Did EU ignore use of Ambulances used to transport Pales terrorists?

According to former International Red Cross worker Collin May, yes. Does the EU want' to know about it now? No. Here's the story:

"Did the European Commission have permission from the UN in the summer of 2000...to purchase six ambulances for transfer to the Palestinian Red Crescent which were subsequently used to transport weapons for attacking Israelis?

"What am I talking about? I’m talking about my former period of employment with the fundraising division of the International Red Cross in Geneva. I was responsible for writing ICRC funding requests for financial assistance provided by ECHO, the European Commission Humanitarian Office. ECHO provides funds for emergency situations around the world. In 2000, I prepared a funding request for the purchase of six ambulances for delivery to the Palestinian Red Crescent. The funding was approved and the ambulances transported to the field.

"One year later, it was my job to write the follow-up report on the ambulances. ***At the time, questions were raised regarding suspicions that the Palestinians were using the ambulances to transport weapons and fighters. And in their defense the EU did raise this point with my department, though not in an official way. In any case, I was aware that the EU had mentioned the problem. When I consulted my supervisor on how to respond to the EU query, I was told not to mention it. The official line from the ICRC was that they had no evidence of these activities.*** The whole issue was then forgotten by both the ICRC and ECHO until March 2002 when proof was found in the form of a belt used to strap bombs to the body of a suicide bomber. The belt was found in a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance underneath a stretcher. Nothing was made of the incident, and I can’t confirm if the ambulance in question was one provided directly by the ICRC with ECHO money. On the other hand, it did demonstrate that the rumors were true and that the ambulances were probably being used for such activities even while I was writing my final report for ECHO. Maybe if the Americans started blowing themselves up in a crowd of Iraqi civilians the EU would then consider loosening up its purse strings."

posted by Collin May at 3/12/2003 12:51:01 PM"

http://www.innocentsabroad.blogspot.com/
[***emphasis added***]
--Orson

 

Hi Orson

Is there a reason why you post so many topics on political questions on an education board? If you are looking for discussion a political board would be more relevant. Degreeinfo has many conservative, moderate and liberal posters. I would guess at least some of these posters are offended by the constant posts. If you are looking to change people's beliefs I believe it is unlikely to happen. In any event I hope you are having a great weekend.