Posted on 08/17/2006 2:16:17 PM PDT by ncountylee
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 17, 2006 (AFP) - The UN on Thursday outlined what it said were "robust but not offensive" rules of engagement for peacekeepers to be deployed in Lebanon and called for urgent troop commitments from member states.
"The draft rules of engagement call for the use of force to prevent the UNFIL area of deployment and operations from being used to hostile activities," Deputy Secretary General Mark Malloch Brown said at talks on the force.
"Robust, yes, but not an offensive force. It is there to keep the peace as a longer term political solution is put in place," he said.
He called on member states to urgently provide firm pledges for troops, warning that any delay threatened the fledgling ceasefire on the ground.
"We must convert promises into firm commitments and commitments into rapid deployments on the ground. Every moment we delay is a moment of risk that the fighting could re-erupt," he said.
"The situation on the ground is tenuous. We must all act with great urgency to construct a lasting ceasefire from the current cessation of fighting." "This will be a strong, robust force equipped and authorised to take all necessary action in its key tasks of supporting the Lebanese army in humanitarian efforts, preventing the resumption of hostilities," he said.
A UN resolution passed last Friday outlines a 15,000-strong international deployment to police the ceasefire between Hezbollah militia and Israel, but countries have proven reluctant to commit to the force due to concerns over its mandate.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailystar.com.lb ...
Deputy Secretary General Mark Malloch Brown is spewing crap once again.
The UN is nothing but a photo op.
Rules of engagement for their phantom army?
Ah yes, the U.N. and it's false teeth, pulled out of the jar for new initiatives like this.
This is the UN. If the IDF shoots at their troops they'll be authorized to shoot back at the IDF. If Hezbollah shoots at them they'll be authorized to shoot back at the IDF.
"Robust but not offensive" is how I like to think I smell after a long hike on a summer's day.
ROE for UNFIL:
1) Blast Israel for any infraction of the ceasefire
2) Blast Israel if they so much as fling harsh words at Hizbolluh
3) Do not blast Hizbolluh even if they release WMD rockets against Tel Aviv; cover their retreat when IDF arrives and see rules 1 & 2.
And what solution would this be??
This is why nobody is committing troops. All they're going to do is get into a shooting war. EVERYBODY knows that due to Olmert and Peretz's incompetence and with UN folly, this is going to reerupt within the next year or so. Probably not that long. Just long enough for Hez to restup and rearm.
At this stage, nobody wants to get into a shooting war with vicious Islam.
"...It is there to keep the peace as a longer term political solution is put in place," he said"
I'm sure my unborn grandchildren will be delighted when the "longter term" solution to the Middle East is put in place.
Finally, a new tagline.
Empty suits love words like "robust". Saying it makes them feel almost masculine.
"Robust rules"
They will be permitted to give stern warnings?
I say within a month. The political situation continues to fester.
There won't be ANY enforcement by Lebanon. There will be no substantial UN force, and whatever shows up will keep there heads down and their "engines running". Syria and Iran will continue to ship arms...this time probably bigger and better. Iran and Syria will continue to infiltrate with specops forces.
While this process accelerates, Israel will get a new, hardline government and Iran will thumb their noses at the UNSC.
Yep, this one's shaping up to be a BIG one.
Hezbollah is not pussyfooting around here - they play for absolute keeps, by all means. They will target any UN force with the same carnage and barbarity that our troops face in Iraq. The French know this - they are wavering right now on their promise of troops - they lost over 60 in the October 1983 attacks that also killed 240 US Marines.
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The French military told the government they wouldn't go without serious ROE and sufficient force to take care of themselves. They want commitment from the government AND from the UN that they can do more than be targets.
It'll be the same for every western army. None of them want anything to do with this folly and they'll refuse to go. The fight isn't over yet.
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