Posted on 04/12/2002 10:29:32 AM PDT by browardchad
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration has established guidelines for the deployment of an international peacekeeping force in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Officials said the administration has agreed to the deployment of several hundred troops from several countries who would serve as monitors of any ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. They said the peacekeepers would begin as a small force of about 100 and then expand according to circumstances on the ground, Middle East Newsline reported.
"We're not talking large numbers of troops," U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said. "We're talking about some small numbers of people that we would draw, perhaps from our diplomatic presence there, or send in some other individuals from the State Department and/or other government agencies."
Powell has obtained pledges from several European Union countries to participate in the peacekeeping force. This includes military personnel from
Britain and Germany.
The Defense Department has opposed any U.S. military operation meant to separate Israeli and Palestinian forces. Last week, a U.S. Army study disclosed that 20,000 troops armed with armored personnel carriers, artillery, helicopters and tanks would be required to stop Israeli-Palestinian fighting.
"They would not be inter-positional force, trying to keep people from shooting at each other," Powell said on Wednesday. "They would be monitors and observers, trying to help the two parties keep the agreement they made, we hope, in good faith."
The PA has pressed for an international peacekeeping force that would replace Israel's military in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. On Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres was quoted as saying that he supported an international monitoring force.
Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
This is just more P.R. to buy time until the USA does Iraq.
Actually, since the US will not participate in peace keeping, this forces the Europeans to put up or shut up. They want the US to enforce a ceasefire on Israel, Bush is giving EU the opportunity to show the world how they cave when asked to actually do something about the conflict. This whole thing probably won't happen since the palestinians seem predisposed to war, but as PR, it seems brilliant. EU, be careful what you wish, GW may give it to you.
It's not explicitly stated that the US won't participate, but it's certainly not stated that we will. This could be a countermeasure to yesterday's ranting by Kofi Anan about sending in UN troops to "enforce" the peace...
This will be the vehicle for the PA and the peacekeepers to force the IDF out of the occupied territories.
I envision PA snipers and bomb-throwers picking away at Israeli soldiers, with the peacekeepers showing
up just in time to stop the IDF from finding them.
Without the ability to fight back, the IDF will have to withdraw.
The only way I would accept this plan would be if the PA police, Hamas, and all the population were disarmed first, with periodic sweeps for smuggled weapons.
No way will that happen...
You are absolutely right. There were UN peacekeepers in the Sinai in 1973; they didn't stop the Egyptians from invading Israel. There have been peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon for years; they have never stopped Hezbollah raids, and in fact may have helped to conceal them.
The UN is not a neutral party where Israel is concerned. They are pro-Palestinian, pro-Arab, and anti-Semitic.
Just who is this UN anyway, they have power but no country, they invade but do not fire a shot. How many countrys are under their thumb now?
And I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to conquer. Revelation 6:2
Fox reported the other day that Powell had mentioned "peacekeeping forces," but I didn't see any follow-up until this item today. I also don't recall anyone in the administration definitely ruling our "foreign troops" in this situation, unfortunately.
It is definitely a unwise move, but I am beginning to really wonder, and fear, who and what is driving this "peace process" (peace at any price, it would seem, at this moment).
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