UN attack looks deliberate: Annan

Herald Sun ^ | 26 July 2006

[Aussie Dasher]

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today said he was "shocked" at Israel's "apparently deliberate targeting" of a UN post in Lebanon, in which up to four UN observers were killed.

Mr Annan described the strike as a "co-ordinated artillery and aerial attack on a long established and clearly marked UN post."

He said it took place "despite personal assurances given to me by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that UN positions would be spared Israeli fire."

"Furthermore, General Alain Pelligrini, the UN Force Commander in south Lebanon, had been in repeated contact with Israeli officers throughout the day on Tuesday, stressing the need to protect that particular UN position from attack.

"I call on the Government of Israel to conduct a full investigation into this very disturbing incident and demand that any further attack on UN positions and personnel must stop.

"The names and nationalities of those killed are being withheld pending notification of their families. I extend sincere condolences to the families of our fallen peacekeepers."

[EQAndyBuzz]

"UN attack looks deliberate: Annan"

Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn't.

[LowNslow]

Just watched Fox News video of strike. I observed OUT GOING Hezbollah rockets tucked close to UN outpost. If I had choice of possibly killing a couple of UN OBs or let several of my people get killed - there is only one answer - protect my friends.

UN had to have observe Hezbollah setting up and firing, they should have left the area.

[mhking]

No, Kofi, they didn't...but if you want them to, I'm sure they'll happily oblige...

[Torie]

Sharp minds think alike. When my younger brother started ranting about this, my first comment was that motive seemed to be lacking. So either it was an accident, or a rogue pilot, or the Israeli authorities are terminally stupid.

[JustaCowgirl]

Go to hell, Kofi.

Deserves repeating. Despicable old crook.

[TheDon]

So does the UN's lack of enforcement of 1559.

[prairiebreeze]

How ironic. After US and coalition forces took Baghdad the UN moved in and set up shop, arrogantly sneering at the need to have their offices behind US military protection lines. They couldn't appear to be choosing sides, you see.

To which the terrorists were delighted to promptly bomb the crap out of their building killing many UN people.

The UN quietly slunk out of Iraq with little more than a peep about the arabs cleaning their clock.

Now they choose to stay in the middle of a war zone, in southern Lebanon, and blame the Israeli's when they get hit.

[jwalsh07]

Hey AMIGO! Glad you're back safe and sound and hope you had a fine trip. Good decision not to tour Beirut! :-}

[RaceBannon]

Good thing he was this insistant of Hizbollah's rocket attacks being investigated!!

[BigFinn]

What the Shiite were they doing in Hezi territory anyway? Hmmmmmmmmm?

[xzins]

Well, koffi, why would Israel deliberately target a UN position?

Israel did this because _____________________________

[Darkwolf377]

He said it took place "despite personal assurances given to me by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that UN positions would be spared Israeli fire."

What a freakin joke this guy is.

I'm sure the Palestinians have kept every one of their ceasefire promises, eh, Koffi? Kook.

[Husker24]

The U.N should have gotten the hell out of the way when this started, they weren't doing anything useful anyway.

[Peach]

What an excellent point, prairie. I'd forgotten that happened after we took Baghdad.

[af_vet_1981]

If the IDF hit them, and if it was deliberate, I assume they had good reason for the strike.

[Jack Deth]

Mr Annan described the strike as a "co-ordinated artillery and aerial attack on a long established and clearly marked UN post."


And.....???


Jack.

[Axhandle]

If Israel is this evil, then I want the US to forward them the exact grid coordinates for the UN headquarters in NYC and then look the other way.

[JasonC]

Suppose it was. Hezbollah is clearly deliberately targeting Israeli civilians, and the UN guys are soldiers. Why should we be more concerned about the one than about the other?

[madison10]

How was Israel supposed to know the U.N. was manning Hezb'allah's rocket launchers?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I pray that we have our subs sitting in the Persian Gulf and the Med awaiting the command to launch. Condi Rice said we needed a new mideast today and I see the entire region going bye-bye within the next few weeks or months.

No doubt there are Boomers in the region. BTW, didn't that lunatic president of Iran say he was going to make a big announcement any day? Whatever happened about that? Did he save a bundle at Geico?