'UN Black and Blue with Self-Inflicted Wounds'

Well, make it three in a row. The UN has done what no other organization has every done--three The Vent Pipe posts in a row. Congratulations guys, I'll send you a certificate ASAP.

This report is just a coverage of the already-known crapola about the UN's abuse of power in their so called 'peace-keeping' mission in the Congo. The report is
from Reuters.

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U.N. peacekeepers who sexually abuse the women and children they are supposed to protect should be punished and their home countries publicly identified, a U.S. lawmaker said on Tuesday.

U.N. "blue helmets" found guilty of sexual abuse are often simply repatriated, which Rep. Chris Smith called "a slap on the wrist if there ever was one."

So, according to this report, the most punishment a sex offender can receive, assuming they're wearing their blue 'symbol of superiority' helmet, is to be repatriated? How in the WORLD does sending Joe Pervert back to his home country fix this problem?

Smith, a New Jersey Republican who chairs a House of Representatives panel on Africa and human rights, disputed the current U.N. policy of not releasing the names of countries whose peacekeepers commit sexual abuse.

Allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation have surfaced in the largest United Nations peacekeeping mission, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and U.N. officials including Lute (Jane Holl Lute, assistant U.N. secretary general for peacekeeping operations. )have raised fears that such abuse could be a problem in all 17 of the world body's peacekeeping efforts.

Great, now there is reason to believe that this sick abuse is a widespread problem in all 17 operations? This is just disgusting.

Lute acknowledged those concerns: "The blue helmet has become black and blue with self-inflicted wounds ... This is a stain on U.N. peacekeepers. We're determined to eradicate this."

I guess that this is the first step--acknowledging the problem is the first step to recovery although I somehow doubt that any steps will really be taken to fix the disturbing situation.

In addition to finding widespread abuse of women and girls, including gang rape, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations has also found cases of sexual exploitation in at least four other missions: Burundi, Liberia, Ivory Coast and Haiti.

However, Lute disputed Smith's contention that for some, U.N. peacekeeping missions are seen as "a kind of sex tourism for soldiers."

'Sex tourism'--ridiculous! Just ridiculous!!

She said a culture of professionalism needs to be fostered among peacekeepers, including specific training in the U.N. Code of Conduct. Lute is working on a set of new recommendations for peacekeeping soldiers.

This is unbelievable. A 'culture of professionalism' is not going to fix problems such as these. Good grief! I don't think that one needs to be taught that sexual abuse is 'unprofessional.'
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The United Nations is out of control. I've said it before, but I'll say it again--the United Nations needs to be disbanded RIGHT NOW. No more of this putting a bandaid to temporarily resolve the problems. Disband the UN RIGHT NOW!!!