I wrote a post Yesterday, speculating that a 'accident involving a third party' would be imminent. Either the U.N. , Civilians or other 'Nationalities trying to flee' Lebanon would become victims in a 'accidental Israeli' Military action.
Desperately trying to maintain control,
Nasrallah is capable of anything.I don't believe Israel would. For the reasons I'll expalin.
Hezbullah...?The reason I speculated, is I believe Hezbollah is desperate to have this military action end, despite Nasrallah's vitriolic rhetoric, he knows that the facts on the ground are, the longer this conflict continues the more likely Hezbollah will be devastated, and the more likely the Lebanese public will decide to rid themselves of the Hezbollah Canker.
Hezbollah ExpediencyIts simple, expediency, something Hezbollah ultimately has been very good at.
Israel...?What would Israel have to gain at having a 'innocent third party' fall victim to an errant bomb/rocket form the Israeli I.D.F.? Nothing absolutely unequivably Nothing.
Little Green Men TheoremsTo extend this and postulate that it was an actually a deliberate targeting is beyond reason, blow up a UN post so the military action ends, and Israel can effect the assignment of U.N. troops to the area? Thats right up there with the little green men.
Examining the Motive?The Motive, if the gain [real or percieved] isn't there then the motive must be seriously questioned, if this is such, then the unlikelyhood of the action follows. Now ask yourself what did Hezbullah have to gain in the same 'event'?
I think its fairly obvious Israel doesn't want the conflict to finalise yet, no one would think that by blowing up a UN post deliberately this would help continue the conflict.
Top Secret Israel wants to continue the campaign.Israel is doing all it can, to limit civilian casualties both from the moral perspective and also from the perspective of ensuring capability to continue. Israel knows that the U.N. and some countries especially some Arab countries and France are trying to dig up any reason to have these hostilities ceased.
We have now had news that a IDF bomb/(rocket?) that is now being stated as a precision guided munition has struck the UNTSO post.
I don't buy it.
Not only do I don't buy it, but if it is proven that the IDF wasn't responsible then I believe it is time that Kofi Annan should stand aside.
The Reputation of the U.N Secretary General
His entire reputation is soiled in the close association he has with his son and the Food for Oil program fiasco. A better man, would have resigned his post in respect for the importance of the integrity of his position.
To not resign whilst having your son accused of crimes specifically involved with the UN's activities in the Food for Oil scandal shows he is not the man for the Job.
I'm not suggesting Kofi has too cosy a relationship with some of the rather rich oil producing countries like his son, but, the evidence of his continual willingness to make hasty il informed statements against Israel is beginning to become tiring.
Equality, Liberty and Jumping to Conclusions
This man is supposed to represent the process of equality and fairness, surely Justice is served by not condeming a State as being guilty until the balance of Evidence shows this to be the case?
Why is it that recently Kofi has been continually jumping the gun in his eagerness to accuse Israel. Does he feel inadequate within his role as the U.N. secretary?
He even voiced his disbelief in front of reporters on a Just recently released Israeli report before he had even read it!
How Far from the Tree?
No if this explosion doesn't end up being Israel's responsibility, then, Kofi Annan must resign! I don't like the questions riding over his son, I don't like the fact that his son was complicitly involved in criminal actions with corrupt officials and I particularly don't like that the office of the U.N. may have been seriously compromised.
Is the Secretary General's Office Compromised?
What if there exists evidence in possesion of another Country, that would directly involve Kofi or further embroil his son in the Food for Oil or other controversies? This would Jeopardise his ability to be supposedly Independant.
I'm sorry but something there must be some basis for Annan's continual bias against Israel
News coming In
According to an unamed source at the Jerusalem post:
""Very senior and experienced military personnel report that the UN position was hit by a precision-guided missile. This attack comes at a time when the international community is in discussions with countries about donating troops to form a new force [to send to south Lebanon]. This attack plays very badly into that.
At the same time as donor countries have to justify to their electorate the idea of sending their sons to this region to put their lives on the line, Israel blows up a UN observation position and kills four of its personnel," the source said, adding that Israel was "shooting itself in the foot, and sending a very bad signal" to the international community. "
Fruit Loops anyone?
Come on, so theres an Israeli conspiracy, in which Israel has targetted a UNTSO post in a attempt to have the UN have recruiting problems to man the positions, of the Posts that Israel don't really want, or rather would prefer to be filled by more technically competant NATO troops who will act. [rather than sell petrol on the black market.] What a whopper!
In the Country where turning your
car ignition key can be your last action...
But Hizbollah don't have the ability to drop this type of bomb. Who said anything about dropping a bomb, whats wrong with wiring one up? Are you worried about the evidence remaining?
In the Country where turning your
car ignition key can be your last action...
Ms Chidiac's Range Rover, there has be strong speculation that Syrian or Iranian espionage is the main culprit of the vast number of targeted car bombings in Lebanon.
How about, some Iranian elite soldiers, who have the experience and expertise have fired a I.D.F. shell/bomb/rocket at the UNTSO post to save their organisation Hezbollah from being utterly defeated.
Dont tell me Iranian operatives in Lebanon couldn't get access to almost any armament they would want.
In the pull out of 2000 the IDF and the SLA left vast quantites of munitions by the roadside in their haste to extract themselves from the lebanese quagmire.
This is an example of the broad range of armaments
available after the 2000 withdrawal[1]
This is another example of the broad range of armaments
available after the 2000 withdrawal [2]
A Captured Israeli APC from the Lebaanon conflict.[3]
According to the Jerusalem Post Kofi Annan is quoted as saying:
"Israel appeared to have struck the site deliberately. "
A Mistake Made
Jerusalem Post then went on to quote Olmert who said the peacekeepers were killed mistakenly and expressed dismay over Annan's accusation, according to a statement by Olmert's office. The prime minister promised a thorough investigation and said the results would be presented to Annan.
Its a Disgrace this Man has said Israel
has deliberately struck the U.N. post
This is another clear example Of Kofi Annan pre judging and making horrirfying statements that Israel had deliberately targeted the UN post.
Deep Regret
Israel's UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman expressed his "deep regret" for the deaths and denied Israel hit the post intentionally.
"I am shocked and deeply distressed by the hasty statement of the secretary-general, insinuating that Israel has deliberately targeted the UN post," he said, calling the assertions "premature and erroneous."
How Dare he!
Why does the world allow the Secretary General of the U.N. to make these unqualified remarks? Remarks that even when lated refuted, can't be undone for the damage they cause at the time?
Kofi Annan has continually exposed himself to be anti Israeli and unfit for the position he holds.Its time the Secretary General is held to account for his lack of control and tendency to make poorly informed hasty statements.
Kofi Annan needs to remember he is the U.N. Secretary General, not some hack reporter busting for a scoop out of some third rate newspaper.
The IDF Deeply Regrets
The Israel Defense Force said it deeply regreted the 'tragic death' of the UN personnel and have began investigating the incident.
According to the Jerusalem Post the bomb made a direct hit on the Building and shelter of the observer post in the town of Khiyam near the eastern end of the border with Israel, said Milos Struger, spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon known as UNTSO.
U.N. post with 4 countries represented.
The victims included observers from Austria, Canada, China and Finland, UN and Lebanese military officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information to the media.
Kofi Pot or Lost the Plot?
So looking at Kofi Annan's accusation, Israel has deliberately sent a smart guided missile/bomb to a U.N. post that has at least 4 different countries represented at the post. I don't belief Israel doesn't know what countries were represented there for a second......and I dont believe that Hezboolah didn't know either!!
So a third party, U.N. post, full of Multi National forces, and Israel aimed for it. Why? For what reason? The Profile is perfect for a world wide condemnation. Perfect for stoping Israel's Military actions in their tracks, if the claim appears true.
Hezbollah Misses U.N. Post
We have already had missiles fired from the Lebanon side across Israeli territory that appeared to land very close to a U.N. post. A bit of range finding?
Even the report of the incident mentions that there were numerous incidents before and during were shelling/bombs/rockets were fired. I will just have an amazing guess that the number of sheels/bombs/missiles dont tally from the Israel side.
Iran and Syria
It has only just been absolutely confirmed that operatives fromm Iran are working with Hezbollah. the iranian armed forces have a fair deeper capability that Hezbollah. We have already seen this with the attack on the Israeli Ship.
The Revolutionary Guards
The Iranians have specially trained commandoes and agents who are more than capable of organising the delivery of munitions at the U.N. post. Even if the the post ends up apparently being targeted by a 'Smart guided' missile that Iran nor Hezbollah would have not been able to get their hands on, this would not automatically mean it wasn't a sub versive action.
The Iranians are far more advanced than Hezbollah and it is certainly not out of the question that fragments of an Exotic Israeli Missile may have been packed in a more generically available Israeli Missile or shell or explosive device.
Israel has been experiencing the more deadly shrapnel filled rockets that have come from Iran. As information is scarce, it is had to formulate possible scenarios, but the possibility of it being a I.E.D. [improvised explosive device]which was smuggled into the compound cannot be discounted. This would make accurtate delivery far easier and also allow for the placement of fragments within the explosive charges. Iran has enough sophistication to easily have done this attack.
Stating the obvious I somehow don't think there would be a short supply of shrapnel fragments from Israeli bombs in Southern Lebanon.
All's Fair?
Israel is facing the combined resources of Three Countries/organisations Operatives.
Israel is both morally obligated and legally obligated to respect the Geneva Convention. Israel is battling a terrorists group which is supported both openly and covertly by the Lebanese Government and both the Iranian and Syrian Governments.
Every time Israel makes the slightest mistake, the world condemns Israel, yet Israel is fighting a Terrorist Organisation that breaches every international law. When is Hezbollah and its many breaches of the Geneva convention going to be headlined to the world.
Denounce Hezbollah
Why Kofi Annan to you not denounce the practice of the Hezbollah in using Civilians and civilian infrastructure to hide from Israel. When Kofi Annan are you going to address the serious international laws broken continual by Hezbollah.
Is it a co incidence that an action which bares similar features to the cessation of military action in Lebanon last time has happened again? Right when Hezbollah is incurring serious casualties and advising its fighters to avoid direct confrontations.
Guerrilla warfare is the scourge of the World, it causes untold suffering on civilians, it should be a red flag to any organisation that respects International law. The Lebanese Government has given Hezbollah the legitimacy they crave, yet doesn't demand Hezbollah act accordingingly.
When considering the likely motivations, behind this event, it is important to consider who gains from this appaling 'accident'.
You might recognise the emblem of the
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps,
for some obscure reason it looks vaguely familiar.
_________________________
Click the Map to see a larger map of Lebanon
indicating UN posts as of July 2006
_____________________
Click the Map to see a larger Close up map of Khiam
the locale of where the UN post was hit
_____________________
A file Photo of UNTSO Khiam with a
helicopter coming in taken in 2003.
Intense bombardment of the Khiam area
Some of the News sites are reporting that:
"the Israelis have now confirmed that they did fire on the UN site. "
I Hope this isn't another case of quickly accepting responsibility.
If it is Israels fault, theres no doubt in my mind that it will come out as a tragic accident.
News is coming in from various sources and blogs that it appears that Hizbullah were actively using the UN post as cover whilst firing of rockets. [Hattip LGF]
One of the (assumed) Victims of the explosion, Canadian Major Hess-von Kruedener, which I've already included quite a few articles about, one in particular describing the situation only weeks ago, is now being quoted by a fellow Canadian Retired Major General Lewis Mackenzie.
Retired Canadian Major General Lewis Mackenzie was interviewed on CBC radio, and had some very interesting news about the UN observer post hit by Israeli shells; the (Missing) Canadian peacekeeper there had previously emailed Mackenzie telling him that Hizballah was using their post as cover.
Have a listen to this extract of the interview in quicktime format click play to hear it.
The interview is a help
in seeing through
the Haze that surrounds
this tragedy
"We received emails from him a few days ago, and he was describing the fact that he was taking fire within, in one case, three meters of his position for tactical necessity, not being targeted. Now that's veiled speech in the military. What he was telling us was Hezbollah soldiers were all over his position and the IDF were targeting them. And that's a favorite trick by people who don't have representation in the UN. They use the UN as shields knowing that they can't be punished for it."
If this new information proves correct, then it cast serious doubts on the abilty of the UNTSO given its current powers, in observing and enforcing the Blue Line.
A Recent report from the Canadian Major based at the U.N. Post
Even the Major Hess-von Kruedener himself reported in a news article[dated 26th July] that:
"What I can tell you is this: we have on a daily basis had numerous occasions where our position has come under direct or indirect fire from both artillery and aerial bombing. The closest artillery has landed within 2 meters of our position and the closest 1000 lb aerial bomb has landed 100 meters from our patrol base. This has not been deliberate targeting, but has rather been due to tactical necessity.
I thank you for the opportunity to provide you with some information from the front lines here in south Lebanon.
Maj Hess-von Kruedener"
A History of UN's inaction
Israel has had a history of discord with the U.N. over the U.N.'s unwillingness to not react in situations where breaches of the U.N. Mandate could easily have been policed.
Who can forget the example several years earlier, when the Hezbollah disguised as U.N. border guards kidnapped the Israeli Soldiers. [An event which in all likelyhood has probably encouraged Hezbollah in the lastest kidnapping.]
Despite the U.N. actually observing this happening, and despite having Video of the incident, the U.N. chose to:
1. Not do any thing to save the Israeli soldiers from being attacked and kidnapped
2. To deny for approxiamately 9 months that any video actually existed. [If the video had been presented quickly, it may have ensure the soldiers safety]
3. Allow themselves under threat of weapons to be bullied into giving the Hezbollah back the 2 cars they had used, which were under U.N. protection as vital pieces of evidence. This happened 1 day after the incident and after Lebanese Government had tried to take possesion of the vehicles the previous day, in which the U.N. had refused.
If the use of the U.N. Post as cover is true, and the U.N. administration has been informed of this practice, then Kofi Annan has a lot to answer for. It is his very in action in not confronting the Lebanese government and Hezbollah in the use of the U.N post as cover which has contributed substantially to this tragedy.
We hope you are Judged, as quickly as you Judge, Israel Kofi Annan!
Hezbollah a law unto themselves
When is the world going to react with outrage of the continued violations of the Geneva Convention by Hezbollah?
They hide amongst civilians, they refuse to readly distinguish themselves from the civilian population, they refuse to respect international law, they use civilians as cover, they transport their munitions via private vehicles, they appeared to have used the U.N. post as cover, they have previously represented themselves as U.N. peace keepers and commited War Crimes.
The absolute Coawardice of Hezbollah, in hiding within the civilian population has caused casualities with the Lebanese Civilian population and with the I.D.F. who are exposed even further by not being able to retailiate against the Hizbollah attacks.
The IDF is stuck between not inflicting injuries on the Civilian populace whilst at the same time having Hezbollah fire at them under the cover of civilians.
The Hezbollah are currently being accused of operating out of Civilian Homes and even a Mosque as recently as yesterday.
Where's the World's Out Rage Now?
Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said "It is not the first time that they (U.N. peace keepers) have been attacked, but it is the first time they have been killed." Mr Tuomioja continued "These so called precision attacks seem to be hitting everyone except Hizbollah, there have been hundreds of civilians, international workers and others killed already and it does not seem that by these means a military solution could be achieved."
_______________________
A Chinese Perspective
The Name of one of the deceased Chinese U.N. observer has been published.
The U.N. observers name was Du Zhaoyu
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said "China urges the sides concerned, especially Israel, to take tangible measures to ensure the security of UN peacekeepers"
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun told Israeli Ambassador Yehoyada Haim "China strongly condemns the activity to raid the UN peacekeeping post and urges Israel to carry out a thorough investigation and apologize to China and the victim's families, and coordinate with China to deal with the aftermath"
The Chinese victim, named Du Zhaoyu, was a Lieutenant Colonel of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. He has been in Lebanon as a UN observer since January.
China UN observer killed in air strike______________________
More information of the site and type of explosion, needs to be gained before any one leaps to a conclusion.
________________________________
As this important event is developing as we speak this article is being developed/edited progressively.
If you have any information or perspective feel free to send them to me.
regards Bagel Blogger.
__________________________
References:
Jerusalem Post:UN:
Precision missiles hit UNTSO postABC News International:
4 Killed When Israeli Bomb Hits U.N. PostMSN NBC: U.N. official:
4 peacekeepers killed in Lebanon The Geneva Convention:
The Laws of Land WarfareWRAL:
Olmert Regretful Over UN Observers Deaths Read More...
Summary only...
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Haveil Havalim
In between furiously pedalling our generator to get enough electricity to drive our computer, I like to 'Surf the Web', although considering how far and remote I live its more like paddling the waterhole.
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