[MEG33]

http://diplomadic.blogspot.com/
A colleague came back from a meeting held by the local UN representative yesterday and reported that the UN rep had said that while it was a good thing that the Australians and Americans were running the air ops into tsunami-wrecked Aceh, for cultural and political reasons, those Australians and Americans really "should go blue." In other words, they should switch into UN uniforms and give up their national ones.

Now you all know that The Diplomad is not a cynical or suspicious being, but there is something funny going on here . . . what could it be? Could it be a genuine concern for local "cultural and political sensitivities" that would be offended by the presence of Aussies and Yanks in their own military uniforms saving thousands of lives? Maybe . . . or, might it not be an odd coincidence that just after the infamous Mr. Anan (see prior posts) says the UN will be setting up air traffic control in Aceh, the UN wants to show that it has an ATC system operating? What better way than to continue in the UN tradition of taking credit for others' work? And this just before Mr. Anan arrives in Indonesia on January 6.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping

[Ginifer]

Thx for the info.

My comments to the UN is no...we won't be going "blue" since this time we are not going to hold our breaths waiting for them to the the right thing.

As far as our or the Aussie's military wearing the blue UN uniform...nope, the only blue they will be wearing is if it's an official AF military uniform.

[marmar]

The blue beret can be shoved up, where the sun don't shine, it will never be worn on my head. We are a sovereign nation, and when I swore into my military service is was to the United States......not a blood sucking parasite....

[o_zarkman44]

By limiting American and other western identity and exposure the UN can indeed take credit for the aid. Further a slap in the face to the nations that financially support most of the uN operations. How long will we continue to throw money into a corrupt UN?

I think we are doing the right thing by making our presence known and showing our ability to move while the UN shows it is totally UN-prepared and UN-co-ordinated to handle anything but the smallest disaster.

And where was the UN when Florida was hit by the hurricanes? They stayed home because they knew they couldn't run the show, but continued to criticize Americans for not "doing enough".

Kofi....while skiing...why didn't you support the reforestation effort in America by personally meeting a tree??? hehehe