Posted on 08/19/2006 10:21:06 PM PDT by george76
Farce is a French word, right? Well, it's the mot juste for what happened Thursday as the United Nations scrambled to assemble a robust force to keep the peace in Lebanon.
France led the diplomatic charge for the truce in Lebanon, calling for a cease-fire almost immediately.
It played a central role in crafting the resolution that would send a UN force of about 15,000 to help the weak Lebanese army control the south and stop arms shipments to Hezbollah.
France, one UN official said, was supposed to be the backbone of the force, leading it and contributing significant numbers of troops.
But then came a splash of cold reality, a bracing reminder about why the words "France" and "backbone" rarely appear in the same sentence.
On Thursday, after much diplomatic arm-twisting, France pledged a shockingly paltry 200 more troops, a doubling of its force there.
The inexplicable and inexcusable French retreat threw the military planning into disarray, endangering the fragile truce and discouraging other countries from contributing forces to a vital mission in the Middle East.
There's been plenty of knee-jerk French-bashing in this country since the debate over the Iraq war.
Remember the "freedom fries" in the U.S. House cafeteria--a reflection of anger at France for its opposition to the Iraq war? Well, this isn't about fighting a war. It's about fighting for peace.
The French can't expect their diplomatic efforts to be taken seriously if they're not willing to back talk with commitment.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
French To Alter Uniforms For Lebanon Deployment
Given genuine concerns over the UN mandate and the fear that French forces might come under fire in their peace keeping role in Lebanon, French military authorities have opted to use an alternate uniform for the 200 or so engineers they will be deploying in Lebanon.
The new uniform is said to be more clearly identifiable as a UN force due to its incorporation of the traditional UN blue and white.
While some critics argue the new uniforms make it difficult to determine whether French troops are actually advancing forward, or retreating to the rear, French President Jacques Chirac responded, "How is that different from the impression French forces usually impart?"
http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2006/08/french_to_alter.html
I see that France sent 49 troops so far, but they surrendered as soon as they got off the boat.
hat tip to Riehl
49 troops.
What will they do...other than play more volleyball ?
Hey! Tell it to the dems! They think we can win by being all talk and no action. Must have learned it from the French.
I don't think there is one.
Someone here posted a very short list of French military victories.
Plus jokes that their tanks only have gears in reverse.
I think it is "lashaft"
What's also interesting about this piece, is that it is an editorial (not a letter to the editor) from the Chicago Tribune.
The french are all talk with anyone else providing the labor.
ta.
A CDC poster for the Hantavirus child, Rodent?????
ROTFLMAO!!!!!
SA, you come up with the greatest pix and graphics!
Hmmm...doesn't really look much like a frog...
They only had 400 White Flags left from WWII.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
And it's in stunning UN Blue!
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