snapped shot - Untied Nations

UNRWA: Equal-Opportunity Employers

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:23:37 -0500

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has apparently taken diversity in hiring to astounding new levels... by extending employment opportunities to open terrorists:

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- One person was killed and three were wounded Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike targeting a metal shop in Rafah, according to Palestinian security and medical sources.

A Palestinian inspects a car that was hit in an Israeli missile strike in Rafah earlier this month.

Israel Defense Forces confirmed the airstrike.

The person killed was the deputy commander of the Islamic Jihad military wing, according to the Palestinian sources, who said he also served as a school headmaster at a United Nations Relief and Works Agency school.

Aussie Dave has more on this story, and the only appropriate headline, over at his hip pad.

WHO: Israel Doesn't Sacrifice Enough

nospam@example.com (DMartyr) — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:56:19 -0500

Israel has always acted in a humanitarian manner. Their hospitals treat all patients equally, without consideration to their nationality, culture, or political background. A terrorist is treated the same as a terrorism victim.

Brigitte Gabriel, who was born and raised in Lebanon, wrote about her first experience at an Israeli hospital:

For the first time in my life I experienced a human quality that I know my culture would not have shown to their enemy. I experienced the values of the Israelis, who were able to love their enemy in their most trying moments.

I spent 22 days at that hospital. Those days changed my life and the way I believe information, the way I listen to the radio or to television. I realized I was sold a fabricated lie by my government, about the Jews and Israel, that was so far from reality.

I knew for fact that, if I was a Jew standing in an Arab hospital, I would be lynched and thrown over to the grounds, as shouts of joy of Allah Akbar, God is great, would echo through the hospital and the surrounding streets.

Continue reading "WHO: Israel Doesn't Sacrifice Enough"

Uninvolved Indeed

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 20:18:00 -0600

Here's a really amusing shot, courtesy Atlas. Of course, it's not entirely accurate to say that the UN is doing nothing in Africa:—They've got some things down to a science.

UNintentionally funny?

Just for the record, there's a really good chance—as in I'm 99.999999% sure—that the image is Photoshopped. I don't recall UN blue-helmets having big, bold "UN" text on them... or at least, not on the front.

It's still funny, though—even if it is totally fake.

Thus are the joys of modern technology.

UNICEF Cares

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:05:41 -0600

The UNICEF Photo of the Year has been announced, and I couldn't possibly think of something more appropriate. Recall that the agency has tasked itself with—and is held responsible for—the well-being of children around the world. Check out how UNICEF decides to illustrate this calling:

U.S. freelance photographer Stephanie Sinclair poses with her winning photo of the 'UNICEF Photo of the Year 2007' competition in Berlin, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 17, 2007. The photograph shot by U.S. freelance photographer Stephanie Sinclair shows a wedding couple in Afghanistan who could not be more opposite. The groom, Mohammed, looks much older than his 40 years. The bride, Ghulam, is still a child; she just turned 11. Stephanie Sinclair works as a freelance photographer based in Beirut, Lebanon. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

What better way to care for the well-being of children than by celebrating the forced marriage of an 11-year-old girl to a man over 30 years her senior, right?

Good thing the ~~United~~ Untied Nations still has its priorities in order.

Update: Heh, okay—so it's only appropriate that I can take a bit of schadenfreude myself, considering how much I dish out.

When I originally posted this article, the UNICEF press release covering this award didn't seem to be online yet, so I was only able to go by the Associated Press' somewhat blasé caption. Upon reading the actual press release (I linked it down in the comments thread), I do have to admit:—UNICEF is not at fault here. They really are trying to illustrate a problem that affects children.

So, with all that being said, I do apologize for the hasty conclusion, and hope that y'all can forgive the mistake. I'm still unhappy with the AP's description of the photograph, but hey, I really can't blame that on UNICEF for a change. Thanks to those of you who challenged me on this—I look forward to seeing y'all again the next time I bring up problems with the UN. And to those of you who are on the same side of "The UN Question" that I am, keep your eyes peeled. The organisation has plenty of dirt to go around.

Alas, it looks like this one's aimed at me for a change. Nuts:

Ha ha!

Theo Spark on Transnationalism

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 07:50:09 -0500

Theo Spark, whom I admire deeply, is calling for the United States to join the British Commonwealth.

While I think some alternative to the United Nations needs to be found, from what I've seen of Commonwealth policy, it is no less mired in the doctrines of politically-correct trans-nationalism than the United Nations is. Furthermore, its structure is one of more egalitarian nature, wherein the members of small ex-Colonies have the same voice and say as larger, more established nations, such as Canada, Australia, and even the Mother of Nations herself.

No, I don't think it's really the best idea to join ourselves to yet another transnational organisation. But I do think it might be time that we start thinking about how we would do things on our own again.

Time for the Commonwealth to stand up and be counted…

… and for the US to join it.

The Commonwealth is a cosy little club, made up of what was the British empire,which meets every four years for the Global equivalent of the Village sports Day. It comprises 53 Nations containing a population of nearly 2 billion. Apart from the UK, other leading members are Australia, Canada, India and South Africa. It devotes much of it’s time to good works involving Democracy, Economics, Education and other worthy causes. What it doesn’t do is peacekeeping. It is about time that it started.

Worse than Useless

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Tue, 29 May 2007 13:15:13 -0500

In Brian's Grand Scheme of Things (patent pending), being used as a propaganda tool doesn't rank as a very intelligent thing to do. Oh and also, the EU is about 20 rungs down from the ~~United~~ Useless Nations.

European Parliament President Hans-Peter Poetering, center, is escorted by bodyguards as he walks past next to a section of Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank town of Bethlehem Monday, May 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)

You notice how our intrepid photographer managed to conceal the blatantly anti-American propaganda on the wall with a conveniently placed head or two?
Continue reading "Worse than Useless"

Useless Nations

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Thu, 24 May 2007 22:21:56 -0500

... it turns out that the UN is good at enabling terrorists, too. I'm sure the Lebanese government appreciates their efforts.

Why do we continue to pour billions of dollars into that Turtle Bay quagmire again?