The Right State

Kofi Anan, without mentioning the United States by name, is blaming this country for the perceived weakness of the UN and for the lives lost since the war started.

Now, I can’t believe this, the UN Secretary General actually blamed Hezbollah, though not exactly mentioned by name, for indiscriminately killing military and civilian lives. He is also calling for the dissolution of the pseudo-government in south Lebanon currently led by the terrorist organization, Hezbollah and replaced by the Lebanese government. Kofi Anan asks that there be no absence of force with the pullout of the Israeli forces, for financial help for Lebanon and for the release of prisoners and the resolution of Selba farms. He also states that Lebanon has been a victim for too long.

Secretary of State Rice is placing the blame for the war on which it belongs, Hezbollah. She also calls on Iran and Syria to recognize Lebanese sovereignty, for Hezbollah to be disarmed and a phased withdrawal of IDF forces and replaced by UNIFIL and Lebanese forces. One thing Rice has stated a couple of times is that under this UN resolution, Israel as a sovereign nation has the right to defend itself if it is attacked.

Apparently Kofi Anan will work with both governments to work out the details. The Lebanese government will ratify this agreement on Saturday with the Israeli government ratifying it on Sunday. When the fighting will actually stop is still up in the air. Only time will tell if this will be a lasting peace, or if the pause in the fighting is an intermittent interlude. Personally, I do not have much hope for a permanent end to the fighting. As we have seen, a lack of war is not necessarily peace.

Update: UN Resolution 1701 has been ratified 15-0.  Since the UN seems incapible of naming Hezbollah by name, I wonder how serious how concerned they are about the safety and security of Israel.  Just wondering.

Tags: War //