On Oct 25, 2006, at 2:14 PM, Dennis Redmond wrote:
> Here's the catch: if Israel decides to bomb an alleged bunker or arms
> depot somewhere, it might accidentally hit UNIFIL lines, and UNIFIL
> does
> have the mandate to protect itself (the French fought very hard for
> this,
> apparently).
If the French even fire on, much less shoot down, an Israeli plane, I'll eat my hat.
Doug
[WS:] Before you consume your headgear, Doug, let put things into perspective. How many times in the past ANY international peacekeeping force engaged local combatants? AFIK, the pattern is that they sit and watch, and if things start getting bad, they withdraw. So why would the French be any different?
>From a tactical point of view, "peacekeeping forces" are sitting ducks, they
can be pushed around by any two-bit pricks - to use the memorable quote.
Their main role is symbolic - they offer face saving to the combatants who
cannot fight anymore but do not want it to look like withdrawal or
capitulation.
Wojtek
Wojtek