By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, December 6 -- Since when did the UN start congratulating governments for "successful military operations"? Today in Paris the UN summarizes that in his meeting with Joseph Kabila, "the Secretary-General congratulated the DRC for the successful military operation against the M23."
This harkens back for some to the UN's approach in 2009 to the Sri Lankan government's "successful military operations" against the Tamil Tigers or LTTE. A rebel group was wiped out; in that case tens of thousands of civilians were killed.
Ban Ki-moon was hardly critical of Sri Lanka's government at the time. Since then, appearing to resist at each stage, Ban has begun to acknowledge "the UN's" failure in 2009 to put "Rights Up Front," the title of his new, still non-public response to the events of 2009.
But what was learned, if the UN in 2013 is offering congratulations for "successful military operations"?
Inner City Press on Friday asked Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq, to make sure this was an accurate readout. Haq said yes, the UN "stands behind" the read out.
Some might ask, then, why Ban did not congratulate Syria's Assad government for "successfully" taking back some territory from armed opposition groups.
There are differences, sure. But shouldn't the UN be hard pressed to congratulate military operations? To say, thanks for standing between mal-intended arms and civilians is one thing. To congratulate a military operation carried out with attack helicopters is something else. Isn't it? Watch this site.
