June 17, 2004

IT WAS THE DOZERS THAT DONE IT

I own a pair of Caterpillar boots. For no good reason, they sometimes force me to demolish sniper perches, kick in bomber hideouts, stomp terrorist tunnels, and otherwise violate human rights:

A leading UN official has warned US manufacturer Caterpillar that it may be complicit in human rights violations in the West Bank and Gaza.

The company supplies armoured bulldozers to the Israeli army that are used to demolish Palestinian homes.

Human rights official Jean Ziegler expressed "deep concern" over the sales, in a letter to Caterpillar.

Human lives had also been lost during the demolitions, Ziegler wrote, including that of American peace activist Rachel Corrie.

Via J.F. Beck, who writes: "What about the pens used to sign the demolition orders?"

Posted by Tim Blair at June 17, 2004 06:01 AM
Comments

has the un advised russia that they may be 'complicit' in the deaths of coalition troops caused by all those rpgs and ak-47s that they sold to iraq? get me the world court on the phone!

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 17, 2004 at 06:06 AM

and, hell, boeing sold equipment that was used by al-qaeda...

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 17, 2004 at 06:12 AM

I hope Mr. Jean Ziegler also writes the manufacturers of semtex, C4, and other plastique explosives about their "complicit" roles in human right violations. You know -- the minor issue of exploding Palestinians.

Or maybe he forgot to include the United States in his fervor over "killdozers"?

Besides, if Caterpillar stops supplying dozers to Israel, there's always Komatus, John Deere, and Dressta. It's a buyer's market, y'know!

Posted by: The Real JeffS at June 17, 2004 at 06:13 AM

UN HRC

Yawn

Posted by: TedM at June 17, 2004 at 06:22 AM

Has anybody advised Kofi Annan & his fellow criminals at the UN & in Paris, that they not just may be but ARE complicit in the deaths of tens of thousands of Iraqis murdered by Saddam Hussein—& in the deaths of MILLIONS of Rwandans?

Posted by: ForNow at June 17, 2004 at 06:27 AM

The BBC article neglected to note how much money Ziegler was demanding from Caterpillar to shut his yap. Surely this would be important as pocket-lining seems to be the primary function of the U.N. these days.

Or maybe Zeigler need to go up to the corner Fifth & 49th and start flashing his dick at passersby. This will get him the attention he so desperately craves while allowing him to stay in character.

Posted by: RainDog at June 17, 2004 at 06:29 AM

St. Pancake, agrees with Professor Ziegler, but is currently unavailable for comment.

Posted by: EddieP at June 17, 2004 at 06:29 AM

Dag! now they're going to force the Israelis to build another superior product.

Posted by: Helen at June 17, 2004 at 06:36 AM

So this is how UN officials spend their time bringing peace to the world while slipping oil-for-food billions into their deep hole pockets.
I cannot, for the life of me, why this fumbling, greedy group of sonsofbitches exists.

Posted by: John Foland at June 17, 2004 at 06:36 AM

When the time comes to replace my beloved Timberlands I will be sorely tempted to buy a pair of Caterpillar boots. I will then be able to fantasise about a boot stomping on a UN official's bunions...forever.

And Pancake wasn't a 'peace activist', except if by peace activist you mean 'rage-filled terrorist-humping scumsucker'.

Posted by: David Gillies at June 17, 2004 at 07:38 AM

A uh, "delegation" from East Peoria could "reform" the UN.

Posted by: Fred Boness at June 17, 2004 at 08:23 AM

What about the oooooiiiilll that fueled the dozer? Probably came from an Arab company with Swiss bank accounts.

Posted by: perfectsense at June 17, 2004 at 09:03 AM

The United Nations Review and Burlesque Show never ceases to entertain me.

Posted by: RebeccaBurka at June 17, 2004 at 09:28 AM

So, if a palestinian terrorist uses his toyota POS as a car bomb and kills a few dozen people, does that make them complicit to mass murder?

Posted by: Oktober at June 17, 2004 at 10:23 AM

I'm looking forward to what Caterpillar's unions have to say about this.

Posted by: charles austin at June 17, 2004 at 11:31 AM

Rachel Corrie's supporters are in D9-al.

Posted by: CurrencyLad at June 17, 2004 at 12:02 PM

Actually, the liability lies with the Saudis who supplied the oil which fueled the bulldozer.

Posted by: triticale at June 17, 2004 at 12:30 PM

Since the UN runs Land Rovers, I guess they would wear these when retreating on foot.

Posted by: ilibcc at June 17, 2004 at 12:46 PM
Via J.F. Beck, who writes: "What about the pens used to sign the demolition orders?"
That's right! I demand the UN stop using any writing implements also used by the Israelis!

Posted by: Jim C. at June 17, 2004 at 01:31 PM

"A leading UN official has warned US manufacturer Caterpillar that it may be complicit in human rights violations in the West Bank and Gaza."

Meanwhile, UNRWA ambulances are being used as a terrorist taxi service.

Posted by: Bruce Rheinstein at June 17, 2004 at 01:34 PM

The insanity has to stop. Death merchants like this are skirting international law. They must be held accountable. Three day cooling off periods after the purchase of a bulldozer must be enforced. Of course the bulldozer-crazed loonies will decry this humane action by complaining that if bulldozers are outlawed then only outlaws will have bulldozers. These death machines are larger than SUV's and use more resources while tearing up the environment. The Hallidozers must be stopped.

Posted by: BC at June 17, 2004 at 01:48 PM

I certainly hope the Israelis were sensitive enough to scrape the blade clean of Rachel Corrie before continung with the demolition.

Posted by: Rob (No1) at June 17, 2004 at 02:17 PM

Bulldozers don't kill people, people kill people.

And Triticale: Go for the ultimate cause... Creation killed Corrie. If it hadn't been for all those saponated plants, there wouldn't be petroleum to start with. (Unless, of course, you're going down Gold's path)

Posted by: Hatcher at June 17, 2004 at 02:27 PM

CurrencyLad, perhaps the IDF could put Arrafat into D10-sion?

Posted by: The Real JeffS at June 17, 2004 at 02:29 PM

Sincerity Slips, we're talking about complicity not regulation.

How would one go about regulating bulldozer sales?

UN Equipment Approval Purchase Request
Form A7898X9774NUKLS34009819KOI8.49038.194803801
...
Item 7897^8905 Subsection 8871P

Do you plan to use or allow the use (by loan, lease, rental, or any similar method) of procured equipment to demolish, in whole or in part, the homes, houses, huts, shacks, shantys, igloos or other such residences, domiciles, dwellings or abodes of Official Grade-A UN-Approved Freedom Fighters? [Y/N]

Posted by: Crispytoast at June 17, 2004 at 03:00 PM

The UN is complicit in terrorism Arrest the whole lot of them, from Kofi on down, for Human Rights violations.

Posted by: Michael Lonie at June 17, 2004 at 03:36 PM

Are you sure Ziegler doesn't work for Komatsu?

Posted by: Tim Newman at June 17, 2004 at 05:02 PM

What would you need a pair of Caterpillar boots for Tim? Judging by the amount of posting you do you musn't leave the house!

Posted by: tony at June 17, 2004 at 09:51 PM

Human lives had also been lost during the demolitions, Ziegler wrote, including that of American peace activist Rachel Corrie.

As they say in the cybergeek field, that's not a bug, that's a feature.

As an aside, what does one have to do to morph from "peace activist" to "bug-eyed, hysterical booster of Jew-murdering sociopaths" in the eyes of these fellows?

Posted by: Jeffersonian at June 18, 2004 at 01:05 AM

If Caterpillar ignores the UN, will the UN send a 'sterner warning'?

Posted by: Chris Josephson at June 18, 2004 at 01:46 AM

The UN will pass a dozen or so resolutions, starting with a 'stern warning' and escalating to condemnation. And then the delegates will go to lunch and drink cheap wine.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at June 18, 2004 at 02:43 AM

They'll go to lunch? I always figured that being an accredited UN figure was like being at one perpetual free lunch anyway.

Posted by: PW at June 18, 2004 at 02:49 AM

JeffS: no UN delegate has ever drunk cheap wine in his whole, otiose, corrupt career. Only the best for the guardians of the New World Order.

Posted by: David Gillies at June 18, 2004 at 03:47 AM

The Toyota Tacoma! Choice of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Now that's a rugged truck.

Posted by: joe at June 18, 2004 at 04:32 AM

David, I figured on cheap wine for the delegates because The Good Stuff goes to Kofi.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at June 18, 2004 at 04:48 AM

I've never been clear on this: is Corrie Rachel nicknamed St. Pancake because of her two-dimensional condition upon her encounter with the eeeevil Caterpillar or because of her chest size?

Posted by: Tongue Boy at June 18, 2004 at 05:13 AM

Yes, they may use the bulldozers to smash houses. But the box it comes in can house 5 people!

Posted by: rightwingduck at June 18, 2004 at 08:09 AM

Can't wait for Michael Moore to make "Dozing for Palestine".

Posted by: Dylan at June 18, 2004 at 12:37 PM

What about OJSC Izhhmash Ziegler, they make AK 47`s .

Posted by: Paulm at June 18, 2004 at 02:06 PM