Thursday, September 28, 2006
The Teeth of the U.N.
UNbelievable the power of U.N. resolutions. 6 weeks later and the terrorists (which the UN still refuses to define) are still armed.
But the multinational troops, who now number 5,000, are acutely aware that their presence could become unpopular if they are viewed as supporting Israel's attempts to eliminate Hezbollah's arms.
French peacekeepers setting up base near the town of Deir Kifa noted they had encountered a less-than-friendly reception from some residents, who defiantly waved yellow Hezbollah flags.
"We mustn't be seen as an occupying force — the people can reject us very quickly," said Col. Jerome Salle.
He said the U.N. troops would mount patrols but would not establish checkpoints on public roads, to avoid inflaming residents.
Gen. Alain Pelligrini, the French officer who commands the U.N. force, said the peacekeepers wouldn't even act if they saw weapons being carried openly by Hezbollah fighters.
"No, I would ask the Lebanese army to intervene and if the Lebanese army has difficulties in intervening, then we would see what we need to do," he said last week.
Halim Sarhan, who runs a dental laboratory in the market town of Nabatiyeh, expressed a common sentiment when he said no one should try to disarm Hezbollah by force. "There must be political consensus on the issue first," he said.
Hezbollah has said it would agree to disarm only if the government is strong enough to defend Lebanon against Israel — a stance that reflects its own ambitions to become the country's dominant political force.
Read the whole article: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,216364,00.html
I wonder just how long it will take before a "political consensus" disarms Hezbollah.
But the multinational troops, who now number 5,000, are acutely aware that their presence could become unpopular if they are viewed as supporting Israel's attempts to eliminate Hezbollah's arms.
French peacekeepers setting up base near the town of Deir Kifa noted they had encountered a less-than-friendly reception from some residents, who defiantly waved yellow Hezbollah flags.
"We mustn't be seen as an occupying force — the people can reject us very quickly," said Col. Jerome Salle.
He said the U.N. troops would mount patrols but would not establish checkpoints on public roads, to avoid inflaming residents.
Gen. Alain Pelligrini, the French officer who commands the U.N. force, said the peacekeepers wouldn't even act if they saw weapons being carried openly by Hezbollah fighters.
"No, I would ask the Lebanese army to intervene and if the Lebanese army has difficulties in intervening, then we would see what we need to do," he said last week.
Halim Sarhan, who runs a dental laboratory in the market town of Nabatiyeh, expressed a common sentiment when he said no one should try to disarm Hezbollah by force. "There must be political consensus on the issue first," he said.
Hezbollah has said it would agree to disarm only if the government is strong enough to defend Lebanon against Israel — a stance that reflects its own ambitions to become the country's dominant political force.
Read the whole article: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,216364,00.html
I wonder just how long it will take before a "political consensus" disarms Hezbollah.
// posted by Zerin Hood @ 10:29 PM 
