UNhinged Peacekeepers

If you thought Abu Gharib was embarrassing then how about the problems facing UN Peacekeepers in Congo. Apparently they are about as effective as the Iraqi police and have a platoon of R. Kellys on their hands. Here is what the Christian Science Monitor had to say -

Last June, some 3,000 rebels overran the eastern town of Bukavu, despite the presence of 400 peacekeepers, who were ostensibly there to protect civilians. Then in December came the UN report that chronicled 150 allegations of sexual misconduct, including an apparent pedophilia ring, rapes, and solicitations of prostitutes. All along, there have been unabated killings of villagers by militias of the Lendu ethic group, seemingly under MONUC's nose.

To fix the problem the UN is doing a couple of things. UN Congo chief and former US diplomat is on his way out and law breaking peacekeepers will face their accusers on their home turf instead of shipping them home. Peacekeepers are also adopting a more aggressive stand even retaliating to attacks on them. My only question if this is eventually applied systemwide is how will we respond to having our troops tried elsewhere?