Pentagon Again Objects To U.S. Peacekeepers

The U.S. Defense Department continues to oppose a State Department proposal for the deployment of U.S. troops to serve as peacekeepers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Administration sources said senior Pentagon officials have warned President George Bush against sending U.S. troops to serve in any international peacekeeping force. The administration is considering a United Nations and European Union proposal to form a peacekeeping mission that would separate Israeli and Palestinian forces and impose a ceasefire.

A proposal for a limited U.S. military presence has been supported by the State Department, the sources said. But the Pentagon has objected, saying U.S. military personnel is stretched and the American presence would draw attacks from Islamic insurgents.

"I'm a long way from seeing where peacekeepers fit into a plan," Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said. "But if someone shows me how it happens, I think it's worth considering anything that might work in the situation."

If there are any U.S. soldiers our leadership would like to see dead, this is the way to go about it. There is no question that troops deployed in this fashion would serve not only as bullet magnets (like most "peacekeepers"), but also targets for bomb, mortar and rocket attacks that would be near impossible to anticipate (other than that they would definitely take place) and extremely difficult to defend against. The Israeli military -- more skilled and experienced in this area than U.S. forces would be -- still posts casualties almost daily, both inside and outside the "occupied territories".

Defense is right and State is wrong. Putting U.S. troops in Israel would be like pouring gasoline on a fire, and certainly would not bring about anything approaching peace. Considering Arab sentiments about Americans and our alliance with Israel, it is incredible that this is even being discussed.

The place for U.S. soldiers is in war or training for war, not as living targets for bloodthirsty terrorists.

Imal

The EU needs to put its money where its mouth is. If they want to make so much commotion about the situation in the Middle East- THEY need to supply the Peacekeepers. I just about guarantee if the Bush admin put it to the Euroweenies in just such terms- you wouldn't hear another peep out of our brethren across the Atlantic. (could you imagine the collective snicker from the Arab world if the French announced that they were going to provide the peacekeepers?)

The U.S. Defense Department continues to oppose a State Department proposal for the deployment of U.S. troops to serve as peacekeepers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Good for them! While we are at it,how about getting Bubba-2 to bring our troops back from the Baltics?

(could you imagine the collective snicker from the Arab world if the French announced that they were going to provide the peacekeepers?)

I ain't buying "snickering". I WOULD buy "Party on,Omar!","Party on,Abdullah!",as the Arabs discover they have FINALLY found somebody who will surrender to THEM.

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