U.N. Chief Accuses Hezbollah of 'Cowardly Blending' Among Refugees

[ECH1969]

The U.N. humanitarian chief accused Hezbollah on Monday of "cowardly blending" among Lebanese civilians and causing the deaths of hundreds during two weeks of cross-border violence with Israel.

The militant group has built bunkers and tunnels near the Israeli border to shelter weapons and fighters, and its members easily blend in among civilians.

"Consistently, from the Hezbollah heartland, my message was that Hezbollah must stop this cowardly blending ... among women and children," he said. "I heard they were proud because they lost very few fighters and that it was the civilians bearing the brunt of this. I don't think anyone should be proud of having many more children and women dead than armed men."

"We need a cessation of hostilities because this is a war where civilians are paying the price," said Egeland, who was heading to Israel.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,205349,00.html

[Lerkfish]

1. um...but we don't want to speak out against the people actually

bombing civilians.

weird.

[TheMirrorMan]

5. actually

I know it is anathema to read from Faux, but the article also states:

During that visit he condemned the killing and wounding of civilians by both sides, and called Israel's offensive "disproportionate" and "a violation of international humanitarian law."

I believe the point is that the civilian casualties could be mitigated by more "honorable" warplay on the part of Hezbollans.

[rusty charly]

2. I Accuse The Rightwing of 'Cowardly Blending' Among Actual Americans

[truthisfreedom]

3. heh. i love it.

[Totally Committed]

4. Good for him!

They needed to be called on that shit! It's like hiding behind women and children.

TC

[bemildred]

6. I guess I don't understand what this means.

Are the Hiz'bullah fellows supposed to stand out in a field to they can be picked off cleanly? What actual events lie behind this claim? Is this based on some facts, or is it just propaganda of the raped nun or unplugged incubator variety? Where are the statements from Hiz'bullah-ians bragging about dead civilians? It doesn't appear to me that either side gives a rip about civilians. I suppose that's his point, and Fox has just cherry picked it.

[The Magistrate]

8. He Does Seem To Have Condemned The Actions Of Both Sides, Sir

But this hardly strikes me, in its gist, anyway, as a propaganda coinage. Partisan forces do cover themselves with civilians, as a species of foliage or boulders. That it may be necessary to their survival and operation does not alter that it is a practice guaranteed to result in harm to non-combatants, and is even criminal in some circumstances, nor change the fact that courting casualties to non-combatants, for their propaganda value, is a routine element of partisan practice.

[bemildred]

11. It seems very propagandistic to me Sir.

The IDF itself ADMITS that it uses human shields. Fought a court case to make it stop. We have assertions of "cowardly" behavior here. It's not that the thing is unbelievable, not true, it may be, true things can be used for propaganda. I would be very surprised if the women and children were being kept handy for the purpose. I think it is propagandistic to single out such Hiz'bullahians as may have done this or to characterize the whole organization with it without mentioning how popular it is elsewhere. Courting civilian casualties is not solely a practice of partisans.

[Xipe Totec]

7. How clever of them,

to disguise themselves as children fleeing a war zone in the back of their parent's truck.

Thank God for those smart bombs that were able to target the vehicle they were riding and blow them to smithereens, along with their parents.

Who knows, in 20 years, if they had survived, they might have become a threat.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[jseankil]

9. Israels Actions are "a violation of international humanitarian law." -UN

That is what the U.N. Chief also said.

[funnymanpants]

10. Proof UN does condemn terrorism

How many times have we heard the apologist state that the UN never criticizes the terrorists, only Israel? I follow the UN and I know it does condemn terrorists attacks against Israel.