Posted on 08/17/2006 10:24:11 AM PDT by mojito
Le Monde reports France will only send 'symbolic' force of 10 officers, 200 troops to region. UN to try and convince country to send more soldiers.
France wants to send a small, purely symbolic contingent to the strengthened UN force in Lebanon , and the United Nations is trying to convince French officials that a decision to send so few would be devastating, a French newspaper said Thursday.
Although France has been widely expected to lead the force, Le Monde newspaper reported that it planned to contribute only 10 officers and a contingent of 200 military engineers to the force to stabilize southern Lebanon.
UN officials learned that Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie was planning to announce the small contribution on a television interview Wednesday night and persuaded her to delay the announcement, the report said. Le Monde, which cited unidentified diplomatic sources, said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was expected to call President Jacques Chirac on Thursday to persuade France to make a larger commitment.
Col. Philippe Tanguy, a Defense Ministry spokesman, declined to comment on the Le Monde report, stressing that France believes it is essential to clarify the force's mandate before deciding on a number of troops. A Foreign Ministry spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
The UN force is expected to grow from a current 2,000 peacekeepers to 15,000 under a new Security Council resolution, joining an estimated 15,000 Lebanese troops who are to move south of the Litani River, about 18 miles (30 kilometers) from the Israeli border.
French Gen. Alain Pellegrini heads the UN force, called UNIFIL.
The defense minister, in an interview with France-2 television on Wednesday, said the mandate of the strengthened new force is still "fuzzy" and issued a stern warning to the United Nations to spell out its exact mission and rules of engagement.
She said France was willing to continue leading the force through February, but that it was premature to talk about a number of troops.
"When you send in a force and its mission is not precise enough, and its resources are not well adapted or large enough, that can turn into a catastrophe, including for the soldiers that we send," She said.
France is demanding a more specific mandate for the force, including when it may use firepower. UN diplomats and officials say France's reticence to give a number has held up announcements of troop commitments from other countries. Le Monde said UN officials believed it would be "Devastating" If France gave a small contribution, as it would discourage other countries from committing sizable contingents.
They're going to send small mimes.
I AM SHOCKED I TELL YOU!/sarcasm on.
LAUGH OF THE DAY.
"We want zee world to know, we are not cowards."
With white faces and flags to match?
LOL! France queers the deal again! How many other countries are contributing? If they follow France's example what we have is a Lebanese Army in place which is inferior to Hezbollah and sympathetic to them anyway with token forces from others. Oh, and by the way no one will attempt to disarm Hezbollah. This is a joke, only no one in Israel is laughing.
I hope Israel realizes that it's on its own. Neither the UN nor the US has been of any help. In fact we've made matters worse.
The problem is exacerbated by their government now being in turmoil (perhaps too strong a word) over the way the war was handled. We here in America should take a good look at Israel and understand this is what one gets with liberal governments; indecision and inability to conduct war properly.
Prayers for Israel. They need them.
To be fair, that is the only kind of force France has.
You don't frighten us, English pig-dogs! Go and boil your bottom, sons of a silly person. I blow my nose at you, so-called Arthur King, you and all your silly English k-nnnnniggets. Thpppppt! Thppt! Thppt! ....I don't wanna talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries! ...
...No. Now, go away, or I shall taunt you a second time-a! 
This thread needs Belly Girl.
~snorrfle!~ You KNOW I love zee pictures! Mais, un moment, where are zee white flags? Mon dieu!
They've got their own terrorists to babysit. I mean, "disenfranchised yutes".
Symbolic = we don't plan on doing a darn thing...
(other than bolting at the first sign of trouble)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.