Staff Reports
Biden’s diplomatic gymnastics reached new heights recently as he has advised Israel not to strike U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon. This proclamation comes after a series of unfortunate events involving the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Just when it seemed like the world had figured out how to deal with a rogue militia in the Middle East, the President throws his proverbial hat into the ring, suggesting that Israel should just sit on its hands while the threats escalate.
The backdrop of Biden’s plea is a very real conflict where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported an “immediate threat” they faced, which is code for a very bad day for peacekeeping forces. Two explosions, close enough to rattle a UNIFIL observation tower, left a couple of peacekeepers nursing injuries. While the peacekeepers were apparently just minding their own business, Hezbollah was busy violating two cardinal rules: firing at unarmed forces and undermining any semblance of order in Lebanon.
US President Joe Biden says he “absolutely, positively” is asking Israel to stop firing at UN peacekeepers in Lebanon after question by a reporter at the White House.
🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/sb9M0iOkv5 pic.twitter.com/4ctWp4JeUv
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 11, 2024
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin joined in the fun, sharing concerns about the situation while pushing for a transition from military might to diplomatic dialogues. This predictable move seems to imply that talking things out works with terrorists—something most Americans know is about as effective as asking a bear not to steal your picnic basket. UN Resolution 1701, meant to assert control and disarm Hezbollah, has turned out to be more of a suggestion than a rule, with Hezbollah thriving in its cozy role as Iran’s proxy.
Since October 8, that very same Hezbollah has unleashed over 10,000 rockets toward Israel, flaunting its solidarity with Hamas. Both groups are designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. and are fully funded by Iran, linking them to a larger web of chaos that Biden seems all too eager to negotiate around. With Biden’s insistence on treating Hezbollah as anything but a terrorist organization, hope for a peaceful resolution looks bleak.
Expect nothing less than more U.N. peace operations that have proven to be ineffective at halting the influence of regional bad actors. Meanwhile, the calls for restraint and diplomacy seem to ignore the fact that feeble appeasement often leads to more violence, not less. The question remains: how much longer will sane observers of this conflict have to endure the absurdity of diplomatic challenges stemming from a group whose primary job seems to be firing rockets instead of building peace? As the tensions escalate, one can only wonder how long it will take for Washington to finally grasp the gravity of the situation beyond mere chatter.
