In a Pickle

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`Commentary Too` - Jul 26, 2006 - `Printable Version`
- In a Pickle
by Down the Middle

     Tuesday, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan demanded an investigation into what he termed, “the deliberate targeting” of four U.N. observers, initially reported as “four killed” but later qualified as “two killed and two missing”, on the U.N. Peacekeepers’ “Blue Line”, in southern Lebanon.

     The observers were killed when their position was hit by an Israeli air strike, becoming the first fatalities of fourteen reported “close call” incidents of “purposeful targeting” lodged against the IDF, all within the same day. The U.N. claims to have been in direct communication with IDF forces, concerning the exact location this of U.N. observation post and said the observation post had been “clearly marked”, while late reports say that the particular munition used in the strike was a GBU, laser guided bomb.

     The Israeli Ambassador announced that an investigation was already underway but vehemently denied that IDF forces were targeting any UNIFIL outposts and strongly objected to the “premature” accusations, levied by Annan, an experienced and seasoned diplomat.

     China has now confirmed that one of the peacekeepers killed was of Chinese nationally, while other reports have one Chinese, one Finnish, one Canadian and one Austrian soldier listed among the U.N. dead.

     The news of the peacekeepers’ death, reminded me a of a little-known confrontation, in 1982’s “Operation Peace of the Galilee”, between the IDF and a contingent of U.N. Peacekeeping “Gurkhas” {No, I’m not talking pickles, here}, assigned to guarding a bridge spanning the Litani River.

     As the entire northern army of the IDF attacked in force, with three major thrusts along the U.N. Blue Line, the small outpost, manned by a token force Gurkha infantry was suddenly faced with an Israeli armored column of more than one hundred tanks and armored personnel carriers.

     The Israeli brigade commander, mindful of the delicate international situation but also determined to fulfill his orders for a quick penetration into Lebanon, demanded that the Gurkhas step aside and let the armor column proceed across the bridge.

     Three times, the brigade commander stepped forward to order the Gurkhas off the bridge, threatening to attack if they refused…and three times, the Gurkhas refused to abandon their post, subjecting themselves to certain death, rather than deny the fearless reputation of the Gurkha fighter.

     Finally, the Israeli commander moved his forces a mile downstream, where his engineers erected a pontoon bridge by which the armor column belatedly crossed the river.

     The vastly outnumbered Gurkhas never surrendered their position and lived to tell about it.

     With the death toll of civilians far outrunning IDF “kills” of Hezbollah guerillas coupled with the mounting claims of deliberate targeting of U.N. Peacekeepers, Israel may soon be finding itself “in a pickle” of negative international opinion toward “Operation Just Cause”, Israel’s assault into southern Lebanon to rout out Hezbollah guerillas from the Bekaa Valley.

     As in all major wars of the last century, three times the number of civilians are losing their lives, compared to the combined number of combatants from both sides. Such is the indiscriminant nature of modern warfare …and such is the nature of this “just cause”.

                                             “Just Cause”

     Amid a vengeful chorus of “Allah Akbar” comes a whining “whoosh” of the rocket, leaving its launch tube. Miles away, the anxious wail of sirens scatter the rocket’s frightened, intended victims, none knowing a safe course to flee. Then comes the hard “bang” of the exploding warhead, indiscriminately flinging ball bearing size shot in all directions. Another katyusha …more screaming dismemberment.

     The thunderous pounding of Rochev {Rider} and Doher {Galloper} self-propelled 155mm Howitzers reply to the intrusion. You hear the sky ripping, above and strain your eyes to see the F-16, wondering if it will spare your family, taking someone else’s instead.

     The ferocious Merkavas, once resigned to pawing and snorting, at the border are now lunging toward their prey…but the rabbit holes of the Hizb Allah (Party of God) are deep and the RPG (rocket propelled grenade) is still the insurgents broadsword, against the fire-breathing dragons.

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Commentary Too - Jul 26, 2006 - Printable Version- In a Pickle by Down the Middle

`Commentary Too` - Jul 26, 2006 - `Printable Version`
- In a Pickle
by Down the Middle