Reuters reports that France has agreed to an additional 1,600 troops to Lebanon. President Chirac said the decision came after winning UN assurances that the troops would be able to defend themselves fully if they came under attack and could use force to protect civilians. In a televised address, Chirac said “Two thousand French troops will thus be placed under the United Nations in Lebanon. France is ready, if the United Nations wishes, to continue commanding this force.”
Perhaps Chirac was worried that Italy would steal France’s thunder. Prior to the French announcement, Italian Prime Minister Prodi of Italy said he had won U.S. blessing for Rome’s leadership of the force during a telephone conversation with Bush.
Prodi said UN Secretary-General Annan would announce “the details of the command of the operation” at a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Friday. He also said he was “very satisfied” that France was boosting its contingent and had spoken to Chirac.
I still hope Germany steps up…
Who’s overseeing this peacekeeping operation? Ebay?
I guessing this means French companies has locked up the transportation contracts to resupply Hezbollah with armaments. After which they will promptly surrender.
What else could Chirac do? Grand of him to offer to take command. Reminds me of the French General (Admiral?) who, when spirited out of his hiding place in France to provide window dressing for Operation Torch, informed Eisenhower that he would now take overall command of the operation.
Prodi and the Italians stood up to be counted. He shouldn’t have to now give up command simply because France has finally announced it would be a significant part of this operation.
France says 15,000 UN troops for Lebanon too many
We’ve either been ‘had’ or betrayed Israel and judging from past history with our lovely EU friends and allies – it’s likely the former. The best the Israeli’s could do is to begin serious interdiction of cross-border transportion but since Syria and Iran will play a waiting game until UN forces are in place, even that’s futile. Especially as ‘aid’ is crossing from Syria into Lebanon with the blockade in force – imagine the storm that would cause?
The UN’s scope does not now, nor probably never will, include disarming Hizbollah(dispite the Admin claims of going back for a 2nd Res – it’s not going to happen); even if UN forces witness a flood of arms flowing across the Lebanese-Syrian border or find caches of arms, they are to do nothing unless it’s at a specific request from the Lebanese. If Hizbollah finds cause to shoot at the forces, UN forces can protect themselves but, in essence, that’s it – with one minor exception. UN forces will act as a buffer against a future attack or incursion into Lebanon, by the Israeli’s, when Hizbollah starts shooting over the heads of UN troops. But, by God, don’t think UN forces will go after Hizbollah forces if they do shoot over their heads – it is simply not going to happen. They’ll in all likelihood call in for reinforcements when Israel starts shooting SAMS back as is required on part of scope of 1701 – thus making Israel a rogue state.
Now here’s a real kick-in-the-butt I’m sure you’ll just love.
While I haven’t seen any news to the effect – the operational word here is ‘yet’ – a rumor is circulating the French are beginning to rethink the idea of calling for sanctions(at least right off the bat, maybe some months down the line) against Iran’s nuclear adventure – they might want to ‘extend further dialogue.’
In the pursuit of ‘peace’ – of course.
Correction to 5: STS missile’s
In confirmation on the part of our feckless French ‘allies’ buried in: Russia rules out UN sanctions against Iran