Why weren't they removed on day one of hostilities? They are "observers" and thus non-combatants....
We deeply mourn the loss of UN soldiers in the current fighting. But, we ask, what were they doing there? They are “observers,” “noncombatants,” and “peacekeepers.” Why didn’t Kofi Annan have them removed to safety when the fighting erupted? Kofi?
Innocent lives were lost as the UN dithered. Shameful.
http://extendedremarks.blogspot.com/2006/07/few-questions-for-kofi-annan.html
kofi should be removed for this lack of action, on top of all the many other things to his discredit. remove kofi now.
As far as I'm concerned the UN kept those people there as human shields in direct violation of geneva convention rules.
The geneva convention rules clearly state that the use of human shields does not make a legitimate target immune from attack. In other words, you're allowed to kill willing or unwilling human shields in an attack on a legitimate target. The criminal liability lies with those holding unwilling human shields.
Why weren't they removed on day one of hostilities?
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Key question. Unfortunately for Kofi and the gang, and the planned propaganda value of the deaths of these men, the Canadian who died was able to communicate with a colleague in Canada about the fact that they were sitting ducks.