U.N. Investigation of Israeli Actions

Rumors are beginning to turn up that indicate the United States will back efforts of the international community to order a third-party investigation until the actions of the Israel government when it stormed a humanitarian flotilla. It is a measure which, of course, Israel strongly opposes.

Yet, as Israeli ambassador Michael Oren discussed on the Colbert Report , just as the United States would not want nations such as Iran or North Korea sitting in judgment over its actions in the War on Terror (or elsewhere), neither does Israel want other nations, especially enemies, deciding what is in the best interest of its territorial and national security.

Therefore, what use does an independent tribunal serve in this instance? Does it show that the United Nations has more teeth? Only if the investigation's findings conclude action/intervention is necessary, and only if those actions are taken...which the United States, never mind Israel, would likely not stand for. Would an investigation shed light onto the matter? Probably not; it seems unlikely more evidence will surface beyond the video, cargo manifests, and testimony that has already come to light. What then, would this investigation accomplish aside from a large finger wagging by the international community and give support to Israel's regional enemies, which at the moment, happen to be very similar to the enemies the United States stands likely to face in the coming decade, namely Iran. Should we really seek to strength Iran's role in the region yet again?