3,500 foreign soldiers committed to Lebanon force

JPost ^ | 8/17/06

[bnelson44]

Several countries have committed late Thursday night to contribute troops to the international force that will operate in Lebanon, as stipulated in the UN-brokered cease-fire agreement accepted earlier in the week by both Israel and Lebanon.

It appeared that Turkey would send 5,000 soldiers, Bangladesh pledged 2 battalions, amounting to some 2,000 troops and Morocco was expected to supply the same amount, while Malaysia would probably deploy 1,000 of its forces. Italy would probably send some 2,000-3,000 forces.

Several hundred soldiers were expected to come from each of Australia, Belgium, Finland, Spain, Portugal, Nepal and New Zealand.

However, only 3,500 soldiers were definitively committed to the international force, Israel Radio reported.

[PC99]

Hezbollah is already preparing roadside bombs and snipers for these guys, if they get serious about trying to disarm them. They are committed to total victory, by any means.

[NonValueAdded]

Sweet Mary and Joseph, might as well have the forces of all those countries start building a tower to the sky. Let's name them the Babel Brigade.

[Zeroisanumber]

Hezbollah is already preparing roadside bombs and snipers for these guys, if they get serious about trying to disarm them. They are committed to total victory, by any means.

If they value their hides, they would be very wise to not attempt that kind of malarkey with the Turks. Those guys are meaner than cat dirt.

[jveritas]

I am glad the Turks are committing so many soldiers. The Turks will not tolerate any Hizballah military activities, they are very tough soldiers.

[StoneWall Brigade]

ohhhhhhh please give me a break there tough soilders my ass you'll see how tough they are when the towelheads put that money in there pockets its a joke the whole thing is a joke

[StoneWall Brigade]

bottom line the whole Un Peace Keeping is a joke there track record speaks for itself

[river rat]

I will be watching the performance of the Turkish troops with the most interest...

Time to see if they're really a non sectarian force...

Semper Fi

[bnelson44]

I'm not sure they will do much to disarm Hezbullah though.

[JerseyHighlander]

You sound like a fool.

jveritas was assuming those who responded to his post had even a facile familiarity with Turkey's military history vis a vis Islamists and Islamic separatist militias.

[shankbear]

The whole international peace keeping force is a cluster of an idea authored by the cheese humpin, wine swilling run and hide French. The frogs probably design all the rag headwear used by the HuzzieMuzzies.

[philetus]

I am glad the Turks are committing so many soldiers. The Turks will not tolerate any Hizballah military activities, they are very tough soldiers."

They're tough and 99% muslims.LOL
Bangladesh? 99% muslim! LOL
Morocco? 99% muslim! LOL
Malaysia? 52% muslim LOL

[SeaBiscuit]

I see the French took their usual route...

[jveritas]

Hizballah control of the South will be greatly diminished with the presence of 30000 Lebanese and international troops. No matter what; Hizballah military activities will be much more restricted and much more clandestine. Before July 12th Hizballah was the absolute Master of the South and will not allow for a single Lebanese army soldiers to be there. After they got beaten very badly by Israel they were forced to agree on the tens thousands of Lebanese and international troops in South. Remember that Hizballah terrorists are no more than 2000 real fighters, Israel killed 600 of them in this war and injured a similar number, destroyed their military infrastructure in the South of Lebanon and Southern Beirut Suburb, destroyed a lot of their weapons, and tunnels. They cannot re-build their force again in the South of Lebanon.

[JerseyHighlander]

Like those Vietnam vets who were in charge during Gulf War I, turkey's military has a generation of officers who have lived with the constant anti-Israeli propaganda/religious incitement in their life experiences.

On the other hand, Israel and Turkey do have training exercises together. The Naval embargo Israel placed on Lebanon was the primary exercise of the last US-Israel-Turkey joint naval exercise in 2005.

Further info: I don't know the source enough to know any bias:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=CHO20060806&articleId=2906

The political media wrangling for internal consumption in Turkey if the ceasefire falls apart with Turkish troops on the ground would be the thermometer on the rise of Islamists and fall of the secular military in Turkey I'd guess.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Hezbollah is already preparing roadside bombs and snipers for these guys

Maybe those tens of thousands of tracphones bought here are heading for Lebanon and Iraq. I doubt you can buy them locally.

[bnelson44]

Hizballah control of the South will be greatly diminished with the presence of 30000 Lebanese and international troops.

Do you really think the Lebanese troops will do anything but cater to Hezbullah? I really don't.

And the international troops have already said they won't disarm anyone.

So, I don't see much happening here except Hezbullah rearming.

[JerseyHighlander]

I don't know if this is anything you've ever put much thought to, but how much of the private economy in southern Lebanon directly owned by Hezbollah's financiers? I'm aware that almost all business pays a "mafia protection tax" for lack of better term to Hez there, but I'd suspect Hez owns certain industries, such as gas stations, construction, cigarette distribution, etc, that allows them quick cash and high profits.

Ever hear anything on this?

I was guessing that was why israel was bombing seemingly random businesses in certain areas of Lebanon, they were either owned by Hez or used as safe houses by Hez.

[jveritas]

Do you know that Turkey has a military alliance with Israel?

[jveritas]

Do you know that Turkey is a member of NATO?