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Massoud Hossaini / AFP - Getty Images
In this file picture taken on on June 13, 2010, a U.S. Predator unmanned drone armed with a missile stands on the tarmac of Afghanistan's Kandahar military airport.
UNITED NATIONS -- The United States has violated Pakistan's sovereignty and shattered tribal structures with unmanned drone strikes in its counterterrorism operations near the Afghan border, a U.N. human rights investigator said in a statement on Friday.
U.N. special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, Ben Emmerson, visited Pakistan for three days this week as part of his investigation into the civilian impact of the use of drones and other forms of targeted killings.
"As a matter of international law, the U.S. drone campaign in Pakistan is ... being conducted without the consent of the elected representatives of the people, or the legitimate Government of the State," Emmerson said in a statement issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva.
"It involves the use of force on the territory of another state without its consent and is therefore a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty," he said.
Emmerson said in January he would investigate 25 drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories. He is expected to present his final report to the U.N. General Assembly in October.
Washington had little to say about Emmerson's statement.
"We've seen his press release. I'm obviously not going to speak about classified information here," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. "We have a strong ongoing counterterrorism dialogue with Pakistan and that will continue."
Spokesman Josh Earnest said the White House would withhold judgment until it sees Emmerson's full report.
"We have a solid working relationship with them (Pakistan) on a range of issues, including a close cooperative security relationship, and we're in touch with them on a regular basis on those issues."
'End military interference'
Emmerson said the Pashtun tribes of northwestern Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas, or FATA, Pakistan's largely lawless region bordering Afghanistan, have been decimated by the counterterrorism operations.
"These proud and independent people have been self-governing for generations, and have a rich tribal history that has been too little understood in the West," he said. "Their tribal structures have been broken down by the military campaign in FATA and by the use of drones in particular."
The tribal areas have never been fully integrated into Pakistan's administrative, economic or judicial system. They are dominated by ethnic Pashtun tribes, some of which have sheltered and supported militants over decades of conflict in neighboring Afghanistan.
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Clearing out militant border sanctuaries is seen by Washington as crucial to bringing stability to Afghanistan, particularly as the U.S.-led combat mission ends in 2014.
Most, but not all, attacks with unmanned aerial vehicles have been by the United States. Britain and Israel have also used them, and dozens of other countries are believed to possess the technology.
"It is time for the international community to heed the concerns of Pakistan, and give the next democratically elected government of Pakistan the space, support and assistance it needs to deliver a lasting peace on its own territory without forcible military interference by other states," Emmerson said.
The U.N. Human Rights Council asked Emmerson to start an investigation of the drone attacks following requests by countries including Pakistan, Russia and China.
Criticism of drone strikes centers on the number of civilians killed and the fact that they are launched across sovereign states' borders so frequently, far more than conventional attacks by piloted aircraft.
Retired U.S. General Stanley McChrystal, who devised the U.S. counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan, warned in January against overusing drones, which have provoked angry demonstrations in Pakistan.
Civilian casualties from drone strikes have angered local populations and created tension between the United States and Pakistan and Afghanistan. Washington has sought to portray civilian casualties as minimal, but groups collecting data on these attacks say they have killed hundreds of civilians.
Tabassum Zakaria and Roberta Rampton contributed to this report.
Leave a Comment:
Yes they violate Pakistans territory but it is necessary to kill enemy terrorists protected by Pakistan; let us never forget Bin Laden's protection by Pakistan.
The terrorist United Nations is blasting the United States again for killing terrorists in a country who harbors terrorists.
The United Nations should be kicked out of NYC AFTER all the diplomats pay their parking fines. Maybe they can find safe haven in Iran or North Korea......the latter would be better since they have plenty of food and electricity.
Yeah make the diplomats pay the fines off and send the UN packing....maybe France!? We don't need your fair-weathered friends over here.
As for blasting the Paki's, I say double the efforts now!
If China, Russia, or any other country for that matter, conducted a drone strike on U.S. territory without our permission we would consider it an act of war.
What right do we have to talk about the rule of laws and how international treaties etc. need to be obeyed and enforced while we are constantly violating them ourselves.
I'm afraid this is the rare occasion when I have to agree with the U.N.
It must be ok for other countries to violate our borders and conduct strikes in our country without our permission since we seem to think its perfectly acceptable for us to do it to other countries.
All they have to do is claim they are taking out a terrorist.
If we start turning away from our founding principals then the terrorist have won because they have succeeded in changing us..
The problem is there is likely a secret agreement to allow the US to attack these groups but the Pakistan government needs to officially deny it to avoid a civil war.
Some of these comments are shocking. Kick out the UN? Military strikes by drone on foreign people in foreign lands without a declaration of war is OK?
Do you people have ANY idea of what the word CIVILIZATION means? Apparently, you will agree to anything at all if it involves getting rid of 'terrorists'.
What exactly is a terrorist anyway? A person or group who uses fear of death or injury on others to achieve a political goal. Well in that case, WE are terrorists too. We tell people "Don't mess with the USA or we will send drones to kill you". THAT IS TERRORISM. We use the fear of our military to impose our political will on other peoples. That is terrorism.
So if you really want to stop terrorism, start with your own attitudes here at home. We cannot keep control by force. It never works for long. And when it fails, it brings down the whole empire (Rome, Britain, USSR, etc...) If you don't want to destroy America, don't be a hawk. The hawks are almost never right.
@Philosopher8
"Well in that case, WE are terrorists too. We tell people "Don't mess with the USA or we will send drones to kill you". THAT IS TERRORISM"
You have an interesting definition of terrorism.... This is more similar to cold war doctrine of mutually assured destruction... If you hit us, then we will hit you.
Try to remember that the next time someone flies a plane into a building or detonates explosives in a crowd with the exclusive purpose of maximizing the body count.
Yes I know what civilization is. It ain't living in a cave, dressing little boys up like girls and corn holing them, treating women as slaves, and beheading anyone who disagrees with me, but the last one is starting to look o.k. What's your point? Right on, aaron.
"It involves the use of force on the territory of another state without its consent and is therefore a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty," he (Emmerson said in a statement issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva) said.
Did Saudis and Pakis take permission from the US, UN or anyone of these big name AHs before doing their 9/11 or any other similar terrorist activities?
Did they not violate US sovereignty or other nations' sovereignty while their pals have been doing Islamic terrorist activities?
Time has come to wind up these highly partisan one-eyed paid cheap agents of oil rich Sunni rulers, oil companies, arms industry and their lobbyists!
Aaron:
Mutually Assured Destruction is terrorism. Any application of FEAR to achieve a political goal is terrorism.
The Islamic Extremists who do this are terrorists too. The only way for them to stop is for us to stop. Since we are world leaders, we need to be leaders in this respect too.
Stonepipe:
I do not support Islam or those who abuse and oppress people in its name. None of your comment addresses anything I said. Civilization is living by a higher moral standard than an eye for an eye. I say that they are uncivilized and we are too. A civilized response is diplomacy, not war. War is uncivilized, unless you are repelling enemies within your own land. Last time I checked, Pakistan and Afghanistan are not our own lands.
Civilization has NOTHING to do with wealth, technology, or whether you live in a cave or a house. It is a code of conduct for people to transcend their animal natures.
So you see, you DON'T know what civilization is, as I thought.
One could argue that the United States is "harboring" Mexican drug cartel and gang members, and that the Mexican government therefore has a right to use drones to bomb targets in American cities. If they blow up an apartment building full of innocent people to kill one suspected drug dealer, does America have a right to complain about it? According to American logic, yes, but only if America is the victim. Otherwise, America has a right to do it to everyone else, but they have no right to complain. Does that about sum it up? It's called "American Exceptionalism," and it's evil.
what are the cards we have in front of us.. Pakistan, who is handling things in who knows what way. We cant have a show of boots on the ground other than covert spies. Afghanistan, who we are (as our government states) giving democracy, still at war with its sectarian people. The US, who says we need to keep attacking terrorists where they live.....
Then the other side of it. The government has already said at some point there will never be another 9/11, yet the drone program and the war on terror keeps on to ensure this. Drone strikes do kill the target, be it is the right target, and with civilian casualties. Terrorist are on a leash, now limited to other nations in most respect, fighting for Egypt Libya Yemen Syria and so on.
In my opinion, war is war, and its never pretty. Still rather the hit and miss lets try again till we get the target costing innocent lives, we should stop beating around the bush... if we are at war, lets get it done. stop the liberal bureaucracy and put the pedal to the metal and finish this once and for all. declare war on Pakistan or forget it. if Pakistan wants us to continue the program, publicly support it, or withdraw. Stop with the open speeches of how we violate them, and over their shoulder telling us we're doin great keep up the good work.
If this were going on in the US, it would be an act of war, and with no doubt. If Canada decided to have a drone strike in the US the chickens would never stop squawking until blood was spilled. (but never mind the drones buzzing of our heads in the US yesterday today and tomorrow)
Don't get me wrong however.. I support our government for doing the right things, just not its own things. We have the congress and the senate to handle these types of actions in making the choices on the voice of the people. (does that really happen anymore?) Before we take action, the house votes before we go into a war state of action. (except in cases like Libya, and to include the drone program in the US) The president of the US must get approval from these houses before it can act on its own accord without ignoring the will of the people. (if you believe that your on drugs) So everything the government is doing right now is perfectly fine with everyone here in the US, and anyone who complains about it is....
You have to be pretty retarded to still be talking about 9/11 to defend acts against Pakistan in 2013
Actually Micheal until we have all of those involved in 9/11 the job is not complete. You do remember over 3000 people died that day and left families broken forever right ? I for one will never forget the gut wrenching feeling of that day.
gm stonepipe
SETI has finally confirmed there are other civilizations in the universe, next to which our puny technology is revealed to be primitive. Here is the text of the first message they decoded:
aaronj:
During the Cold War, the concept of Mutual Assured Destruction( MAD) is not "If you hit us, then we will hit you.."
MAD means if one nation starts a nuke attack against another, both nations will be assured destruction from the retaliatory nuke attack. Essentially, both nations are deterred from launching a pre-emptive nuke strike as there will be no winner, only two losers.
MAD does not apply to the US Drone attacks in Pakistan. First, US drone attacks do not use nuke war heads. 2nd, Pakistan does not possess equivalent weapons for retaliatory attack. Finally, MAD does not deter USA from attacking Pakistan as measured by any metric.
US military on behalf of the American people has been slaughtering and assassinating Afghan and Pakistani civilians for nearly one decade with impunity. But for powerful US military forces around the world, key American government officials would have been arrested and tried for crimes against humanity.
To the Victor, the right to re-write history. To the powerful military, the right to kill anyone at will.
Obama must have made somoene in the U.N. mad. Bloomberg will cater to the U.N. with larger drinks just for them along with lighting their cigars. Obama's next Nobel Peace Prize is not looking too good right now.
michael: In that case, Palestinians to talk about Israel's birth must be Islamic heroin addicts.
To put your argument about one of the worst terrorist attacks (9/11), you must be one who forgets quickly when convenient.
Many Muslim liabilities and curses on earth have got these convenient memory characteristics and mindsets!
Why don't such Muslim liabilities go to one of their Muslim nations?
let's get out of the middle east entirely...problem solved...duh...
Hey, Philosopher and Noah. Last I heard, survival was the highest law. When the Pakis allow TERRORISTS to live and operate from their territory, they give up any semblance of sovereign protection. They become a terrorist state. Modify the golden rule a bit to do unto others before they do unto you when it comes to terrorists. Hiding in my home waiting for them to come to me is not my idea of intelligence. You take them out BEFORE they come to you. The U.N. has become a shell even of the old League of Nations. And yes, I would ask them to leave our shores and take the spies with you. The building could be put to far better use than a den of spies and activists for a world order. Frankly, we need to pull our troops back from places like Afghanistan and others, put them on our borders, ratchet up the nukes and tell everyone to stay the hell out. If you bother us, you will disappear. We need to not interfere in other countries at that point so no one has an excuse to even attempt to attack us. That includes the little D-head in North Korea who would soil his drawers if we even sent missiles his way. Since he's threatened us, just park a couple of missile frigates off the coast and shoot down any missile he tries to launch.
GM Bill. Are you one of the writers for the Big Bang Theory? Sounds a lot like it! Have a great day.
There are currently over 75+countries that have drones...
Mexican drones have crashed in the USA...
Israel has been exporting this technology for years, to many countries, Mexico include...
China has been exporting this technology for years to, Iran, Pakistan, Syria, etc...
"It involves the use of force on the territory of another state without its consent and is therefore a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty,"
As long as the terrorists use Pakistan as a 'sanctuary' from which to launch attacks against American troops in Afghanistan, it is obviously appropriate for Americans to strike back under the well recognized 'Doctrine of Self Defense'.
Avenger-
There were what, 22 people actually involved in the 9/11 attacks, give them another 1000 for planning, funding, etc. So far, we have lost nearly 5,000 soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and have over 40,000 casualties. With continuing this war on terror, we are adding to the "broken families." 9/11 was a horrible day, but maybe Ron Paul was right, it was an example of blow back. We had occupied lands in the middle east since Desert Storm and killed 100,000+ muslims. Our actions now are breeding more anti-American sentiment and those that are willing to cause harm to the US as retribution. They kill us because we kill them, we kill them because they kill us. That line of thinking ensures a never-ending war. Maybe we should reexamine our foreign policy.
Of course we are violating Pakistan's sovereignty we do this on a regular basis to most countries. We violated the hell out of Iraq's sovereignty by invading and conquering it just to change regimes to one that is more favorable to the US, in the name of freedom of course. Why don't we invade Saudi Arabia I think they need their share of freedom too? They have oil also that we could take away from the people and give to oil corporations.
I do object to this overused term "terrorist." This seems to be the word of choice when we want to make people identify who to hate. What happened to the tried and true word used at least as far back as the Civil War "rebel?" That word had worked well in the past to stir up emotions and reason to go to war. Besides it has a more appealing sound, more civilized.
When was the last 'terrorist' attack against the US? Benghazi. Why did that happen? Was our consulate attacked randomly, or was it a reaction to our foreign policy assisting in yet another country's leader being overthrown? We seem to do that a lot; but it's our job as Americans, right? We need to stop interfering.
Dick-
Good point. We can't use the term rebel, because that implies that people are rebelling against something. We support rebels (Egypt, Libya, Syria) because they are helping oust the leaders that we don't like. The term terrorist can be used to label those who don't agree with American policy, including our own citizens and cast them in a negative light.
REALLY????? Let's look at THEIR human rights policies (past and present) first, THEN talk about the drone attacks. Sounds a bit like the pot calling the kettle black to me.
And btw, Pakistan shelters these terrorist, albeit:
So is Pakistan for or against these "militants"? They hid Bin Laden in plain site for years and he violated the US sovereignty. So what's up Pakistan? Time to wake up and smell the 21st century and take control of your WHOLE country and not just the parts that are easy to dominate.
zapain
Yes, why question our violations while others are evil, too? We're killing people in other countries, so that's must less a violation of human rights.
Atlas, thanks for your response!
I thought that point of the US human rights violations was already clear as described in the article. Also, clear up this for me
I hate to throw this in, but the main target of the drone strikes are terrorist who plan to do harm to US citizens. The US is trying to prevent this. The terrorist hide amongst those who are innocent, however, they know who and what these people are. It's called "collateral damage". An unfortunate aspect of war. So IMHO, the innocents that are killed in the drone strikes need to heed the old saying, "You lay down with dogs, you wake up with fleas" or in this case, a Hellfire missle up your a$$.
Hummmmmmmmmmmm When are the "rational" people of the world ever gonna learn ..?
The United States doesn't have to play by the rules of law .. we know whats best for everybody .. follow our rules & you can exist on the same planet with us ... we are the Gods of this earth .. and don't forget it .......... Or You will be destroyed!
" Yea though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for I am the meanest, cruelest SOB in the valley"
A fitting attitude for a warrior ... but not for a civilized nation!
"Farewell The Rights of Man..."
Thanks for the grammar lesson, but irrelevant.
I was.
Blah, blah, blah
Sarcastically.
Like saying murder by gun is more evil than murder by knife? I think we should look at murder as murder.
I'm not implying that U.S. foreign policy is evil, I'm outright stating it.
Moonbeamracer.......I looks to me like it's a training session to get the American people used to the idea that the 'end' justifies the means so that when the same methods are applied to 'us' we'll already be of the proper mindset to 'accept' them. It's nothing new. I guess every few generations another attempt is made at world domination. For any Empire to spring up, it would need to convince the citizens of the USA first. Luckily, we still have people who understand the mindset of The Founders. But....they are starting to be replaced by reckless people who would take shortcuts around the Constitution for expediency. That opens the door to surrendering the entire document.
it seems as though if people are on the 'winning side' and we have the best team, it doesn't matter what we're playing for.
At this point I'm convinced it's not about terrorism anymore.
I can't believe the UN is telling lord Obama that he can't blow people up in other countries, hell Obama said he will blow people up in the US as well! whats the problem? shouldn't Obama be permitted to kill who he wants when he wants, didn't he win the Nobel peace prize, isn't this the liberals hero the man that can do no wrong, a Godly man, supporter of the masses, a man so great that he can tell God what to do, the very same man that is tapping Americas wealth to give to the very organization that is condemning his actions, whats with the UN? did they not get the memo from team Obama that Obama has risen to world leader and he can do as he pleases, he does not have time to play your silly game he has a world to run! my God who do these people think they are, they survive off of the US, they have there facilities in the US, well we will just have to send a few drones to Geneva and see what theythink, damn political terrorist. what happens when the rest of the world dog piles on King Obama, will we have to die for him? if we are going to do something we have to do it correctly not just step on everyone we feel is in our way,......we should leave Pakistan alone and go pick on Korea, North Korea wants to be picked on, Kim is wanting a piece of Obamas butt because Obama did not play basketball with him.
When Pakis did genocides of millions of non-Muslims during 1948-50, more than three millions (includes Muslims too) in the current Bangladesh in early 70s, and currently Shiites and Sufis, Christians and others, where were the UN and all its agencies?
Some in the UN and agencies must be treated in mental hospitals for picking on drone attacks on Islamic killers and those sheltering them.
Those sheltering the Islamic terrorists and killers can't be termed "innocents."
How do countries think they have soverinighty, when they accept the money, if you accept the money you belong to the man you accept the money from, so their loyalty goes to Obama, Obamas loyalty goes to China, just follow the money trail.
Grammar is irrelevant????? Hmmm, explains your ignorance on this topic with statements such as,
Murder is murder...no sh*t captain obvious! Obviously you didn't read the part about "collateral damage". If you were "in on it" as you claim, then you are just as responsible for the murders as the government and don't hand me the argument, "but it was my job". Been there done that. I was a US Army Ranger and "murdered" as you put it, in the name of freedom on orders from my commanders and, according to your logic, I'm a murderer too. I don't regret what I did, but I'm not exactly proud of it either in some cases.
The world is what it is. The US has deemed itself "The World Police". And just like the LAPD, we shoot first and ask questions later. That's the US official policy. If you don't like our policy, then join all the other bleeding hearts, go to Washington and let Odumbo know your opinion! And you know what they say about opinions ;)
This is mine, take it or leave. I frankly don't give a rat's furry little butt if anyone agrees or disagrees with me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion thanks to our constitution! I may not agree with someone's opinion, but I respect it no matter how ridiculous I may find it! To include your opinion.
If you don't like the US foreign policy, then 2016 is not that far off. Start your campaign now, get elected and try to change it! I wish you luck!
I would love to see the UN pack their sh*t up and leave New York. The United States has been de-stabilizing the Middle East for 60+ years now, it is time to STOP, binLaden is dead get out of there. Obama and Bush are war criminals, Obama is just a newer version of the same old crap of the "industrial/military complex" bring our troops home enough is enough, and cut off ALL AID to the Middle East.
"These proud and independent people have been self-governing for generations, and have a rich tribal history that has been too little understood in the West," AND also support terrorism, therefore to hell with them.
"Hey, Philosopher and Noah. Last I heard, survival was the highest law"
This attitude is the exact opposite of a civilized attitude. Civilization is the idea that the way we live is more important than if we live. Survival as a 'highest law' puts us on par with animals. If all you see is a fight for survival, you have an animal mindset.
If you were on the Titanic as it sunk, would you willingly allow women and children to go into the lifeboats first, or would you push them out of the way and use brute force to ensure your survival? Sounds to me like you would be punching women in the face and throwing their babies into the sea just to serve your 'Highest Law'. Shameful and cowardly is such a mindset. A civilized man would prefer to die rather than be dishonorable.
Civilized people will not do the most expedient thing to survive and prosper if it violates basic moral principles. Such principles include the idea that other people's survival and prosperity is just as important your own, so you have no right to advance yourself at the expense of others.
I know how to make millions of dollars within just a few months. But doing so would harm a lot of other people. Therefore, the civilized response is not to do it. My prosperity is not more important than their tears.
You seem to think that everybody else doesn't matter, unless they are part of your 'group'. The only true group is the entire Earth. All these artificial distinctions we make among people are all stupid and irrelevant. A human is a human, regardless of where they live, how they speak, how they pray, and who they love or hate. We are all in the same group.
Ha, ha, Pakistan's what??? Scumbags should just pull all their taxi drivers out from America and close their boarders if the think they have a right to sovereignty.
Maybe these tribal structures are being decimated because they ARE terrorists. BTW - Emmerson has long been a critic of U.S. policies.
"U.N. special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, Ben Emmerson, visited Pakistan for three days this week as part of his investigation into the civilian impact of the use of drones and other forms of targeted killings."
Oil rich Sunni rulers led by House of Saud do not permit non-Islamic religious places or holy scriptures.
At the same time, these people have been funding their Salaffi and Wahhabi mosques all over the world.
Most of these mosques have been hate preaching and killer training centres. They create unrest in places, societies and nations.
Why don't these big name p**mps of lobbyists and money bags study the impacts of these actions?
maybe that's because the US has had bad policies for a long time
What? Pakistan wants to try Obama as a war criminal?
Cmon, they gave him the Nobel Peace Prize didn't they, isn't this the peace they wanted?
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are on the map due to US and allies.
Just see how ungrateful and backstabbing Saudis and Pakis are?
Are they humans?
Yeah. We helped them discover oil and therefore we should be able to kill them whenever we want.
AtlasWillShrug: Also not permitting oil subsitutes to become popular! Here auto companies are also culprits.
Islamic bigoted beasts, who want to kill us, deserve to be eliminated right at source and before they do lots of damages.
The U.N. has really never supported the Unites States. We have caught them in so many cover-ups including the food for oil bullsh!t. WE ACTUALLY HAD ALL THE EVIDENCE IN WHICH THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE U.S. CONGRESS WITH THE AUDITS WE REQUESTED TO SEAL THE NOOSE. There have been so many exposed unlawful events from these pukes. We give these monkeys the major portion of their budget , on US land and pay for all the "extras", yet they come up with this one. How about, Pakistan harbors terrorists, Pakistan, harbored Bin Ladin, 34 of Pakistans elected "council" have sworn to "get the US out of the region, yet all these ass$holes continue to ask for our Billions, while we can't even afford to support those here who can't find a job. I say its time to finally cut our nose in spite of our face and get the UN as$holes out of New York. Let the Germans pay for it.
The purpose of the United Nations is not to promote America's interests to the exclusion of all other nations' interests. That's why it's called the United Nations (plural).
America is suffering a case of malignant narcissism.
Hell with the UN report on badly needed drone strikes.
Staff of UN and all its agencies are highly corrupt, sexual abusers and or junks of most of the nations.
They invent problems and then immediately go around with collection boxes and tours!
While meddling in Iraq and now Syria, they don't bother about "sovereignty" or any other name.
Have you seen them investigate any of the oil rich Sunni rulers led by House of Saud?
Pull out our forces, cut off all aid, throw the UN out, concentrate on America and our true friends and to hell with the rest, its that simple, take the stack of billion dollar gift cards away from the POTUS and concentrate on fixing America before we try fixing everyone else. we had a functional country once what happened.
"J.P. Dogly The purpose of the United Nations is not to promote America's interests to the exclusion of all other nations' interests. That's why it's called the United Nations (plural).
America is suffering a case of malignant narcissism."
Time for a few lesson in fact Doggie
Lesson
one - The United Nations Human Rights Council was about to vote on a report that affirmed and praised Libya and Colonel Ghaddafi for THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. The report said that the Ghaddafi government protected "not only political rights, but also economic, educational, social and cultural rights," and praised it for the nation's treatment of religious minorities, and the "human rights training" received by security forces. This report was eventually "boxed" because of the world outcry the U.N. would receive. The report was "discovered" by a french journalist and made public in Europe, yet we never heard anything here.
Lesson two - The United Nations has carried out a cover-up of the role played by its personnel in human trafficking and prostitution in Bosnia—a trade that has grown astronomically since the establishment of the Western protectorate. An American woman who served with the International Police Task Force (IPTF) in Bosnia won a case of unfair dismissal against a US State Department sub-contractor, after she was sacked
for reporting an alleged prostitution racket involving other serving officers within the United Nations.. Bolkovac, the American woman, had been posted to Sarajevo in 1999 to investigate traffic in young women from Eastern Europe who were forced into prostitution.
Lesson three - Before and after the January 12 earthquake that devastated Haiti, the country was cholera-free — it never appeared on the global list of countries contaminated by cholera. That all changed in mid-October of the same year when a cholera outbreak was registered in the lower Central Plateau. The outbreak was pinpointed to the source to the Nepalese base of United Nations Mission (MINUSTAH) in Haiti. Photos and video evidence show a truck from the Nepalese MINUSTAH base dumping sewage into a
tributary of the Artibonite River in Mirebalais. Sewage traveled 400m and contaminated the Artibonite — a major source of clean water for the Central Plateau and the Artibonite areas. It was also discovered that the toilets in the Nepalese base in Mirebalais were connected to a tributary connected to the Artibonite. The video shows UN Nepalese soldiers making a hasty effort to close the drains without notifying Haitian authorities. In the video, the efforts to contain the spill appeared to be a cover up. A cholera outbreak started in Kathmandu a couple weeks before the Nepalese contingency arrived in Haiti and furthermore,
the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) determined that the current cholera strain was most similar to a cholera strain from South Asia. The United Nations has denied any connection to the spread of the cholera bacteria and launched its own internal investigation. Many observers in Haiti were outraged that the UN
thought it could serve as both judge and jury raising questions about how they would hold themselves accountable if their findings confirmed that the source of the outbreak was a UN base. Although the was video evidence, the U.N. swept this under the carpet , none of the senior U.N. personnel ever were disciplined.
Lesson four - Iraqs Oil-for-food program. The Security Council started the oil-for-food program in December 1996 to enable Iraq to sell oil to ease the impact of the sanctions imposed after the Persian Gulf war in 1991. The proceeds were to go to the purchase of food and other goods. Sales reached $67 billion by the time the program ended a year ago with the invasion of Iraq. Evidence emerged in documents and statements from former Iraqi ministers that showed that the program quickly evolved into an open bazaar of payoffs, favoritism and kickbacks with systematic smuggling, illegal surcharges and inflated port charges and lax, if any, official oversight. Apparent violations were referred to the United Nations sanctions committee, a panel that reviewed contracts with an eye only toward preventing Iraq from acquiring items that might have military uses. It was later determined that much of the money ended up in the hands of U.N. representatives. The U.S. congress forced the U.N. representatives to a congressional hearing requesting the audits, as the U.S. government had everything else it needed, yet the U.N. ignored the requests and the rest was covered up.
Lesson five - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon fired the top American diplomat at the United Nations in Afghanistan, Peter Galbraith. Galbraith had accused his boss at the UN mission in Afghanistan, Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide, of helping cover up electoral fraud and being biased in favor of Hamid Karzai. Galbraith has described the Afghan election as a "foreseeable train wreck" and says the election "handed the Taliban its greatest strategic victory in eight years of fighting the United States and its Afghan partners." Eide finally admitted to some fraud but added that the expected audit would ultimately lead to a, quote, "credible and legitimate result." The audit was never done and the U.N. covered this one up.
Lesson six - UN accused of cover up of Zimbabwe cholera. The UN dispute tribunal in Nairobi, Kenya, in effect found that UN bosses did not want to upset the government of Robert Mugabe, and did not act on warnings by a senior member of its staff. One hundred thousand people caught the disease. Months before the outbreak of the cholera epidemic in 2008, which coincided with a time of heightened political tensions in Zimbabwe, Georges Tadonki, the then head of the UN humanitarian office in Zimbabwe, warned his
superiors of the severe risks, but no action was taken. A United Nations investigation reached a damning verdict on its own humanitarian operation, accusing it of "managerial ineptitude, high handed conduct and bad faith." The findings refer to its operations during a Cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe that started in 2008 and claimed more than 4,000 lives. One needs to note that the investigation was forced through political means and the European courts. The investigation had not been initiated until this pressure was finally put on the U.N.
Lesson seven - UNITED NATIONS - Despite an internal U.N. memo which admitted to a 20 percent loss in aid money incurrency exchanges required by Myanmar's government which led to an admission
of over $10 million in losses, the UN cut its losses to $1.5 million, then refused to explain. The UN Development Program has for weeks refused todisclose how much money it converted in Myanmar, nor in which other of the 160countries it does business in its loses money in government-required
conversions. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, similarlydeclined to provide information about any other countries. As is too frequentin the UN, exposure of a problem has been followed not by reform but by cover-up and stonewalling.
Knowing a great deal about the United Nations helps me stay objective when they "issue reports, unlike you Doggie, whoobviously makes your comments without any factual base. Get an education then get your facts (I can't say straight because you don't start with facts). Hope I
threw you a big enough doggie bone!
The locals are upset because their favorite uncle was killed while he was planning a terror strike. The sovereignity of a country that not only harbors and trains terrorists but helps promote international terrorism was violated. Ok. And?
Maybe if they joined the 21st century and stopped killing in the name of religion there would be no need for a preemptive strike.
You are right and it applies to all those with closed mindsets.
Most of the Islamists, especially Sunni ones, believe and practice one-way traffic.
These seventh century desert mindset barbarians imagine that they are too smart.
Just carpet bomb the most troublesome Paki Islamist areas.
These Paki Islamists are responsible for half of NATO forces deaths!
Jonathan-19822062,
You paint the world with a very wide paint brush, you comments reek of prejudice "Most of the Islamists" you must have empirical data to support you claim as that is how civilized and educated societies present their case, How many of the 1.2 Billion Muslims are to be held accountable for 9/11. Your word "Paki Islamists" are nauseating at the least, your comments "just carpet bomb" shows your twisted state of mind. You take 9/11 as the day poor United States of America got attacked everything is date stamped after that event ever since……ever wonder what was happening in the world before that day…perhaps you need to think a bit more and type less, judging by the rate of your comments you don’t have a life…traumatic childhood I say... I sincerely hope there are better humans out there....?
Its people like you when it suits them use UN as their shield, going around the world enforcing sanctions or Iran, North Korea….and revolt when something does not go their way…killing of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers…Killing innocent civilians in Pakistan by drones…you subscribe to justice…as you private little mistress and for Americans ONLY exclusive club…GROW UP BOY…you sound like a Horses Rear end.
Dan: How many Muslim nations are running well?
Are the Muslims not killing each other in Pakistan, Yemen, Mali, Syria and other Muslim majority nations.
I can write a detailed post on Pakis killing each other in the name of sects and tribes. It will be too much.
Yes, Pakis have a special place as they are involved in terrorist actions and plots in many nations including the US.
Many Paki Islamic heroin addicts are not acting like humans but seventh century desert barbarians.
You consider all laws and fairness and other issues, while dealing with humans.
YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE LIMITS TO PEOPLE TAKING CRAPS IN THE NAME OF RELIGION!
IT IS NOT ONE-WAY WORLD FOR LONG!
Dan: Since Pakistan, a pure Islamic nation was invented, Pakis have killed millions in the name of religion, sect and tribes.
In Bangladesh itself in 1970s, more than three millions innocents were killed.
All cheap partisan UN and its agencies were dead silent or hiding in House of Sauds' harems!
In drone attacks, a few thousands of terrorists and their hosts are killed. How those who shelter Paki Islamic killers be termed innocents?
The Islamic extremist Frankenstein monsters have started backstabbing big time the inventers of Pakistan, British, and the masters (US and allies) who kept them alive.
In most of the Islamic terrorism and plots in the US, Britain, Europe and other places, Pakis have a hand.
Half of NATO forces deaths in Afghanistan are due to Pakis.
Before followers of Islamic cult set their feet on Afghan and Paki regions, these regions were quite peaceful and prosperous.
Once the cancer of Islam gradually got control of the region, those regions have become raping, stealing, looting and killing fields.
In Afghanistan, Paki proxies Taliban did not even tolerate Buddha’s statue in Bamiyan.
Many Paki areas and some Afghan areas have become breeding and exporting centers for illegal activities including drugs growing and trading and export of Islamic radicals and terrorists all over the world.
British invented Pakistan in 47 and Pakistan is supposed to be a pure Islamic nation. In Pakistan, it was massive genocides of minorities in between 48-50.
Percentages of Hindus and Sikhs were reduced from about 24 percent less than three years by rapes, stealing, lootings, terrorizing and killing on a massive scale.
Paki Islamic religious madness did not end there.
Sunni Pakis are after Ahmedias, Sufis (fake love and dance Islamic soap opera people), Shiites (20 percent), Hazaras, and Baloochs and other minority sects/tribes.
Shiites, Sufis, Ahmedias and other minority sects/tribes people are blown up while they pray in their mosques on Fridays. And even hospitals are bombed to kill those injured.
Look: who are talking about drone attacks!
Some Paki Islamic trouble spots deserve carpet bombings just like 1991 Iraqi war for world peace and economic stability.
Osama is gone so are his Captains, time to leave, truth is they are so backwards in that region we will never be able to fix it just let it go. cut them off they will settle down and then the Packi government can build them up, they need roads not drones.
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I don't care one iota what some windbag in the dramatic theater known as the "United Nations" has to say.
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Of course not. You're an American. But read your own statement back to yourself, and may you will realize that that's why other nations are becoming increasingly less supportive of your country.
so JP..the UN is to represent and protect all nations "except" the US of America..is that what you're saying?Cause that's exactly what it seems like you're saying.
The 'windbags' in the UN are the main defense humanity has against war. Maybe you forgot how horrible war is even when you win? Or, looking at your avatar, maybe you are one of those guys who got to wear the cool leather jacket and drop bombs on people from 8 miles up, fearing only MiGs. Spend some time at ground level to really know what war is like - I don't think you really know even if you were in Vietnam. You sure don't sound like a real combat vet. They don't want to do it again, or have their sons do it again.
'My Country - Right or Wrong' is the surest path to destruction for everybody. The attitude I see here is very similar to how European people felt in 1914 as they threw themselves voluntarily into the abyss over pride.
strange how when it comes right down to it..the US devotes the majority of troops experience and aid to nations when they're in "need"..not the UN
lets face it for the last 20 years the UN has been a theory..a theory used by third world countries to propagate their sophism and climb up the ladder of world recognition while secretly plotting to manipulate themselves onto the world stage.
If the UN would like to do something about it ...have at it.. I doubt they would last 1 month without US to aid them.
As austerity measures, it is better to close highly partisan, corrupt and tax guzzling UN and all its agencies.
Did the pass any resolutions on 9/11?
Yes, and let's discuss how successful the UN has been in 'keeping the peace' since 1945.
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Really, Useless Nations??? Really, Ben Emmerson???
Where the hell have you people been when all of the other human rights violations have been taking place??? Recent violations!!! Like, just in the last week maybe!!!
uuuhhhh...lemme see now...oh, yeah...the soldier and young girl who were in love...he was stoned to death and she was to be shot.
eeerrrr...how about the Christian community who had their homes burned down - didn't it affect about 200 citizens - their Churches violated, etc., all fueled over alleged remarks by some drunks???
mmm...what about the continuous abuses and murders of Hazaras???
Kidnapping, rape, murder, false accusations, criminal activities in general are all a part of the Pakistani tradition. Maybe the Useless Nations can go to another country and try to stir things up where they actually have laws against such crimes as these.
Better yet, can we please stop funding this money pit known as the Useless Nations and spend the money on something worthwhile???
Bingo and GM Chef. Come up to Minnesota and I will show you how to grill the worlds best steak. :)
GM stonepipe!!!
i love ♥ grilled steaks but hate Minnesota weather. darn it!!! you'll have to take a Florida vakay sometime and bring your steak recipe along!!! ☺
press the ALT key and the number 1 key on the keypad at the same time. (the numbered part of the keyboard on the right side.)
GM Chef! Now on your smiley face for a dummy lesson last week you forgot to tell me you had to do it at the same time! O.K. 1 DOH! It did not work! And just so you know I don't have a heart key either! Great to "see" you and don't forget we have two seasons here, colder than Hell and hotter than Hell. Peace, I had a 20 hr. day, slammed a vodka ice and am headed to bed. Thanks.
GM again. Now just when I thought I had things figured out I step into the Matrix one more time. When I see Chefaz I assume you are a Chef-as in cooking-and you live in Arizona. So I am wrong one more time.
Oh, on the RIGHT side. ☺ Whooppie! ☻ 3 ♦ ♣ ♠ 7 â—˜ 9 Magic!
i'm sorry stonepipe. it's a common mistake that everyone makes and one that i hadn't considered when creating the handle. have never lived in AZ and have never worked as a chef although i am a pretty good cook.
on another note...YOWZAH and WTG!!!
☺ ☻ ☺ ☻ ☺ ☻ ☺
National sovereignty exists only so far as a Nation demostrates by direct action the willingness to apply both national and international legal and judical control over its regional space and population. Nation States, such as the USA, all reserve the right to intervene when a host nation abrogrates its legal responsibilities and a void in legal application exists. This concept predates the UN and has been the standard in international affairs since the dawn of time. I merely offer Stephen Decatur and the US Marines in action against the pirates of Tripoli in 1804.
The Mexican drug war has resulted in over 50,000 people dying to supply America with Illegal drugs. The cartels are constantly fighting for the best drug smuggling routes into the U.S. If our borders were secure, hence no drug smuggling routes over the border to fight over, tens of thousands of people wouldn't be dying in Mexico every year.
What about the 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. because our immigration laws are not effectively enforced?
Does it sound like the U.S. has legal and judicial control over its regional space?
How about Fast and Furious and the ATF allowing 2,000 guns to walk into Mexico into the hands of the Drug cartels? Couldn't someone claim they are aiding and abetting terrorist organizations?
By your reasoning the U.S. has abrogated its responsibility to keep control of its space and does not have sovereignty therefore any nation should be able to just come on in and intervene.
Yes, it has existed since the dawn of time. Barbarism has existed, and continues to exist, since the dawn of time.
Is that a good reason to continue doing the stupid things our stupid ancestors did? I think not.
What you are describing is imperialism, not nationalism. A power vaccuum is a justification for intervention? Preposterous. Exactly who decides if a nation has 'abrogated its legal responsibilities'? The invaders? That means that Nazi Germany was justified in reconquering Czechoslovakia and Poland because their very existence was (to the Germans) a violation of the rights of German people stripped of their nationhood and national rights by Versailles.
That is why the UN was created. Duh. The exact freaking reason. And somehow, you can't see it. Now that WE are the aggressors, somehow our tune is changed.
We look like fools. Even Afghanistan wants us to leave. Just GTFO and let them settle it.
read these comments, we are fools
Let us put the shoe on the other foot.
What about when some other nation is using drones to eliminate a person(s)/organization that they consider a terrorist in the US?
Don't forget just about every other nation in the world is getting drones. If not then the Russians or China or Israel will be glad to sell the to you
Going to be fun sitting on the side line IF you do have the opportunity to sit on the side line.
That requires a great number of very strange assumptions about what's going on it the US.
First, that there would be people living here that the "aggressor nation" wants to drone strike that we agree are terrorists but won't take any action against. It would suggest that there are regions in the US that the federal government doesn't even have token control over, and that we don't simply refuse to allow it and shoot the drones down wherever they come into our country.
You can try to put the shoe on the other foot, but it just doesn't fit. Honestly if America were that dysfunctional, I'm not sure it would matter much to me if some other country were launching missiles in some tribal backwater that happened to lie within our arbitrary national boundaries.
Eric Holder, in his e-mail to congress, justifying the use of drone strikes against U.S. citizens abroad, said they don't have to have proof or prove an eminent threat to the U.S., just a suspicion.
If we can justify a strike without any proof, why should another country have to live up to a higher standard than the U.S's, if some country decides to strike someone in the U.S.?
the un does not have our best interst at heart. in the new age of global conflict, we have to be proactive. sorry if it sounds mean. but it is the new reallity
Rather the rags die than anymore of us
Did the UN say anything about launching helicopter raids into Pakistan to capture and/or kill nasty people secretly living there? Does that violate Pakistan's sovereignty? It would be SO awful if it did.
tell the UN to go and F**** it self Pakistan is hiding these animals
The CIA’s drone campaign in Pakistan has killed dozens of civilians who had gone to help rescue victims or were attending funerals, an investigation by the Bureau for the Sunday Times has revealed...
reference - .thebureauinvestigates.com/2012/02/04/obama-terror-drones-cia-tactics-in-pakistan-include-targeting-rescuers-and-funerals/
These tactics are against many US Laws, Presidential EOs, International Laws and the Geneva Conventions...
Drones save US Troops lives when operated by the Military. While the Military is held ACCOUNTABLE for INNOCENTS being killed, the CIA is NOT...
Return ACCOUNTABILITY to the people that use these weapons systems and hold the Policy makers ACCOUNTABLE...
The pakistanis are violating sovereign afhganistan with cross border infiltrations so why can't the u.s do the same. If anybody says that there are no enemy combatants crossing over is a liar. And if we had guys sneaking in from alaska to russia doing raids and killing people I hope the russians would home alaska as the source.
Then shouldn't that be an issue between the Afghans and Pakistanis and not the U.S's.?
Are the Pakistanis crossing the U.S. border and performing attacks in the U.S.?
If we truly achieved energy independence, didn't need any oil or anything else from the Middle East, then would we really give a rats ass what they do to each other?
If we weren't constantly intervening in their affairs, preventing them from fighting each other in their tribal wars, then they would be fighting each other, instead of focusing on us.
It is their culture to be fighting some war, some Gihad, and when we prevent them from fighting each other were does there aggression turn to, the ones preventing them from living their way of life.
Not the point all wars are useless to ordinary people fought by corporations. Im just saying the u.s is in afghanistan fighting a war so afhganistan while they are there is their sovereign territory. Using rules like it pakistani territory is crap just like sovereign cambodia was in vietnam, palestine isreal. Fight the enemy where ever you find them borders dont mean sh it . It means the country cant deal with the enemy in there own country or they are protecting them even supporting them. Imagine you could hire mercenaries to take a nuclear weapon into moscow denonate it but then say the russians dont have a right to retaliate against the states. No all wars have to be fought Ghengis khan style kill every man woman and child and occupy the land. If you can't stomach that then do not go to war. The citizens would turn on the terrorists pretty fast if they all knew they were targeted too. But im just talking miltary tactics. I agree all wars are about money power rich men wars where the poor suffer. Always been that way. Make war so horrible that no one will allow it.
Emmerson is the oh so typical mouthpiece for the UN. Blame the US for not waiting for the idiots to kill a bunch of us before filing a complaint with the UN. And tell me again about the rich tradition (of murder) they have over there......
This is what I find ironic....here in the western world folks want LAWS upheld, why because we are nations of LAWS. The difficult part is, countries in the third/second worlds do not have the the resources to up hold thier own laws. However you don't see these same folks screaming bloody murder about crimes against humanity when organizations utilize these weak countries to obtain thier political objectives.......this is nuts!.......to hell with the U.N. better to kill them there, then have them kill us here.......almost 3000 Americans Died, of all colors and faith on Sept. 11th....least not it happen again.......Good for you President Bush and President Obama!......this independant will fully support your actions to help keep America safe. Even if it means GOING AGAISNT the U.N.........
Oh and to the countries the intiated inquiry, Pakaistan, China and Russia.....well at least to China and Russia, I still have no doubt who are Geo-Political Foes are!
I saw a documentary a couple of weeks ago on the inventor of the first versions of the drones, Abraham Karem, which later evolved into Predator drones ,etc. When he invented the drones they were meant for surveillance so that men wouldn't be putting their lives at risk such as the case with U2 and SR71 spy planes. When asked about them becoming weaponized he said he never envisioned them being armed and seemed quite disgusted whenever they asked him about them becoming armed and evolving into armed weapons of war.
He created the drones to save lives not to be weapons to take lives.
War is supposed to be messy and vile, something every country wants to try and avoid, because you see the destruction and horror. When it becomes to easy to conduct war by remote control, you don't see the death and destruction of war, using drones, tomahawk missiles, guided missiles 25,000 feet in the air, just like you are playing a video game, and you don't have to see and experience the horror, it becomes to easy to conduct war without having to think about the consequences of your actions.
Making war safer and easier to conduct is just making it that much easier for Politicians and Countries to Justify using military action because they don't have to experience the horror of it instead of trying to avoid it at all costs.
Just look at what happened in Libya. The U.S. was so proud that we intervened, used our technology to enforce a no fly zone and topple Qaddafi's regime, without a single U.S. boot on the ground, the new way to conduct war.
Country receiving millions of dollars of aid is violated by country funding them.
In other news, humans are f*cking stupid.
UN troops, heading your way soon.... want your sons home now? Sorry, all ya get is gang bangers and Malita's; your change is coming!
"These proud and independent people have been self-governing for generations, and have a rich tribal history that has been too little understood in the West."
If Pakistan does not govern or even attempt to govern these areas in the FATA then they are NOT "Federally Administered," and they are therefore NOT Pakistani territory. Since it is not Pakistani territory it is impossible for us to be violating their sovereignty by operating there.
Not that the above reasoning is all that important since, if you support people that have sworn to kill my friends and family by giving them a safe haven in which to train for the job, supply them with food, money, and weapons, let them recruit YOUR children into their cause, then you are AT BEST an enemy non-combatant. I don't give a damn if you're actively shooting the gun or just communally helping others to do so, you need your "tribal structures" shattered and the faster we can kill you the sooner my friends and family need not worry about you and we can bring our people home. You want us to stop targeted killings in your home, then take out those folks walking around your community planning to hit my home instead of treating them like honored guests! It's not like you don't know who they are.
Bravo Bob; well stated!
Your picture looks like a Nazi. If it is a joke, then that is one thing I suppose, but if I'm actually drawing Kudos from Nazis I may have to rethink my position!
Bob; that is an English actor... you may know him as Charlie Chaplin, and he is at home right there; doing his thing! Controversial then... and apparently now as well! Anti, and a big middle finger at the fuhrer...
Sovereignty? That bass-awkward country can't even control its own tribal areas or borders. Stop funding the place already.
This @!$%# is just UNacceptable! What was Truman thinking? RIP Patton & MacArthur! We know, we know...
As the world was told after 911 ... if they're in your country get rid of 'em cause we're coming after 'em. It's obvious who's against us by allowing these bastards to stay and thrive in their countrys. Kill 'em all and let God sort them out.
Funny they are still right where they started no?
Bin Ladin is dead no thanks to our so called friend Pakistan,I say np we will stay out of their lands and so will our foriegn Aid.Although we have politicians who really love giving away money that doesn't belong to them.I say end all foriegn aid and no f16/tanks for egypt either.
We will not give in to terrorists... what ever happened to that @!$%#?