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September 30, 2006
Dateline Lebanon: Cluster Bombs, Check. Intl Support, MIA
Let's get this straight. There are about a million undetonated cluster bombs scattered throughout south Lebanon by America's number one ally, the Israeli army. These highly volatile instruments of death are scattered throughout villages and fields. Add that to the demolition of villages by the Israeli "Defense" Forces, and you've got 200,000 Lebanese unable to return home.
The UN made a big fanfare about its role negotiating a ceasefire and promising to send in 15,000 person force to secure the peace. Aint happened - they're nowhere near that number. Nor has the world community provided enough money - cold hard cash - to pay for reconstruction. But all this is okay, because Lebanon is a a "safe haven for terrorists." Nevermind that Hezbollah was created to resist the Israeli occupation of sovereign Lebanese territory. Nevermind that Hezbollah has a political arm that is part of the national government. Nevermind that Hezbollah, like Hamas, provides desperately needed social services to local populations. We live in a black and white world. And Bush and Olmert (Isreal's Prime Minister) get to decide who is a terrorist and who is a white hat crony.
I'm glad that Reuters is publishing articles about Lebanon. And I'm glad the dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University wants the world to strap on some huevos and pay for the UN. But if mainstream people in the mainstream press aren't willing to point out the underlying fallacy of the story, they are continuing the lies of hegemony. Terrorism seems to be the new communism. Diplomacy and international cooperation is dead. G'd help us all.
L'shana tova - Happy New Year.
"U.N. shifts from aid work to rebuilding in Lebanon," by Matthew Verrinder on Reuters AlertNet
"Big headlines, small results at the UN," Commentary by Anne-Marie Slaughter in The Daily Star of Lebanon
articles found via UN Wire, a weekday email service of the UN Foundation
Posted by cj at September 30, 2006 9:43 AM
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