Well, if ever you needed any proof that the United Nations is utterly useless and, indeed, usually only makes any situations it gets involved with even worse, we have it now.
Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon announced last week that he welcomed Hezbollah’s return of the bodies of two Israeli soldiers who had been kidnapped several years ago and said “he is deeply satisfied that the humanitarian aspects of Security Council Resolution 1701 have finally been met.”
As any good Trekkie, that number sticks in my mind. And I just happen to have the requirements of that resolution, as passed by the United Nations Security Council on August 11, 2006, handy.
The Resolution demands:
- Full cessation of hostilities (OP1)
- Israel to withdraw all of its forces from Lebanon in parallel with Lebanese and UNIFIL soldiers deploying throughout the South (OP2)
- Hezbollah to be disarmed (OP3)
- Full control of Lebanon by the government of Lebanon (OP3)
- No paramilitary forces, including (and implying) Hezbollah, will be south of the Litani River OP8).
The Resolution at the same time also emphasizes:
The need to address urgently the unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers, that have given rise to the current crisis.
So, Mr. Moon, how’s that worked out?
1) Full cessation of hostilities.
Well, that one hasn’t been too bad. Hezbollah has, by and large, refrained from too many attacks on Israel.
2) Israel to withdraw all of its forces from Lebanon in parallel with Lebanese and UNIFIL soldiers deploying throughout the South.
Well, Israel withdrew, so it’s OK. Lebanese and UNIFIL soldiers deployed throughout the South? Only where it’s convenient for Hezbollah to allow it.
3) Hezbollah to be disarmed.
I almost want to laugh over this one, but it’s too pathetic. Hezbollah is not only not disarmed, they’re better armed than they were before the conflict. The UN hasn’t done a damned thing to prevent Syria and Iran from rearming Hezbollah.
4) Full control of Lebanon by the government of Lebanon.
That one is even more obscene. Instead of getting Hezbollah out of power, they now hold control over the government.
And how about that “unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers?” Well, that happened.
Kinda.
If you count “we’ll give you them back if you give back a bunch of corpses and live terrorists, including a child-murdering monster who we’ll give a hero’s welcome — oh, and by the way, despite what we have been saying for years, and even got Jesse Jackson to front for us, they’ve been dead for years and we had some fun mutilating their corpses” as “unconditional.”
This is what the United Nations Secretary General considers “good news” and a “success.”
People have often accused Israel of having a “persecution complex.”
There’s an old saying: “it ain’t paranoia if they are out to get you.”
