I am angry, and more than a little disgusted.

This story about the UN has me spitting nails and wanting an explanation other than the weak-kneed, slimy-lame excuse given by an overpaid UN big shot that for sure is driven around in a brand new, white SUV whenever "work" takes her into dirty places where poor people might be encountered.

An article in the UK's Daily Telegraph had it that UN personnel in southern Sudan have been involved in the abuse of more than twenty children .. this, and that 300 members of the UN peacekeeping missions globally are alleged to have committed acts of sexual exploitation ... and this has prompted a response from the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, Jane Holl Lute:

With nearly 200,000 people from more than 100 countries rotating through the peacekeeping missions every year, some people "are going to behave badly," she told a news conference. "What's different now is ... our determination to stay with this problem ... and constantly improve our ability to deal with it."

Did she say: What's different now?

Wrong on so many levels, this has my stomach doing inside flips that are giving my lunch a tumble.

First, the "now" bit of that statement.

Now. Like all of a sudden. Like before there was no determination to stay with the problem or to improve ability to deal. Doesn't that just make a point beautifully?

(Sputter, swear, clench ... )

Okay ... I'll leave that nauseating line of thought for a moment and move on ...

The U.N. peacekeeping department instituted a new code of conduct for peacekeepers and new training for officers and all U.N. personnel, and it reinforced messages of "zero tolerance" for sexual abuse.

Yeah. Right.

Now that there's "zero tolerance' creeps will be SO afraid of sexually abusing anyone. And why? Because of what happens when the UN catches them. Ooooooo.

They are ... get this ... dismissed, maybe sent home, and possibly "severely reprimanded". There has even been some talk of WITHHOLDING SALARIES. Oh no! Not that! Such horrible retribution for raping children!

Zero tolerance, my dear Aunt Fanny's foot! More like a little slap and tickle, and most likely with a First Class air ticket home and a nice pension.

I'd like to give them all a taste of my zero tolerance!

Blech!