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You realize your post was from two weeks ago while the fighting is still ongoing! Why send peacekeepers in now?
Do you even know who UN peacekeepers are? Countries have a long history of emptying their jails and placing their convicts into the role of UN peacekeepers.
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In the Central African Republic, where the UN turned a blind eye to sex crimes and sought to silence accusers and a whistle-blower, allegations have skyrocketed. As reported in March by Code Blue – a global campaign by AIDS-Free World to end impunity for sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeeping personnel – in The new UN peacekeeper sex abuse numbers no one noticed, the gender violence has increased.
When there are no or minimal consequences for misbehaviour, it’s unsurprising that crimes increase. The situation has become so dire and urgent that the UN recently undertook special efforts, including establishing an independent review panel that published a report, Taking Action on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Peacekeepers,in December 2015, which stated: ‘the UN must recognise that sexual violence by peacekeepers triggers its human rights mandate to protect victims, investigate, report and follow-up on human rights violations, and to take measures to hold perpetrators accountable.’ It also appointed a special coordinator to improve the UN response to the issue. Further, the Secretary-General issued a report in February 2016 on special measures for protecting and preventing sexual exploitation and abuse.
On 11 March 2016, the Security Council adopted its first ever resolution focused solely on addressing sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers.
SC Resolution 2272 expresses ‘deep concern about the serious and continuous allegations and under-reporting of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers and non-UN forces, including military, civilian and police personnel’. It notes that it is the primary responsibility of troop-contributing countries to investigate and prosecute, where appropriate, their nationals accused of these offences.
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In the resolution, Member States are called upon to investigate and hold perpetrators accountable, and to repatriate units ‘when there is credible evidence of widespread or systemic sexual exploitation or abuse’; they are urged to take ‘concrete steps aimed at preventing and combating impunity’ for these crimes. Troop-contributing countries are urged to investigate allegations expeditiously and to hold accountable their nationals responsible, and further to report to the UN on actions undertaken. However, urging individual countries to carry out criminal sanctions warranted under their national laws is insufficient and has proved to be elusive.
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Kevin Sieff of the The Washington Postreported in February 2016 that a 14-year-old girl who is raising a baby boy born of abuse by a peacekeeper, confided, ‘sometimes when I’m alone with my baby, I think about killing him. He reminds me of the man who raped me’. Known as ‘peacekeeper babies’ some are conceived through rape, others exploitation, as peacekeepers offer the beleaguered and poor basic necessities or a few dollars in exchange for sex. Dave Bryan of the Associated Press reported in April of this year that 11 Tanzanian peacekeepers face paternity claims for sexual exploitation and abuse committed in the Congo.
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Gang rape, child and baby rape, prostitution and sex trafficking rings, paedophilia, sexual predators, murder, theft -- the allegations of abuses by peacekeepers and peacekeeping staff have continued unabated for years. Although the UN has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards sexual violence, actions speak far louder than words. When ongoing, consistent impunity is the norm, and accountability the rare exception, troops and UN staff hear loud and clear that they can exploit and abuse without repercussion. Merely being sent home – which many fervently want anyway – is insufficient sanction. Moreover, repatriation occurs after the allegations are substantiated, and if not properly investigated or taken seriously, that does not happen.
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The UN’s ongoing, long-term failure to prevent and ensure punishment of human rights violations -- much less horrific crimes -- committed by its troops and staff acting under its authority is huge. The challenges are immense and the solutions daunting. Nonetheless, after decades of sexual exploitation and violence committed by UN troops and civilian staff, impunity must finally, mercifully end.
I didn't realize that Russian arms sales have been in steep decline for a decade already. A 26% decline is awful. Their share of world arms sales is shrinking rapidly. This war is an embarrassment to Russia and will likely lead to further declines.
I don't see how Russia recovers from this debacle. The whole world sees how inept their military is. Who will buy their junk?
As a US general visiting Russia some time ago stated, their equipment is good, some very good, but their training sucks (paraphrasing).
We see that now. Russia is a paper tiger in any conventional war scenario. The problem is, their nuclear weapons can be set off by a wingbat in office.
As a US general visiting Russia some time ago stated, their equipment is good, some very good, but their training sucks (paraphrasing).
We see that now. Russia is a paper tiger in any conventional war scenario. The problem is, their nuclear weapons can be set off by a wingbat in office.
That's the only real power they have....murder/suicide
And, if NATO pushes the envelope and WWIII begins? Are you willing to fight for a country that I doubt you could find a map?
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During the 70 years that the Soviet Union existed, Ukraine was an integral part of the nation.
Yet this geographic and political reality posed no threat to the United States. A Russia and a Ukraine, both inside the USSR, was an accepted reality that was seen as no threat for the seven decades that they were united.
Yet, today, because of a month-old war between Russia and Ukraine, over who shall control Crimea, the Donbas and the Black and Azov Sea coasts of Ukraine, America seems closer to a nuclear war than at any time since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962.
Why? Time to step back and reflect on what is at stake.
You realize your post was from two weeks ago while the fighting is still ongoing! Why send peacekeepers in now? Do you even know who UN peacekeepers are?
What's interesting about the quote was it's what the domestic Russian news agency was feeding the Russian public. Peace-keeping? Not needed, the RF has the situation under control. Yes, this two weeks ago. It has not aged well. Not that it was true then.
And yes, of course, UN peacekeepers arrive after fighting has stopped. Should that not be the goal? Still it wasn't the the point for Russia would have no interest.
As a US general visiting Russia some time ago stated, their equipment is good, some very good, but their training sucks (paraphrasing).
We see that now. Russia is a paper tiger in any conventional war scenario. The problem is, their nuclear weapons can be set off by a wingbat in office.
Clearly, and I'm not sure how good their equipment is. Turkish equipment seems to be as good if not better.
As a US general visiting Russia some time ago stated, their equipment is good, some very good, but their training sucks (paraphrasing).
We see that now. Russia is a paper tiger in any conventional war scenario. The problem is, their nuclear weapons can be set off by a wingbat in office.
Good equipment but also lousy maintenance. Sounds like the Russians have a professional officer corp, well to an extent. For some reason its generals keep getting in the line of fire due to some need to be close-in. And it's attempted to reform its one-year conscript system moving to more contract soldiers.
Still a key difference is the RF reportedly does not emphasize career non-commissioned officers (sergeants) like the US military. That would impact training and maintenance.
The narratives being peddled here are pretty amazing.
"Who needs stupid things like sugar or iPhones or airliners or stock markets? Much better to subside on vodka and potatoes like in the old days." They'll be putting their name on waiting lists for Ladas next.
Seriously. Some of these pro-Russia posters, supposedly enjoying the comforts of the West, predicting how awesome it's going to be for Russians to go back to living on potatoes & vodka, flying in rickety planes held together by crappy Chinese knock-off parts, eschewing modern medicine, waiting in line for their sugar rations, etc. I'm sure young educated Russians are going to love this new lifestyle. Such a bright future of war and liver failure.
What's interesting about the quote was it's what the domestic Russian news agency was feeding the Russian public. Peace-keeping? Not needed, the RF has the situation under control. Yes, this two weeks ago. It has not aged well. Not that it was true then.
And yes, of course, UN peacekeepers arrive after fighting has stopped. Should that not be the goal? Still it wasn't the the point for Russia would have no interest.
The quote itself was from:
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The foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Established in 1947, shortly after the creation of the United Nations, the IBA was born out of the conviction that an organisation made up of the world's bar associations could contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice. In the ensuing 75 years since its creation, the organisation has evolved, from an association comprised exclusively of bar associations and law societies, to one that incorporates individual international lawyers and entire law firms. The present membership is comprised of more than 80,000 individual international lawyers from most of the world’s leading law firms and some 190 bar associations and law societies spanning more than 170 countries.
The IBA has considerable expertise in providing assistance to the global legal community, and through its global membership it influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession throughout the world.
If the domestic Russia News Agency was repeating it, at least, it was factual.
NPR had a series of reports on the UN Peacekeepers in the early 2000's. I used to listen after I dropped my kids off at preschool and I cried the whole way home - just the worst abuses. Girls and boys being raped in exchange for enough food to live another day. The last person I would ever want to see is a UN peacekeeper.
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