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Mission Unaccomplished
The Opinion Journal ^ | August 21, 2006 | Wall Streeet Journal

Posted on 08/21/2006 4:49:18 AM PDT by libstripper

Most U.N. resolutions don't have the shelf-life of a gallon of milk, which isn't always a bad thing. But in the case of Resolution 1701--the cease-fire agreement for Lebanon and Israel adopted unanimously this month by the Security Council--things seem to be going sour even faster than that. And that is cause for serious unease.

On Thursday, Jacques Chirac confirmed a Le Monde report that his government was prepared to offer only some 200 combat engineers (in addition to the 200 French troops already in Lebanon) to what is supposed to be the resolution's centerpiece: A 15,000-man U.N. force that will help the Lebanese army patrol their southern border and ensure that Hezbollah will no longer use the area as a staging ground for future attacks against Israel.

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2006israelwar; ceasefire; geopolitics; hezbollah; lebanon; rice; unres1701
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Well, duh. Who'da thunk it?
1 posted on 08/21/2006 4:49:18 AM PDT by libstripper
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To: 1rudeboy

More...


2 posted on 08/21/2006 4:52:30 AM PDT by DB (©)
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To: libstripper

I think it's impressive the French surrendered before they even committed troops.
At least they're getting more efficient.


3 posted on 08/21/2006 4:54:41 AM PDT by dyed_in_the_wool ("O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends" - Koran 5.51)
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To: dyed_in_the_wool

Did you see the French engineers arriving in 2 rubber boats? Funny.


4 posted on 08/21/2006 4:55:56 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (.)
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To: 1rudeboy

"She also believed French promises, so it'd be good to know if she now feels she was lied to."


5 posted on 08/21/2006 4:56:26 AM PDT by DB (©)
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To: libstripper
Resolutions based on the expectation that muslims are normal human beings, or that have the collective character of a carrot have consistently failed since the UN was created...

What's remarkable is that so many normal countries fail to act or respond accordingly.

6 posted on 08/21/2006 4:56:28 AM PDT by Publius6961 (MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
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To: libstripper

So the French surrendered on their OWN resolution BEFORE it even took effect!!!! That has to be something of a record even for them.


7 posted on 08/21/2006 4:57:17 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (History shows us that if you are not willing to fight, you better be prepared to die)
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To: libstripper

If just 74 more countries pony up 200 troops each (after the French example) the force will be complete. Of course, have the force will have to be interpreters.


8 posted on 08/21/2006 4:59:49 AM PDT by SampleMan
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To: ClaireSolt
Did you see the French engineers arriving in 2 rubber boats?

It was hilarious. If you had a big needle, you could have sunk the entire landing force of two whole rubber rafts.

9 posted on 08/21/2006 5:00:30 AM PDT by Bahbah (Goldwasser, Regev and Shalit, we are praying for you...and now Steve and Olaf.)
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To: Publius6961

The remarkable thing is that our posters on this issue have all held the view that this cease fire wasn't worth the paper it was written on, and for the reasons that are now developing. It's astounding that the allegedly normally intelligent double domes at the State Department, who supposedly have greater knowledge of these things than we mere peons, couldn't see this would inevitably happen.


10 posted on 08/21/2006 5:02:35 AM PDT by libstripper
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To: libstripper

For too many of them politics is about today and not tomorrow.


11 posted on 08/21/2006 5:10:39 AM PDT by DB (©)
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To: libstripper
It's astounding that the allegedly normally intelligent double domes at the State Department, who supposedly have greater knowledge of these things than we mere peons, couldn't see this would inevitably happen.

I believe you make the erroneous assumption that the State Department is on our side.

The goal of the State Department is 1.) Undermine Bush and 2.) Undermine a strong US.

I for one would like to see that bunch of humps scattered to the 4 winds (but what president would have the cojones to do that?)

12 posted on 08/21/2006 5:13:35 AM PDT by IncPen (Bush Iraq Truth WMD http://freedomkeys.com/whyiraq.htm)
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: dyed_in_the_wool
Didn't the US support this cease-fire? It's easy to make fun of the french, but there wouldn't be any UN resolution without the US. As for making fun of other countries, I promise to make broad sweeping generalizations about americans when you elect President Hilary Clinton and speaker Nanci Pelosi.
14 posted on 08/21/2006 5:28:20 AM PDT by cicero106
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To: libstripper

"It's astounding that the allegedly normally intelligent double domes at the State Department, who supposedly have greater knowledge of these things than we mere peons, couldn't see this would inevitably happen."

To the libs that infest the State Department the results don't matter, it's the good intentions that matter to them. Besides, I don't think Condi or Dubya really believed that the cease fire would hold for any significant period. They are looking at a long term strategy that extends well beyond the current strife.

While the cease fire clearly helps the Hezbo's, it also gives the IDF and Olmert a chance to evaluate their execution of their initial response to the terrorists aggression. Hopefully, Israel can learn from their errors and be more effective in the next round. The initial instinct to attack Hezbollah was absolutely the right decision, but they need to ditch the unreasonable reliance on air power. The combined force of air and ground attacks, if properly coordinated, will achieve a much better result that an over emphasis on air strikes and using ground troops as an after thought.


15 posted on 08/21/2006 5:30:20 AM PDT by GLH3IL (What's good for America is bad for liberals.)
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To: libstripper
Burkina Faso and Togo are both sending a Shaman, that's gotta count for something.


UN mocking ~~off~~

16 posted on 08/21/2006 5:30:26 AM PDT by Condor51 (Better to fight for something than live for nothing - Gen. George S. Patton)
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To: libstripper

I have a "tin foil hat" theory. We had to know the cease fire was doomed from the start (mainly because UN or Lebanon troops will not disarm Hezbollah.) However, what if the purpose of the ceasefire, was merely to have a ceasefire during the Aug. 22nd period, so that Iran could not have a "reason" for an attack on Israel (if that's what they're planning.)


17 posted on 08/21/2006 5:36:51 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: dawn53
Here's some more foil: Maybe this was a little strategery on the administration's part. Expose in a dramatic way, for all the world to see just how ineffectual the UN truly is and at the same time give Israel the cover it needs to continue, and eventually expand, its operations there.
18 posted on 08/21/2006 5:44:18 AM PDT by ItsForTheChildren
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To: cicero106
Didn't the US support this cease-fire? It's easy to make fun of the french, but there wouldn't be any UN resolution without the US.

True, but the US did not make a troop commitment that was part of the cease fire and then renege, as the French are doing.

As for making fun of other countries, I promise to make broad sweeping generalizations about americans when you elect President Hilary Clinton and speaker Nanci Pelosi.

Foreigners already ridicule the US due to Bush, I would not expect different should Hillary or Pelosi ascend. Also, French military prowess has been a topic of humor going on 80 years now, unless I missed some great exploits that haven't been circulated. Between the Greenpeace debacle, the fact that their only carrier isn't seaworthy, etc., I'm surprised someone would take umbrage. Are you French, by any chance?
19 posted on 08/21/2006 6:36:58 AM PDT by dyed_in_the_wool ("O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends" - Koran 5.51)
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To: dyed_in_the_wool

You will be in good company here. "I promise to make broad sweeping generalizations about americans when you elect President Hilary Clinton and speaker Nanci Pelosi." So will we!


20 posted on 08/21/2006 7:09:19 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (.)
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