| Credit where credit is due. |
The Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the U.N. peacekeeping mission along the Israeli-Syrian border for six months.
| Did they point with pride at how successful it's been? |
In a recent report to the council, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that during the past six months, the area remained "generally quiet."
| Except for a bit of artillery from Hezbollah, and a few air strikes back... |
"Nevertheless, the situation in the Middle East is very tense and is likely to remain so, unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the Middle East problem can be reached," he said. Under the circumstances, he said the continued presence of the U.N. force is "essential."
| I'm sure there's a reason why it's essential, but for the life of me I can't think of one... |
The resolution adopted by the council extends the 1,050-strong U.N. Disengagement Observer Force for six months until Dec. 31. The force was established in 1974, following the 1973 Yom Kippur war, to monitor the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967.
| Yup. They've been there for thirty years now. I was a young man when they showed up and began doing the wonderful things they do. Whatever they are. |
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