Quote of the day

The sudden assertion of human criteria within a dehumanising framework of political manipulation can be like a flash of lightning illuminating a dark landscape

Vaclav Havel

Syndicate content

Login

Login or Register to be identified in your comments

Everydaylifemodern

Email & RSS

Sign up to oD's editorial summaries email:



Follow oD on Twitter


Add oD to your Netvibes: Add to Netvibes

openDemocracy likes

How long before French soldiers die in Lebanon?


Posts: 338
Joined: 2006-01-11


Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.


Posts: 548
Joined: 2007-06-07
Re: How long before French soldiers die in Lebanon?
I've believed for years that the UN ought ideally to have troops, perhaps a division or so, available for this sort of role. My preference would be to hire Nepalese Gurkhas for the purpose, since Nepal needs the money and nobody worries about Nepalese imperialism. They are as good at soldiering as anyone in the world, and the culture accepts the reality of casualties. Certainly their reputation would precede them. It'll never happen, but I still like the idea...



Posts: 338
Joined: 2006-01-11
Re: How long before French soldiers die in Lebanon?
...



Posts: 39
Joined: 2006-08-06
Re: How long before French soldiers die in Lebanon?
The problem facing peacekeepers is not an easy one. Their job is essentially one of separation, to keep the parties involved from fighting. The problem comes when one side has no real interest in fighting, and the other side does. How do you restrain one side that wants to fight, from killing the other. The only way is to make yourself a target. You are in effect only protecting 1 side. In the case of Israel vs. Hezbollah, Israel had no real interest in Lebanon, nor for that matter in fighting. They are more then willing to do so if they are attacked or threatened, but if their neighbors left them alone, you can bet their neighbors would be likewise left alone. Such is not the case for the Hezhos. They want to destroy Israel. It is one of their stated aims. Backed by Syria and Iran, their goal is destruction. So peacekeepers, in order to be effective, will have to sever the supply lines from Syria and Iran, as well as engage the Hezhos, making themselves into their defacto enemies. Thus what they are being called upon to do, is to fight for Israel. Oh their presence may act to restrain Israel from retaliating against the Hezhos, if they manage to get through, but the more they let the Hezhos and others through, the more ineffective they are seen as being, and the more likely it is, that both parties will then end up at war once again. I really feel sorry for anyone having to serve as a peacekeeper.



Posts: 1342
Joined: 2003-05-03
Re: How long before French soldiers die in Lebanon?
if their neighbors left them alone, you can bet their neighbors would be likewise left alone.Molenir You're absolutely right. If Israel's enemies would only forget Israel's crimes, the Jewish state would exude quiet contentment and pursue its target of bringing all the Jews of the world to Palestine with increased confidence. Perhaps the United States will take on the task of dropping some big bombs on Iran, as appears to be the intention.



Posts: 477
Joined: 2005-11-28
Re: How long before French soldiers die in Lebanon?
Eric, Was there a statute of limitations on your "statement of intent to agree"? Hang in there, buddy. You don't have to agree with everything that is said, just try to drop the "Israel's crimes" dogma. I believe in you. You got a Stetson--brimmed to your style--waiting for you if you can make it a week.



Posts: 1342
Joined: 2003-05-03
Re: How long before French soldiers die in Lebanon?
...just try to drop the "Israel's crimes" dogma. jayfromtexas What is it I'm supposed to not disagree with? That you're simply fed up with the phrase or that Israel's countless, endlessly repeated and persistent violations of international law are not crimes?


Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd><b> <i> <br> <p> <div> <img>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • You may quote other posts using [quote] tags.
More information about formatting options