UNIFIL Renewed

Hizbullah needs allies. Not many nations want to openly support Hizbullah and it goal of ruling Lebanon for the Iranians. So the world created the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

These brave boys gangsters in the blue beret are suppose to enforce UN Resolultion 1701. For those of you who don't know or remember what 1701 does, I'll refresh your memories.

1701 was to suppose to stop all hostilities between Israel and Hizbullah after the 2006 war. It was to stop the rearming of Hizbullah. And keep the peace.

From the text of 1701:

11. Decides, in order to supplement and enhance the force in numbers, equipment, mandate and scope of operations, to authorize an increase in the force strength of Unifil to a maximum of 15,000 troops, and that the force shall, in addition to carrying out its mandate under resolutions 425 and 426 (1978):

a. Monitor the cessation of hostilities;

15. Decides further that all states shall take the necessary measures to prevent, by their nationals or from their territories or using their flag vessels or aircraft;

a. the sale or supply to any entity or individual in Lebanon of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, whether or not originating in their territories, and;

b. the provision to any entity or individual in Lebanon of any technical training or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of the items listed in subparagraph (a) above, except that these prohibitions shall not apply to arms, related material, training or assistance authorized by the government of Lebanon or by Unifil as authorised in paragraph 11;

Let us just say that UNIFIL hasn't done a good job. Corruption, scandal and the usual mismanagement that just accompanies any UN project. UNIFIL troops know to run when Hizbullah fighters thugs come into an area. Or to ignore the occasional explosions when the homes storing explosives and arms mysteriously go boom.

They are more concerned with cows from Israel wandering into Lebanon.

Yet the UN doesn't ever address these problems. Instead it pats UNIFIL on the back and renews its charter.

The United Nation's Security Council voted Thursday to renew the mandate of UN troops in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL). The normally routine vote became the background for controversy this year as allegations surfaced regarding UNIFIL's enforcement – or lack thereof – of UN resolution 1701.

Resolution 1701, which ended the Second Lebanon War, forbids the presence of Hizbullah or other non-governmental armed forces between the Israel-Lebanon border and the Litani River.

According to the Lebanese Daily Star, the draft mentions “deep concern over violations relating to Resolution 1701, especially the latest dangerous violations,” but does not explicitly cite incidents such as the arms cache blast in July in southern Lebanon. The explosion was seen as a sign of Hizbullah activity in the area.

Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Gabriela Shalev, made it clear during Thursday's vote that Israel sees UNIFIL as responsible for enforcing the resolution. The renewed mandate will allow UNIFIL troops to make “increased efforts” to clear the region they patrol as required by 1701, she said. Her remarks were not incorporated into the resolution.

Recent events in southern Lebanon, including the blasts heard in July, show that non-governmental forces remain active in the area, Shalev warned. “A terrorist organization, Hizbullah, continues to deploy its assets and operates actively both north and south of the Litani river,” she told the council.

In addition to voting to extend the UN mandate, council members voted to review the UNIFIL structure. The UN may decide to increase UNIFIL's naval capabilities. UNIFIL was created in 1978. It's numbers were brought to 12,000 following the 2006 war.

Ever wonder who is funding this horse and pony show? You guess it! The American Taxpayer! Feel cheated yet? Just wait. President Obama wants to increase funding to the UN. Feel sickened?

UNIFIL spending your tax dollars wisely as they round up Israeli cows instead of stopping the flow of arms to Hizbullah.