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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
UN frets over 'sitting duck' monitors
2012-06-09
NEW YORK -- The United Nations is increasingly worried about the unarmed observers it has sent into Syria to monitor the situation in the country. The UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) is caught between troops accused of firing at its patrols and increasingly bitter Syrians who cannot understand why it has not halted the bloodshed, officials said.

Susan Rice, US ambassador to the United Nations, likened the monitors to "300 sitting ducks in a shooting gallery, one IED from a disaster", at a recent UN Security Council meeting.
You can either defend your monitors or pull them out. Leaving them sit there as targets is dishonorable...
An Iraq-style Improvised Explosive Device, or roadside bomb, exploded in front of a convoy of UN ceasefire monitors last month, without wounding anyone. On Thursday, shots were fired at another UN patrol as it tried to get to a village near Homs where a fresh massacre reportedly left dozens dead. No monitors were wounded.

The Security Council has ordered a review of the mission to be ready before its 90 day mandate ends on July 20. According to diplomats and UN officials, options being studied range from sending more observers with armed protection to a complete withdrawal if UNSMIS suffers casualties. All stressed that no decision has yet been taken.
Posted by:Steve White

#7  Its statements like that which makes me give thanks that my life does not depend upon coffee annon brokering a deal.

And where is moon? Golfing with the champ?

Personally, I think the monitors are there to get killed, to give some sort of cover for an operation...a call to arms nobody will answer. So agree with Steve. Still, its more than they did with Myanmar. It really is a trading tent and band camp.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2012-06-09 18:34  

#6  "The United Nations is increasingly worried about the unarmed observers it has sent into Syria to monitor the situation in the country."

You sent unarmed people to a war zone?

You're IDIOTS. But we knew that....

Howzabout just butting out? You're not helping with your hectoring and strongly worded memos.


"increasingly bitter Syrians who cannot understand why [the UN] has not halted the bloodshed"

Then they're idiots, too.

The only thing you can depend on the Useless Nitwits to do is screw over you while enriching themselves. >:-(
Posted by: Barbara   2012-06-09 15:11  

#5  I'd volunteer Venezuela and Cuba, but they would likely show up armed with sprockets and notepads.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2012-06-09 15:10  

#4  If the UN is going to send armed troops, who should they send? America would not be acceptable of course, plus we're kind of busy in Afghanistan right now. (Although we would be the best prepared, best armed and ready). None of the NATO countries can go, either. How about Saudi Arabia or one of the other Muslim countries? Oh yeah - right. It is immoral to kill another Muslim (ignoring the fact that Assad is killing Muslims by the dozen). The Russians and Chinese aren't interested, and seem to think that Assad is just ducky as a leader.

So who will bell the cat?
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia   2012-06-09 14:17  

#3  Leaving them sit there as targets is dishonorable...

Doc, you do remember who we're talking about here, right?
Posted by: tu3031   2012-06-09 12:23  

#2  Disgusting baby killers
Posted by: Omose Angeaque7353   2012-06-09 02:36  

#1  Ever heard the expression "Mind own business."?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2012-06-09 01:20  

00:00