Hezbullah has re-armed
A United Nations report on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701 indicates that Hezbullah has replenished its weapons - in some instances far beyond the capacity it had in last summer's war. The report was quoted by Israel's Army Radio.Hizbullah has succeeded in rearming itself and has obtained missiles with a range of 250 km., a UN report on the implementation of UN Resolution 1701 stated. Such missiles would be capable of striking areas south of Tel Aviv.I have several comments about this post. First, the fact that it has now been verified that Hezbullah can strike Tel Aviv (and beyond) means that the government might actually consider doing something about it. I don't expect them to start a war over this, but unlike Sderot, Tel Aviv is InMyBackYard and you can bet that when the next war starts (and it will start some day) those missiles will be the first target for the IDF.
Weapons smuggling from Syria into Lebanon, in violation of 1701, is continuing as well.
According to the report, which was quoted by Army Radio, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon called the continued arms smuggling "grave."
The report also noted that according to information provided by Israel, Hizbullah was rearming itself south of the Litani River, and that given this development, UNIFIL forces and the Lebanese army were increasing their efforts to patrol the area.
Further, Israeli intelligence passed on to the UN stated that the number of land-to-sea missiles in Hizbullah's stockpile has tripled.
The report also criticized Israel for not relaying details of its cluster bombing campaign during the Second Lebanon War, and for not ending continued IAF overflights in Lebanese airspace.
Second, I fail to understand why the weapons smuggling from Syria is allowed to continue. If the IAF could hit the Syrian nuclear plant, it can surely disrupt the supply line of weapons from Syria to Hezbullah. All it takes is a little creativity.
Third, this story puts the lie to the claims by Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert, and his foreign minister
Fourth, the number of land to sea missiles is a serious concern that will have to be dealt with promptly when another war starts.
Fifth, I believe Israel has relayed all information it has about the cluster bombs.
Sixth, if UNIFIL was doing it's job, Israel would not have to overfly Lebanon. Given what the rest of the report says, asking the IDF to stop the overflights is ridiculous.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:45 PM
2 Comments:
This reminds me of the scene from Team America: World Police, where Hans Blix tries to get Kim Jong Il to give up their weapons of mass destruction:
Kim Jong Il: Hans, Hans, Hans! We've been through this a dozen times. I don't have any weapons of mass destruction, OK Hans?
Hans Blix: Then let me look around, so I can ease the UN's collective mind. I'm sorry, but the UN must be firm with you. Let me in, or else.
Kim Jong Il: Or else what?
Hans Blix: Or else we will be very angry with you... and we will write you a letter, telling you how angry we are.
If all the UN Secretary General will do, in the face of a blatant violation of a Security Council resolution, is call the situation "grave", then really what is the point of having the UN?
It also reminds me of the scene in the classic movie "Casablanca", where the corrupt French Prefect of Police is "Shocked! Shocked that gambling is going on here!"
The moment after the Police Chief states to Rick, the nightclub owner, that he's shocked, the roulette croupier walks up to the Chief with a wad of money and says, "Your winnings, Monsieur." The Chief says, "Oh, thank you", then hurriedly stuffs the thick wad of bills into his pocket.
With both the corrupt French Police Chief and with the corrupt and incompetent UN, this is just hypocritical "business comme d'habitude" - business as usual.
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