In what has become a lamentably well practiced ritual (see Bosnia and Rwanda), the United Nations appears ready to castigate itself for its failure to protect civilians—this time in Sri Lanka. Via BBC:

The UN's investigation into its own conduct during the last months of the conflict says the organisation should in future "be able to meet a much higher standard in fulfilling its protection and humanitarian responsibilities".

It points to a "systemic failure".

The panel questions decisions such as the withdrawal of UN staff from the war zone in September 2008 after the Sri Lankan government warned it could no longer guarantee their safety.