a shred of self awareness. Quite amazing.

[Canelek]

It's cool that you can make jokes about the tragic killings of peacekeepers though.

Lock this thread, Kyoukan nailed it. While you're at it, kill the fucks like Brotha and Metanis with a violent torture - its more than they deserve.

The depth of your stupidity, blindness, illogic, bigotry, and callowness is truly enlightening. My Christian faith compels me to give you the benefit of the doubt however only God himself can value your soul. Perhaps you are intended to be the poster boy for the evils of a soulless generation?

My goodness, you are aboat as retarded as they come. Oh yeah, your god will forgive your asshattery. Nice job!

[Kaldaur]

He's just baiting you all. No one like him could be a Christian. He's just pulling your leg, trying to get a rise out of you.

[Brotha]

They probably deserved what was comin to em'. Abusin the oil 4 food program n shit. Fuck those guys.

[kyoukan]

neoconservative fuckwads crawling out of their holes in record numbers when UN peacekeepers die.

these are the same people that tattoo crying eagles on their ugly girlfriend's fat rolls when pat tillman got greased by his own unit.

[Dregor Thule]

[Cartalas]

neoconservative fuckwads crawling out of their holes in record numbers when UN peacekeepers die.

these are the same people that tattoo crying eagles on their ugly girlfriend's fat rolls when pat tillman got greased by his own unit.

When did you get a crying eagle tattoo?

[laneela]

It's unfuckingbelievable how someone can nail their own attributes so accurately, but then project them on someone else without a shred of self awareness. Quite amazing.

You're just silly... It's not that at all. It's that he has faith in the jesus so his soul is saved - giving him the right to be a complete douchebag without any concern for morality or human decency.

[Cartalas]

It's cool that you can make jokes about the tragic killings of peacekeepers though.

Lock this thread, Kyoukan nailed it. While you're at it, kill the fucks like Brotha and Metanis with a violent torture - its more than they deserve.

The depth of your stupidity, blindness, illogic, bigotry, and callowness is truly enlightening. My Christian faith compels me to give you the benefit of the doubt however only God himself can value your soul. Perhaps you are intended to be the poster boy for the evils of a soulless generation?

My goodness, you are aboat as retarded as they come. Oh yeah, your god will forgive your asshattery. Nice job!

[Sylvus]

Is Cartalas making fun of a typo?

That's the pot calling the pot a pot.

[Cartalas]

Is Cartalas making fun of a typo?

That's the pot calling the pot a pot.

I thought it was cute

[Metanis]

Is Cartalas making fun of a typo?

That's the pot calling the pot a pot.

I thought it was cute

The first sign of a commie pinko liberal fag is the loss of a sense of humor Cart.

[laneela]

hahahahaha

pinko.

[Metanis]

hahahahaha

pinko.

Are you pretending you have a sense of humor?