UN SEXUAL PREDATORS AND THEIR APOLOGISTS

UN peacekeepers, make that UN sexual predators, continue their abuse, unabated.

From AP:

UNITED NATIONS - U.N. peacekeepers sexually abused and exploited local women and girls in Liberia, a U.N. spokesman said Friday.Stephane Dujarric said a preliminary investigation by the U.N. mission in Liberia indicated that some allegations against its personnel could be substantiated while others could not.

"The allegations range from the exchange of goods, money or services for sex to the sexual exploitation of minors. The peacekeeping department here in New York as well as the mission on the ground are taking appropriate follow-up action," he said.

A U.N. official speaking on condition of anonymity said the total number of allegations could eventually total 20. The official said four U.N. nations contributed to the Liberian mission but declined to name them.

The head of the mission in Liberia, Jacques Paul Klein, is to step down when his contract expires at the end of the month, a U.N. spokesman announced Thursday. His deputy, Abou Moussa, will temporarily take over.

The allegations in Liberia are just the latest to be leveled against U.N. peacekeepers who have been accused of sexually abusing the very people they were sent to protect in missions from Bosnia and Kosovo to Cambodia, East Timor and Congo.

"The United Nations treats this issue with the utmost seriousness, and as we continue to clampdown on misconduct throughout all peacekeeping missions it is very likely that the number of these allegations will increase," Dujarric said.

Last month, a U.N. report on peacekeeper sex abuse said the world body's military arm was deeply flawed. The report, written by Jordan's U.N. ambassador, Prince Zeid Al Hussein, recommended withholding salaries of the guilty and requiring nations to pursue legal action against perpetrators.

Currently, U.N. troops and employees accused of wrongdoing are sent home to be dealt with by their own government but are often never punished.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan commissioned the report after more than 150 allegations of sexual exploitation of girls as young as 13 by U.N. peacekeepers in Congo surfaced.
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UN peacekeepers are sexually abusing and exploiting women and girls. They are preying on the people they were sent to protect.

This is far from an isolated incident. In addition to these latest atrocities out of Liberia, UN peacekeepers have abused women and little girls in Bosnia, Kosovo, Cambodia, East Timor, and Congo.

Rather than replace Jacques Paul Klein, the head of the Liberia mission, immediately, he'll step aside when his contract expires.

WHAT??? When his contract expires? Why didn't they replace this thoroughly incompetent man without delay? That is absolutely indefensible.

Moreover, it's inexcusable for the home countries to allow UN troops and employees to escape punishment for their wrongdoing.

I am beginning to believe that the United Nations is beyond redemption.

It sickens me that John Bolton has been trashed by the Democrats and RINOs, as unfit to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the UN. He's not nice enough. If the Dems and RINOs would put as much energy into getting on the UN's case for corruption and abuse as they have put into the Bolton character assassination circus, then maybe the UN would be pressured into the massive reform that it needs.

Kerry, Kennedy, Pelosi, Biden, McCain, and others of their ilk, think this unprincipled organization is the answer to the world's problems. I, on the other hand, think the UN has clearly shown itself to BE the problem.

Amnesty International's website today, May 2, 2005, says NOTHING about the abuse by UN peacekeepers.

ZERO.

ZILCH.

NADA.

What does receive prominent attention, at the top of the list, on its home page?

ABU GHRAIB

From AI:

One year after Abu Ghraib, torture continues

A year ago photographs of Iraqi detainees being tortured by the US military at Abu Ghraib prison shocked the world. Abuses by US forces in the “war on terror” have not been confined to Abu Ghraib; punishment of those involved or responsible has been inadequate; and torture is also used by the Iraqi security forces.

Independent inquiry long over-due

A year ago the world woke up to photographs of Iraqi detainees suffering physical and mental torture at the hands of the US military in Abu Ghraib prison.

The Abu Ghraib photographs, whilst shocking, were not entirely surprising. For two years Amnesty International (AI) had been raising allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment by US forces in the “war on terror” in a wide range of locations, including Afghanistan, Guantánamo Bay and Iraq. The response by the US administration to the allegations had been inadequate.

On 19th May 2004, AI called on the USA to set up a full, independent, commission of inquiry into all aspects of the USA’s “war on terror” detention and interrogation policies and practices.

Today, the organization reiterates its call for an inquiry to be set up by the US Congress. The US must also allow independent human rights monitors, including UN experts, access to detention centres.

Crimes awaiting justice

Evidence of torture and other ill-treatment by US forces in the “war on terror” continues to mount, but no US agents have been charged with war crimes or torture. Over 70 percent of official actions have resulted in non-judicial or administrative punishments.
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It sounds like Amnesty International may have lifted some of Ted Kennedy's April 26, 2005 speech, doesn't it?

A few points:
1) Amnesty International is very misleading (lying) about the lack of punishment being meted out to Americans for participation in the Abu Ghraib matter.

Just today, Pfc. Lynndie England pleaded guilty to mistreating prisoners.

(AP)-- The charges carry up to 11 years in prison, but prosecutors and the defense reached an agreement that caps the sentence at a lesser punishment, the length of which was not released. A military jury will convene Tuesday to determine her punishment; she will get the lesser of the jury's sentence or the term agreed on in the plea bargain.

(AP)-- Pvt. Charles Graner Jr., the reputed ringleader of the abuses, was convicted in January on a range of abuse charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

(Al Jazeerza)-- Thursday 21 October 2004, 21:49 Makka Time, 18:49 GMT
US Staff Sergeant Ivan "Chip" Frederick has been sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually and physically torturing Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib jail in Baghdad.

2) AI's failure to criticize the UN peacekeepers reveals its "Bash America" agenda.

3) So-called humanitarian organizations give the UN a free pass when it comes to sexually abusing girls and women.

It's disgraceful that Kofi Annan is still the UN Secretary General, given his abysmal performance.

It's shameful that Amnesty International slams the U.S., making our country its prime target, while dismissing the UN's human rights violations.

It's impossible to defend the current state of the United Nations. It's an utter mess. It needs a complete overhaul---NOW.