UN Hypocrisy

At least one thing can be said for the UN, they make little pretext of being neutral in the on-going conflict in Lebanon.

You can see it in their comments as well as their actions. Jan Egeland, the UN humanitarian aid chief condemned Israel last week for creating a "generation of hatred," for its "disproportionate" and "excessive" attacks on Lebanon. Soon after Israel bombed the UN observer site, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said it was a "deliberate attack."

What Annan knows and few in the press have reported is that the UN was a contributor to that event as a result of their negligence. A few days before Canadian Maj. Paeta Hess-von Kruedener, one of those killed in the attack, complained via e-mail that Hezbollah terrorists were using his UN observer post as a "shield" to fire rockets into Israel.

It is not the only place either. Terrorists also have used UN posts as shields in Marwahin, Alma Ash Shab, Brashit and At Tiri, all in south Lebanon, say UN reports. One video frame grab had a telling image. As you can see from this one, any Israeli who assumes anything marked UN is neutral, or a non-combative does so at risk. Here Hezbollah fighters are using a UN ambulance to reposition after a firefight.

Hezbollah loves the UN in southern Lebanon. Unarmed, UN personnel are incapable of defending themselves from anyone. It is why Hezbollah loves to hug UN outposts for its "shoot and scoot" rocket launches. An Israeli response on the site will be viewed with outrage by the UN.

The UN is also providing assistance to Hezbollah, whether intentional or not, as shown by the ambulance photo. Consider that alternative the UN observers have when armed terrorists take their vehicles. Their response is limited to a strongly worded e-mail.

Bloggers have already pretty much disproved much of the disinformation coming out of the UN and Hezbollah. One, Michelle Malkin, linked to this image that summed it up nicely as the UN flag flies next to and beneath a Hezbollah one at a UN outpost. It is clear that anything coming out of Hezbollah or the UN has about the same credibility, and foundation.

It comes down to one simple fact. The UN needs to pull its observers from southern Lebanon or give them the tools and the mission to defend themselves from Hezbollah. Its mission now is a total failure. It is typical of most UN missions where success depends on the good intentions of the all the parties involved.

When the nations sent observers to serve the UN in south Lebanon there was no mention that their soldier's real mission would be to used as human shields and targets by terrorists.

Forgotten in all this is that a half decade ago Israel left Lebanon in 2000 after a UN promise that Hezbollah would be disarmed. What Israel got, instead of security, was that laughable UN Resolution #1559. It is time for Israel to remember that old childhood ditty, "Fool Me Once -- Shame on You, Fool Me Twice -- Shame on Me."