But sadly, the show trials won't be taking place. You see, American soldiers and security contract firms aren't involved:
The report by Save the Children UK, based on field research in southern Sudan, Ivory Coast and Haiti, describes a litany of sexual crimes committed by peacekeepers and international relief workers against children as young as 6.
It said some children were denied food aid unless they granted sexual favors; others were forced to have sex or to take part in child pornography; many more were subjected to improper touching or kissing.
"The report shows sexual abuse has been widely underreported because children are afraid to come forward," Jasmine Whitbread, chief executive of Save the Children UK, told Associated Press Television News.
The UN and non-governmntal organizations (NGOs), pretty much the gold standards for the sainted "international community," were the guilty parties. So any criticism will be softened with understanding:
Save the Children spokesman Dominic Nutt said U.N. peacekeepers are involved in many abuse cases because they are present throughout the world in such large numbers. But he praised the United Nations for improving its reporting and investigative procedures regarding sex abuse.
"We're not singling out the U.N. In some ways they do a good job. It's [not?] all peacekeepers and all aid workers, including Save the Children," that are involved in sexual abuses, he said.
See? There are just so darned many of them you have to expect some to be bad eggs. They do much good in between romps with tots and a couple of innocent trysts. I mean who hasn't been tempted to trade high protein biscuits for a quick manual release or a hot photo? I mean, really. Hunger and desperation is sexy. Get a little perspective and stop picking on the UN! They care, dammit!
And the UN is really up front with documenting the crimes of their employees! They have procedures to follow. Procedures! They probably have manuals and rules to guide them, too. How much more serious can you expect them to take this? That counts for a lot, right?
Look, I'm not making light of this. Heads should roll. I assume these are individuals who are guilty and I don't damn the UN and NGOs as a whole for this. But I'm sick of our progressive Left speaking of our soldiers and Marines as psycho killers who are dangers to themselves and all around them, whether overseas or at home; while speaking of the UN and NGOs as hallowed knights of honor doing nothing but saintly good work to undo the damage America inflicts on the world.
Supporters of the UN have nothing to worry about. Panties on heads at Abu Ghraib stained America. Yet another case of corruption or child rape won't dent the reputation of the UN.
Saints can do that, you know.
