Posted on 08/17/2006 10:24:11 AM PDT by mojito
Le Monde reports France will only send 'symbolic' force of 10 officers, 200 troops to region. UN to try and convince country to send more soldiers.
France wants to send a small, purely symbolic contingent to the strengthened UN force in Lebanon , and the United Nations is trying to convince French officials that a decision to send so few would be devastating, a French newspaper said Thursday.
Although France has been widely expected to lead the force, Le Monde newspaper reported that it planned to contribute only 10 officers and a contingent of 200 military engineers to the force to stabilize southern Lebanon.
UN officials learned that Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie was planning to announce the small contribution on a television interview Wednesday night and persuaded her to delay the announcement, the report said. Le Monde, which cited unidentified diplomatic sources, said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was expected to call President Jacques Chirac on Thursday to persuade France to make a larger commitment.
Col. Philippe Tanguy, a Defense Ministry spokesman, declined to comment on the Le Monde report, stressing that France believes it is essential to clarify the force's mandate before deciding on a number of troops. A Foreign Ministry spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
The UN force is expected to grow from a current 2,000 peacekeepers to 15,000 under a new Security Council resolution, joining an estimated 15,000 Lebanese troops who are to move south of the Litani River, about 18 miles (30 kilometers) from the Israeli border.
French Gen. Alain Pellegrini heads the UN force, called UNIFIL.
The defense minister, in an interview with France-2 television on Wednesday, said the mandate of the strengthened new force is still "fuzzy" and issued a stern warning to the United Nations to spell out its exact mission and rules of engagement.
She said France was willing to continue leading the force through February, but that it was premature to talk about a number of troops.
"When you send in a force and its mission is not precise enough, and its resources are not well adapted or large enough, that can turn into a catastrophe, including for the soldiers that we send," She said.
France is demanding a more specific mandate for the force, including when it may use firepower. UN diplomats and officials say France's reticence to give a number has held up announcements of troop commitments from other countries. Le Monde said UN officials believed it would be "Devastating" If France gave a small contribution, as it would discourage other countries from committing sizable contingents.
They're going to send small mimes.
I AM SHOCKED I TELL YOU!/sarcasm on.
LAUGH OF THE DAY.
"We want zee world to know, we are not cowards."
With white faces and flags to match?
LOL! France queers the deal again! How many other countries are contributing? If they follow France's example what we have is a Lebanese Army in place which is inferior to Hezbollah and sympathetic to them anyway with token forces from others. Oh, and by the way no one will attempt to disarm Hezbollah. This is a joke, only no one in Israel is laughing.
I hope Israel realizes that it's on its own. Neither the UN nor the US has been of any help. In fact we've made matters worse.
The problem is exacerbated by their government now being in turmoil (perhaps too strong a word) over the way the war was handled. We here in America should take a good look at Israel and understand this is what one gets with liberal governments; indecision and inability to conduct war properly.
Prayers for Israel. They need them.
To be fair, that is the only kind of force France has.
You don't frighten us, English pig-dogs! Go and boil your bottom, sons of a silly person. I blow my nose at you, so-called Arthur King, you and all your silly English k-nnnnniggets. Thpppppt! Thppt! Thppt! ....I don't wanna talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries! ...
...No. Now, go away, or I shall taunt you a second time-a! 
This thread needs Belly Girl.
~snorrfle!~ You KNOW I love zee pictures! Mais, un moment, where are zee white flags? Mon dieu!
They've got their own terrorists to babysit. I mean, "disenfranchised yutes".
Symbolic = we don't plan on doing a darn thing...
(other than bolting at the first sign of trouble)
Shocked? not me! The UN did not enforce the 2000 Resolution 1559 and look what Hizbollah did in the face of a small UN contingent force. Look for Israel vs. Hizbollah II 'The Rematch ' coming soon. Thanks courageous Frogs for mucking it up again.
Let's see, 210 soldiers and officers. Do you suppose it is a coincidence that 210 is exactly the number of white flags currently in the French inventory?
ROTF!!
Knock, knock
Qui il-y-a? (Who's there.)
Nous nous rendons! (We surrender.) 
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
No one over 5'1" tall?
They'll never get 15,000 UN troops into the ceasefire zone. They'll never get 15,000 Lebanese Army troops in there either. They will get 15,000 Hezbus + Syrian troops in there first.
So the deal was France would say anything to get the ceasefire Iran and Syria wanted (to protect Hezzbolah)--then go back on most everything it promise to get the ceasefire.
There is a payoff somewhere. Follow the money.
I'm stuned...
The idea is to give Israel a break so they can consult with everyone and come up with a better strategy and tactics scenario. I was expecting the IFD to stack Hezzbos like cordwood. So were they. It didn't happen.
On to plan 'B'. BTW, what good is a DMZ that's 20 miles wide, when the Iranians are supplying 100-mile missiles? No, this was a warm-up for a really big show coming to Lebanon and Syria very soon. My bet? Iran will stay out and send help.
Vichy still lives! The ghosts of Petain, Laval, and Darlan are rejoicing in Hell!
Must be the honor graduates from the school of French Surrender.
Right.
2,000 UN soldiers have proved to be useless.
15,000 UN soldiers will prove to be what?
Next to useless?
Don't know what kind of intel your basing all that on, but I certainly hope it's accurate.
Providing the resources, Mme. Alliot-Marie, is your job. But you can't of course, having spent it all on 35-hour work weeks and a gigantic welfare state, so a few weeks of being a great-power poseur will have to do.
My favorite line from Al Bundy: "I'm shaking like a french soldier."
Maybe there is a shortage of white flags in France? You wouldn't send in your army without its proper equipment would you?
" Oh, and by the way no one will attempt to disarm Hezbollah. This is a joke, only no one in Israel is laughing."
Israel can disarm Hezbollah.
Then they should have done it when they had the chance.
"Then they should have done it when they had the chance.z"
Soldiers are under orders. If they get stupid orders from stupid politicians, are you going to blame them?
Belly Girl......Thank You.
Re post 29. I hope you are right.
Soldiers have lost wars for centuries because of stupid political decisions. The fate of the state is the same as if the Army lost on the field of battle. You're engaging in sophistry by making the distinction.
I would like to see you say that to an Israeli soldier. Sophistry will disappear if you deal with reality.
Whatever
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