The definition of insanity

So let me get this straight. The United Nations has had a peacekeeping force in Lebanon for the past six years, under the aegis of UNIFIL, which has actively aided the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli soldiers, turned a blind eye to Hezbullah rocket attacks on Israel, and sips tea with the terrorists.

Today in Rome, world leaders and UN representatives ended a discussion on how to stop the current war in Lebanon, and the UN and world response was: Let’s put an international peacekeeping force, under the aegis of the UN, in Lebanon to stop the hostilities and keep them stopped.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the solution to the Mideast crisis should involve Iran and Syria. He also called for the formation of a multinational force to help Lebanon assert its authority and implement U.N. resolutions that would disarm Hezbollah.

After listening to a dramatic appeal from Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora for them to stop the killing, the officials said they had agreed on the need to deploy an international force under the aegis of the United Nations in southern Lebanon.

“An international force in Lebanon should urgently be authorized under a U.N. mandate to support the Lebanese armed forces in providing a secure environment,” Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema said but there was no mention of who would take part or any other details.

Can you say, “What morons!”?

I knew you could.

They insist on the UN force, in spite of the fact that it has failed in its mission almost everywhere the UN has sent “peacekeepers.” They insist on a UN force in spite of the fact that Israel has flatly refused another bunch of blue helmets and said that they insist on NATO, where the troops know how to shoot and can be trusted not to help kidnap Israeli soldiers.

But sure, let’s do the same thing that led to the current war, because it’s not like it, well, works or anything. But at least it will make us feel like we’re actually doing something, instead of heating up the atmosphere with our discussions and adding to the problem of global warming. Oh, and it looks great on our resume: “Made peace between Israel and Lebanon.”

The fact that this process has always failed seems not to have entered the minds of the bureaucrats. I’m sure it has entered the minds of the Lebanese representatives. When Israel abides by UN rules, she always loses.