Posted on 04/11/2003 3:21:08 PM PDT by GulliverSwift
UN accuses allies over looting
(Filed: 11/04/2003)
The United Nations has accused the American-led coalition of breaking the Geneva Convention by failing to protect hospitals in Baghdad from looters.
Iraqis tie a looted wardrobe to the top of a car
The UN Office of the Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Iraq (UNOHCI) said the Kindi hospital, one of the largest in the Iraqi capital, had been ransacked as had other medical centres.
It said the breakdown of law and order has led to "anarchy and chaos" on the streets of the city.
The UN's claims have been supported by reports from journalists who have said that looting has spread throughout Baghdad.
Andrew Gilligan, a BBC reporter, said he had counted more than 150 burnt-out shops as well as reporting that he had seen a 16-year-old boy beaten to death by an angry mob.
The UN pointed the finger of blame firmly at the United States and its allies for failing to stop the disorder.
The "inaction by the occupying powers" had violated the Geneva Convention which explicitly states that hospitals, doctors, nurses and patients must be protected, the UNOHCI said in a statement.
"The coalition forces seem to be unable to restrain the looters or impose any sort of controls on the mobs that now govern the streets."
It added: "This situation not only endangers the lives of the war wounded, but of all patients who need regular treatment, such as dialysis in city's hospitals."
The organisation, which has no personnel in Iraq, based its assessement on evidence presented by the Red Cross who has a media liaison officer in the capital.
"The picture he painted over the phone can be summed up in two words: anarchy and chaos. There is no law and no order at the moment in Baghdad," said the UNOHCI.
Clare Short, the International Development Secretary, has backed the UN's claims by calling for the US military to mount a "massively bigger effort" to defend hospitals.
Ms Short said: "It [the aid effort] should focus on hospitals. There were lots of injured people. The Red Cross can't get through.
"There isn't water, there isn't power, they are running out of drugs. It is an absolute priority to make the hospitals safer."
But other ministers claimed that the reports of looting in Baghdad have been exaggerated by the media.
Adam Ingram, the Armed Forces minister, said Iraqis had mostly ransacked buildings associated with Saddam Hussein's regime.
He also singled out the BBC for criticism.
Mr Ingram said: "I cannot accept reports like one on the BBC this morning suggesting that the people of Baghdad are 'passing their first days of freedom in more fear than they have ever know before'.
"That cannot possibly be accurate given the extent and nature of that regime - a regime that murdered, brutalised tens of thousands of its own people right up to the very last moment."
Despite the bleak picture, the Red Cross has resumed its visits to hospitals in Baghdad saying the security situation was still "volatile".
A UNOHCI spokesman based in the Jordanian capital Amman said as soon as it could guarantee the security of its staff it would be sending humanitarian aid into Iraq.
Of course, it doesn't matter how long the troops have been there. The UN worms have been aching for something to criticize ever since they saw those painful images of Saddam's statue falling down.
Now I see why the 9-11 hijackers didnt' target the U.N. building in NY. They would lose their best personal friends.
Awwww. Aint that cute? They think they're still relevant.
I had a typo.
I suspect that when U.S. forces really do start to crack down, which they are beginning to do, then we'll be hearing cries of "oppression" from these same clowns.
Q: What is the difference between this and the looters on the streets of Iraq?
A: The looters eventually go home when they get enough stuff.
So far the Red Cross has not been permitted to see US POWs.
THE WAR IS NOT OVER YET. There has been no surrender yet (just public support and retribution against their oppressors).
Does the UN expect us to impose martial law, curfew, and keep citizens locked up? It is what we would do if we had continued looting in an American city. If we do take such measures (which do permit the use of tear gas and pepper spray although they are prohibited from combat use), we need a statement that the press and UN won't take us to task for "oppressing" the Iraqi citizens while they get their first glimpse of freedom.
As far as military considerations allow, each Party to the conflict shall facilitate the steps taken to search for the killed and wounded, to assist the shipwrecked and other persons exposed to grave danger, and to protect them against pillage and ill-treatment.
First of all, there's the "as far as military operations allow" - they were still being shot at fairly regularly while much of the looting was going on as I understand it.
Secondly, this pertains to protection of civilians against pillaging, not the pillaging of the offices of the oppressive government by those people formerly under its jackboot.
That sums it up for me.
This statement alone explains why the UN must not be allowed the leadership position in post war Iraq.
Let’s get real, the war is still going on. No doubt tomorrow the UN will be complaining because there isn't a Marine at every Baghdad intersection directing traffic.
After 25 years of Saddam Hussein, a little looting to let off steam and really understand that Saddam is gone is arguably a good thing.
Meanwhile in UN run Kosovo, after 4 years and 9 billion dollars (the UN’s own figures) the UN in Kosovo can’t even claim to have reliable electric power. This, from a country that formerly exported electrical power for hard cash and whose power plants were undamaged during the NATO bombing.
The Kosovo information is from a great Weekly Standard article – UN Go Home at:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/501nlmdb.asp
Alabama don't cotton to his type....
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