Posted on 08/22/2006 2:21:42 AM PDT by jdm
The Indonesian government said Tuesday it would continue with the plan to send peacekeeping troops to Lebanon despite calls from Israel that it cannot accept troop deployment from countries which do not have diplomatic ties.
"It is the United Nations that will decide, not Israel," Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono told reporters at his office here.
Indonesia, which doesn't have diplomatic ties with Israel, plans to send 1,000 soldiers to be deployed in Lebanon only under the U.N. banner.
Juwono said the Indonesian military has involved in U.N. peacekeeping operations in the past in several countries to which Indonesia has no diplomatic ties.
"In 1957, the Garuda One contingent joined peacekeeping operations in conflict zones during the battle between Israel and Arab countries," he said.
How about No?
Strange, indeed. I would like to know *why* Indonesia doesn't have diplomatic relations with Israel. Have they denounced "Zionism"? What is their UN voting record on Middle East resolutions?
Indonesia is a heavily Muslim country.
I Smell a Rat
I smell 1001 rats. Annan is the icing on the cake.
yup
Ahaaa... Let them in... These fools don't know anything about Desert Warfare... Good Target Practice for IDF...
This actually goes beyond Israel and Indonesia having diplomatic relations. I don't believe Indonesia thinks Israel should exist. I wouldn't want 1000 people from a nation that hated my nation to guard our border.
There's nothing we can do, Coffee Annan will allow them in and later declare an immediate ceasefire due to mounting U.N. casualties!
yup i'd say your right
Have they even officially recognized Israel as a nation?
Follow the money.
The U.N. pays a per diem of $1,028 per month for every soldier participating in "peacekeeping", no matter how much those countries actually pay their forces at home.
So a country like Indonesia is going to reap profits of 5 to 10 times the amount they actually pay their soldiers at home (and the soldiers may or may not actually be paid a portion of the per diem).
Bottom line: Defense Minister Sudarsono will be receiving about $1,028,000 per month for his boys, which will go more or less into the Ministry coffers.
Given that Indonesia consistently ranks amoung the most corrupt countries in the world (e.g., it is currently in big trouble with the World Bank), it's likely that the per diem cash will be spread around the Ministry in ways that only an Indonesian bureaucrat could imagine.ually be paid a portion of the per diem).
Refs:
http://theredhunter.com/2005/03/crisis_in_the_congo_un_sex_abuse_charges.php
http://insider.washingtontimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20050305-103700-9501r
No, they just want to sure that more armed Muslims are on Israel's border. What could be clearer? The Euros are running away, and the Muslims are stepping in.
I don't wanna work ,where do I sign up?
Don't bother. Most of the peacekeeping money will be funneled back into the Ministry to buy new Benz's and villas in upscale Menteng, Jakarta.
Why doesn't Israel just start bombing the hell out of Lebanon. If indonesia sends troops while Lebanon is being shelled, then we'll know they just wanted to send in troops to help hezbollah.
How about Israel insisting that it send 12,000 troops to southern Lebanon itself?
Interesting comments... thanks.
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