So much for my rose tinted wish-list on who should keep the peace in Lebanon.
The Economist weighs in on the nature of the peacekeeping force:
Behind the scenes, France is emerging as the lead nation in the scheme (see article). Turkey, which has longstanding relations with Israel, may be a leading contributor too, putting a Muslim face on the peacekeeping force.
So a new UN force in Lebanon may risk looking like a Frankenstein’s monster, with French leadership, a mandate from the UN, Muslim legitimacy from Turkey, logistical support from NATO, and money and diplomatic backing from the United States and Britain. In any event, a plan has yet to be agreed that would either disarm Hizbullah or fold its militia into Lebanon’s official army. No country sounds keen to tell its troops to fire on Hizbullah if it disobeys. A UN official says that this question must be settled before an international force can be agreed upon.
Two comments:
I think this whole “Moslem Legitimacy” that the Turkish Army supposedly grants the force is a farce. Doesn’t everyone know that the Turkish army is the upholder of the secular regime in Turkey? The Turkish army protects Turkish nationalism by heavy-handedly suppressing all signs of religiosity in public offices. How are they supposed to grant the peacekeepers so-called Moslem legitimacy? The Turks can come but stop insulting our intelligence.
Don’t mess with the French. The French might have a reputation for fine wine and sophisticated cuisine, but they are ruthless on the peacekeeping front.
The French peacekeepers are preventing the two parts of Ivory Coast (The Northern Moslems and the Southern Christians) from getting at each other’s throats (something similar to what it would be required to do in Lebanon). When an Ivorian bomber “accidentally” killed nine French soldiers, the peacekeepers bombed and destroyed the entire Ivorian Air-force.
(Comments are moderated. A free exchange of ideas is welcome, but some comments will be removed. please read policy here. If your comment does not immediately show, it’s probably because I haven’t read it yet or because it doesn’t comply with the policy, please wait and don’t re-post.)
Hello, my name is Mustapha and I've been blogging about Lebanese society, business and politics since February 2005.
Can’t trust the French to do anything other than care about the French. We saw that in Bosnia, where they assisted the Serbs in committing war crimes, and in Afghanistan, where French commanders cut deals with insurgents to leave French troops alone. French troops will surely receive orders to side with the most threatening party present to save French skins while promoting French interests.
That means, of course, betraying their mission by promoting Hezbollah to power again in the hope that will buy the French immunity and prestige.
Your wish list is not possible.
Canada is already extended pretty far. Brazil? Never knew they had the experience necessary to do this. As for Japan, they are not equippied to do this type of task.
Just be happy with whoever arrives, because whoever volunteers will be sending body bags home for a long time.
The french remember theHezb’allah murder of 50+ of their peacekeepers from last time (200+ US marines too). They will definitely want to see Hezb’allah disarmed if not eradicated.
“The French peacekeepers are preventing the two parts of Ivory Coast (The Northern Moslems and the Southern Christians) from getting at each other’s throats (something similar to what it would be required to do in Lebanon). When an Ivorian bomber “accidentally” killed nine French soldiers, the peacekeepers bombed and destroyed the entire Ivorian Air-force.”
France is a party in Cote d’Ivoire, like Syria was in Lebanon. It’s anti-government and pro-rebel. Besides bombing the Ivoria ‘air force’ (two biplans and a spitfire) is not the most courageous thing to do.
Mustapha–
So much for my rose tinted wish-list on who should keep the peace in Lebanon.
Yes it did seem pretty rose tinted to me. My immediate thought was you were going to have to take who you could get – with a FEW vetos. You can veto the US. (YEAAAAAA!!!! ) The world wasn’t exactly rushing to volunteer, a few countries excepted, with stringent conditions.
Doesn’t everyone know that the Turkish army is the upholder of the secular regime in Turkey? The Turkish army protects Turkish nationalism by heavy-handedly suppressing all signs of religiosity in public offices.
All this used to be true but isn’t anymore, or not nearly as much. The current government is Islamist-lite, not secular. Headscarves are now all over. And besides, many analysts think that over the years the Turkish army has tended on balance to promote Turkish modernization and a kind of Turkish democracy that’s better than most other places in the Muslim middle east. Middle Eastern Muslim lands, most of them, don’t transition easily to democracy.
OK Lebanon has recently been looking good. It’s a country with a long tradition of a strong entrepreneurial middle class. A lot of Christians as well. And for some reason I’d love someone explain to me the Lebanese variety of Sunnis seem particularly mercantile and entrepreneurial as well. But Lebanon’s multiple culture democracy is very fragile and I’m afraid to say uncertain to last. Looks to me like there’s a real danger of a Hezbollah takeover before long if you guys don’t stand them down. Without a civil war. Seems like shortly will be your ideal chance.
Mustapha,
The Turkish army protects Turkish nationalism by heavy-handedly suppressing all signs of religiosity in public offices.
Isn’t the connection between public service and the signs of Islamic religiosity (ala ‘The Turbans’ as they call them in Iraq) the big problem with establishing modern, liberal democracies in the Middle East?
Turkey has its own problems, but I would think a nation as historically and tragically divided by religion as is Lebanon (Christian, Sunni, & Shi’a) would benefit by taking that particular card from Turkey’s deck.
Anyway, I can assure you that Muslim Turk’s hate Jews and oppress Christians (and other minorities) almost as much as Arab M.E. nations do, so you need not fear for their legitimacy in that regard. Besides, who else does this “peacekeeping force” really have to chose from for it’s “Muslim legitimacy”? Syria? Iran? Hamas?
There are advantages to Turkey providing so-called “Muslim legitimacy”, but lets face it, Islamic extremists don’t have a problem with killing other Muslims…it’s just that Arab newspapers don’t rend their clothes so much (or at all) when that happens.
“When an Ivorian bomber “accidentally” killed nine French soldiers, the peacekeepers bombed and destroyed the entire Ivorian Air-force.”
Geez. Talk about disproportionate response. Are you sure the French are the right people for the job? I can just see the headlines.
Germans would make good peace keepers. They have a long standing historical association with Israel going back to the last world wars, and it appears that they get on well:)
Keep fighting for peace (Shanti)!!
Om Shanti OHM
To Solomon2
I am not French but I know French very well. This is the only country that stands against any crime in the world and now in this war. You as Israeli do not like French I don’t know why; I noticed it in the beginning of the Iraqi war where my Jewish coworker was criticizing the France for not supporting US. All what can I say is that you Jewish people with your Zionist 2000 year old fanatic organization responsible of all revolutions crimes and wars in the world. This is a fact. You will be punished for your crimes, I believe it!
Outsider
Maybe the International troops should be under Israeli Command, that would be the best solution!!!!!!!!!!!
The Arabs have fought the Turks back in WWI, they have done so alongside the Britts, Arab Muslims collaborated with the Christian Britts to crush the Muslim Ottoman empire! I’d feel more comfortable having the so called ‘Muslim’ Turkish face of peacekeepers replaced by troops from Norway!
Israel seems to be going all the way! Quite possibly north of the Litany, deep into the Becca Valley and probably into Beirut! I don;t think there would be any peace keepers arriving in Lebanon anytime soon. This will be another bloody, messy war…. quite unnecessary in my view! Innocent civilians, on the Lebanese side in particular; will bare the brunt of the Israeli war mongers.
France as peacekeepers,
Hah, hah, hah, hah.
They are the only army that I know that brings with them a good supply of white flags.
Want to by a french gun. It has hardly been used. It has only been dropped twice.
The Economist has a long history of promoting Turkey even as its “secular” military was wiping out Kurdish villages in the 1990s. Actually Syria is far more secular than Turkey. Ask Christians where they have more freedom but don’t expect the Economist to ever acknowledge this simple fact. The Economist is 100% behind Turkey as it violates UN resolutions by occupying northern Cyprus (the excuse of protecting the Turkish Cypriot minority is no longer valid since Cyprus is in the EU), but you will never read the Economist showing sympathy for the much larger Russian community in Latvia who are denied language and passport rights.
Turkey does not make a suitable peacekeeper for many reasons but the Economist and others will promote it for their own geo-strategic reasons (I read somewhere of plans for undersea oil pipelines from Ceyhan – BTC pipeline to Israel and a parallel water pipeline to Israel from Turkey)
If we are after secular Muslim countries as peacekeepers then there is Malaysia, Tunisia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.
The Economist like many in the UK/US establishment sees its function as “selling” foreign policy to its readers. When has it ever disagreed with the UK Foreign office? That’s freedom of expression for you!
As for Israel being unhappy with French peacekeeping. Was it unhappy when France and the UK joined it to attack Egypt in 1956?
The Appeal
During all the centuries the Jews were exiled from various countries. (By the way, the word Hebrew means one who crossed over – that name received Abraham from the tribes who lived here when he had come here, here – that is, to the land where the G-d (Allah) had directed him to, that is, to the territory where the Jews live now. And, notice, he lived in peace with them all! Through giving respect to all of them!)
A little more than 50 years ago, at last, a place appeared where the Jews could live quietly. But far from it. During these 50 years there were 6-7 times when the country was attacked and it had to defend itself. Pay attention – Israel did not attack, it was attacked itself!
How long can it last for?!
Now, let us suppose that nation will no more exist, but ALL, absolutely ALL AROUND IS SATURATED by the culture and religion of that nation!
Judaism lays in the fundamentals of the Christianity, and Jesus himself is Jewish!
Judaism lays in the fundamentals of Islam.
All the European culture, all the Moslem culture – are multifarious, renovated in accordance to the climat, BUT are reiteration of the Judaism!
How should You be able to draw out of Yourself all these things? Would You start to cut Your own arms and legs etc, where the Jewish elements are kept in You?!
Become competent, at last! Read the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Koran, and You’ll see how much Jews You are, – You are the ones who crossed over, who are crossing over their own Rubicons, their own tasks!
Each of you is a Hebrew in that sense.
Or else You would have to annihilate Yourself, all at once or one after one, otherwise You will be for ever the very thing You deny!
Regain consciousness!