The cold—blooded killing of two female American police officers serving with the UN in Kosovo must be fully investigated, and the four Jordanian—dispatched  police assailants —— minus the dead one —— who were allegedly responsible for the unprovoked shooting, need to stand trial for first degree murder. Undoubtedly, the UN will try to negotiate with the US government, on behalf of Jordan, to save the kingdom and the UN itself, from further embarrassment and shame.

The Bush administration should stand firm and reject any compromise intended to sweep this disgusting incident of anti—Americanism under the carpet.

Already, we've had the first weasel—words from the UN police commissioner in Kosovo, Stefan Feller, who said that it had been a 'terrible incident'. That's an interesting understatement coming from a UN official, as they are usually known for their hysterical hyperbole.

He also said:

"This is a sad day for United Nations peacekeeping,", and '"reckless attack ... that left us in shock and dismay."

Well excuse me, I was rather more concerned about the families and friends of the dead and murdered American police officers. Obviously my priorities are way off compared to the sanctimonious drivel from Mr. Feller and the UN.

He calls it a 'reckless attack'? That doesn't sound like a description of an event in which lunatics just start shooting at a police patrol. He makes it sound like some punch—up that got slightly out of hand, and he had to whip out his first aid kit with the cartoon bandages.

It would be nice to hear Koffi Annan forcefully condemn the murder of two innocent American civilian police officers, but of course, he's probably too emotionally drained from his last over—hyped condemnation of Israel's assassination of the Sheik Yassin.

For as we all know, within the twisted relativity of the UN mindset, one dead Palestinian terrorist king—pin —— or perhaps two now that Rantissi bit the dust —— is worth far more hysteria than two dead American coppers sent to protect Muslim lives.

King Abdullah of Jordan should immediately apologize to the families of all of the dead and injured officers, regardless of the outcome of the trial. It was an act of terrorism by Jordanian nationals dispatched by his government. Perhaps it was even sparked by King Abdullah's anti—American comments during his recent visit to the US.

We've had our fill of waffling despots —— regardless of their American education —— who don't even understand the meaning of the word 'democracy,' running around yapping their mouths off about how awful the Americans are behaving in Iraq, and how everyone in the Arab world hates them. They detest Americans because that is what they are being told by their media, day in and day out: Americans are evil — you can kill them and its no big deal. The Arab media are the masters of the blood libel, and in the main, are under the editorial control of their autocratic governments. Although Jordan has relative freedom of the press, in comparative perspective, this comparison only works with other Arab states.

To compound matters further, the BBC 24 News anchors are spinning the facts of this shooting, by implying it was some kind of mutually—ignited gunfight. They are playing down the witness reports which clearly indicate that the Jordanians opened fire first. Their anti—American slant on any piece of news is becoming like an incurable addiction. They just can't break their dirty little habit.

Apparently, the shooting in Mitrovica followed a robust argument about the war in Iraq. These supposed Jordanian police officers murdered Americans in a Muslim—dominated Kosovo, which would still be under the boot of Christian Serbs, if it hadn't been liberated by an American—led war against Milosevic. And all over a row about Iraq, thousands of miles away, where Americans have liberated other Muslims from a tyrant who fed his opponents into plastic chippers.

Questions need to be asked of the UN. If they cannot properly screen lunatics from their midst in the relatively stable environment of Kosovo, then one can imagine what will happen if they are let loose in Iraq. Perhaps Senator Kerry might wish to comment on the sacrifice of American lives in Kosovo, where his beloved legitimacy—conferring UN is in charge.

The UN has always been infiltrated by crazies, and steadily, it has become an insane asylum run by those very same lunatics. Founded out of a dream of idealism, it has become a nightmare of corruption, hypocrisy, and incompetence.

Michael Morris is our London correspondent