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2009-05-24 Sri Lanka
U.N. Chief Calls Sri Lanka War Zone 'Very Sobering'
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Posted by Steve White 2009-05-24 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11130 views ]  Top

#1 Good thing the LTTE selflessly capitulated when it became apparent that their supporters were starting to suffer than if they had to live under oppressive Sri Lankan rule. /sarc

Deep question: Will Ban get it?
Posted by gorb 2009-05-24 00:31||   2009-05-24 00:31|| Front Page Top

#2 gorb, of course not. Ban's chief job is moral preening and passing judgments.
Since the LTTE were not part of an organized army in uniforms, to Ban they are civilians. Killing civilians is bad.
Posted by Rambler in Virginia">Rambler in Virginia  2009-05-24 00:46||   2009-05-24 00:46|| Front Page Top

#3 Sober and UN are not two words I would put in the same paragraph.
Posted by 3dc 2009-05-24 01:39||   2009-05-24 01:39|| Front Page Top

#4 You just did. ;-)

But at least in your paragraph it makes sense.
Posted by gorb 2009-05-24 01:43||   2009-05-24 01:43|| Front Page Top

#5 You notice that not once during the entire article are the Tigers' brutality mentioned. To an alien who just landed from Mars, it would appear that the LTTE and SL government were two sides of the same coin. This is, in fact, a trope or narrative, and journalists will harp on it even when (especially when) it's not true. One side was firing on civilians, and the other side was doing its best to save them, but try telling that to the Associated Press. They'd instantly mentally reject the idea, much like suggesting to a mandarin that the peasants all be taught to read.
Posted by gromky 2009-05-24 07:33||   2009-05-24 07:33|| Front Page Top

#6 the earth was also marked by deep craters -- believed to be from bombs

Gee, ya think?
Posted by Parabellum 2009-05-24 08:23|| http://sidemeat.wordpress.com/]">[http://sidemeat.wordpress.com/]  2009-05-24 08:23|| Front Page Top

#7 Yet another failure of the "free" press to do anything other than deliberately misinform the public. Reports like this should be hunted down ruthlessly, and brought to justice for their crimes (rope, tree or s simple .22 to the back of their heads)
Posted by Slath the Full Bosomed8290 2009-05-24 11:07||   2009-05-24 11:07|| Front Page Top

#8 Parabellum - I'm with you noticing the emphasis on "deep craters". It makes the authors sound like six year olds with Tonkas in the sandox.

I'd be very interested in the Rantburg expert opinion on these reports. There are craters and then there are "craters". There is passing reference to the LTTE setting off their ammo dumps, and these would certainly produce "craters", which an untrained reporter (i.e. anyone) would notice. But I'm much more suspicious of the conclusions involving artillery - it's simply a leap to go from mortar fire to heavier stuff to ammo dumps, and lay it all out as a "war crime" by the SLA.

Here's an ignorant question - are our intelsats good enough to track trajectories of artillery fire over a given period of time? Could there be a chart of times and distances of such fire? That would be several degrees of proof better than after action helicopter flybys.
Posted by Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2009-05-24 11:17||   2009-05-24 11:17|| Front Page Top

#9 Here's an ignorant question - are our intelsats good enough to track trajectories of artillery fire over a given period of time?

You are correct. It is an ignorant question. We here at HQ expect our other Divisions to know these things. Or, if they do not, at least direct their question to HQ and not the "General Public"!

We have decided to close your Division and reassign the staff...except for you of course, We know you will understand.

That is all.
Posted by Haliburton - Head Quarters Division 2009-05-24 18:25||   2009-05-24 18:25|| Front Page Top

#10 The conspiracy continues!
Posted by Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2009-05-24 19:57||   2009-05-24 19:57|| Front Page Top

#11 UN says "Sobering" eh? I guess he is finally admitting they were sh*tfaced drunk regarding their original "treat the terrorists nice" plan.

Guess what? Wars suck. People die, and stuff gets blown up. That's why sane people don't start them, and the only way for sane people to end them is utterly destroying the insane ones who start things liek that.

And before the leftys start hollaring about Bush, the Iraq war was just a continuation of the 91 war Saddam started and Bush Sr refused to let us finish completely.
Posted by OldSpook 2009-05-24 22:08||   2009-05-24 22:08|| Front Page Top

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