UN Shocked–Shocked!–to Find Arms Smuggling
The United Nations is worse than useless.
But you knew that, didn’t you?
Lebanon regularly reports arms being smuggling into the country from Syria but the authorities are treading softly due to their fragile political situation, a senior UN Envoy said on Monday.
Government officials have informed the United Nations of smuggling as recently as “The last few weeks,†although they are providing no information on the quantities or types of arms being secreted across the border, said Terje Roed-Larsen, the top UN Diplomat on Lebanese ties with Syria.
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“Generally speaking, the situation in Lebanon is worrisome,†Roed-Larsen said. “The political rhetoric shows that there are very high tensions, and I think we have to look at the situation in Lebanon with all caution.â€
Syria acknowledges there might be smuggling but insists the border is porous and very difficult to control, he said.
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Roed-Larsen praised Lebanon’s efforts to end the smuggling by deploying soldiers along the border with Syria and in southern Lebanon, where Hizbullah guerrillas are active.
“I think the government of Lebanon is doing its very best to stop the transport of weapons across the border,†he said. “If this is sufficient, only time can show.â€
No, time has already shown it is not sufficient. And Israel can’t wait forever:
Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz told a parliamentary committee two weeks ago, “If it turns into a steady occurrence, we will deal with the smuggling ourselves.â€