UN attack looks deliberate: Annan

Herald Sun ^ | 26 July 2006

[Aussie Dasher]

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today said he was "shocked" at Israel's "apparently deliberate targeting" of a UN post in Lebanon, in which up to four UN observers were killed.

Mr Annan described the strike as a "co-ordinated artillery and aerial attack on a long established and clearly marked UN post."

He said it took place "despite personal assurances given to me by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that UN positions would be spared Israeli fire."

"Furthermore, General Alain Pelligrini, the UN 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 UN position from attack.

"I call on the Government of Israel to conduct a full investigation into this very disturbing incident and demand that any further attack on UN positions and personnel must stop.

"The names and nationalities of those killed are being withheld pending notification of their families. I extend sincere condolences to the families of our fallen peacekeepers."

[humblegunner]

Doesn't the Klown understand friendly fire accidents can and do happen???

Certainly not. The UN is neutral, immune to all fire.

You missed the memo.

[ApplegateRanch]

Investigate it the same way the UN "investigated" the previous kidnapping & murder of Israeli troops by UN vehicles, while UN Indian "peacekeeper" looked on, some years ago.

[colorado tanker]

I've missed a lot of memos from the parallel universe that is the UN!

[AnAmericanMother]

Reminds me of that old Mauldin cartoon of the medic striking a match to light a cig in the dark -- Willie and Joe giving him a dirty look, caption, "It's all right -- I'm a noncombatant."

[Mr. Mojo]

".....on a long established and clearly marked UN post."

Long established as a Hezbollah/terrorist friendly post, that is.

[malamute]

well Annan is clearly an idiot, but might be right

hezballah undoubtedly was using this position as either cover or were seeking cover, or alternatively had people inside and/or sympathetic to the cause using this position as forward ops.

sh|t happens

or it is entirely possible hezballah hit this installation themselves to frame the israelis

either way, sh|t happens

or, again alternatively, if you're the israelis, and the world kaw-mew-nit-ee is bloviating about the need for more UN peacekeepers, what better way to illustrate the utter failure of the UN to point out with an exclamation mark the EXISTING UNIFIL forces already on the ground !

ooops, sh|t happens !

sad for the families who lost sons & condolences to them, but no matter how I spin this the PR or spin seems good for Israel long term, even if this was simply a case of collateral damage

Annan is making a fool of himself on the world stage yet again, and the UN once again demonstrates its utter irrelevancy

[manonfire]

Talk about overdue....Day in and day out, they and there hate America SOBS work against our interests..

[musicman]

...."Hezbollah, Hamas and al Qaeda are all the same thing: terrorists...."

..i.e: "Koranimals"

[AnnaZ]

All I can say is, if it was deliberate, it was for a very good reason.

[Fred Nerks]

One picture says it all; The UN and Hez'b'allah positions on the Lebanon border.

[GreyWolf]

You know, it's really hard to distinguish blue helmets from green headbands at 10,000 feet and those white vehicles look a lot like white Toyota pickup trucks to those IAF pilots </sarcasm>

[sasha123]

Annan is ticked off about yesterdays article that of the UN executives blamed Hezbollah for blending in with civilians. So, now he has to make up for it and make Israel look even worse.

[vamoose]

FLASHBACK

When bomb blast ripped through UN headquarters in Baghdad in August 2003, the US was blamed for not keeping it secure. Hoping to find the US at fault, Kofi appointed and investigation team that subsequently issued a report in October 2003 that the UN had refused US security assistance and even asked that some security measures already in place be dismantled. Shortly thereafter, the UN vacated Baghdad for good.

The bombing shook the United Nations into reevaluating security of its operations across the world as Mr Annan and his top advisers realised that the UN flag did not automatically provide security to its staff. The two officials stepped down as Mr Annan ordered a “strategic reorganisation” of security management under the leadership of Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette.

Mr Anann’s actions to improve security comes in the wake of highly damaging report by an independent panel headed by Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari who described the UN security system as “dysfunctional” and “sloppy” and questioned judgment of the UN top officials in refusing offer of security from the US-led coalition, the “only credible” force in the country.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031106/world.htm#1

[Malone LaVeigh]

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today said he was "shocked" at Israel's "apparently deliberate targeting" of a UN post in Lebanon,

In for a penny, in for a pound. Any chance that the IDF could schedule an air strike at that rats nest in Turtle Bay?

[TheBattman]

Is he talking about the UN observation post that was being used by Hezzies for targeting their terrorist rocket attacks on Israel.... do they REALLY have to investigate and explain? The evidence might embarass you Kofi-cake.

[TheBattman]

Will it be discovered that the UN HQ was being used as a communications center for Hezbollah?

Wouldn't be a surprise to me...

And will the evidence then be suppressed by the UN?

You can be 100% certain!

[TheBattman]

That term is almost as meaningless as what the term "Border Guard" in Texas.

Or "abstinence class" in a hooker hotel....

[Jameison]

"UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today said he was "shocked" at Israel's "apparently deliberate targeting" of a UN post in Lebanon, in which up to four UN observers were killed.
"

Oh puleeze.
Is this the same Kofi Annan who was in charge of UN Peacekeeping forces when they simply stood by or even fled while up to a million were massacred in Rwanda?
And he is "shocked" because 4 so-called UN peacekeepers have been killed?
The same UN "peacekeepers" who colluded with their Hizbullah pals to kidnap 3 Israeli soldiers in 2000, using UN trucks, while the UN "peacekeeping" force recorded everything on video?
Don't make me laugh!
Message to the Israelis: HIT HIZBULLAH EVEN HARDER, AND KOFI ANNAN CAN GO TAKE A JUMP!

[LachlanMinnesota]

I'll bet they were sheltering a Hezzie leader in their bunker, giving him coffee and, er, a spot to call in missle attacks.

Why would the UN troops stay there after the opening of hostilities across the border? What exactly are they observing? DO they take notes of what they see? Just exactly where to those notes go once they have recorded their observations? To what end? Do they call the cops if they see some drug dealers on the corner? What gives?