No Troop Commitments for Lebanon

[cal04]

Support is building quickly for an international military force to be placed in southern Lebanon, but there remains a small problem: where will the troops come from?

The United States has ruled out its soldiers’ participating, NATO says it is overstretched, Britain feels its troops are overcommitted and Germany says it is willing to participate only if Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia that it would police, agrees to it, a highly unlikely development.

“All the politicians are saying, ‘Great, great’ to the idea of a force, but no one is saying whose soldiers will be on the ground,” said one senior European official. “Everyone will volunteer to be in charge of the logistics in Cyprus.”

There has been strong verbal support for such a force in public, but also private concerns that soldiers would be seen as allied to Israel and would have to fight Hezbollah guerrillas who do not want foreigners, let alone the Lebanese Army, coming between them and the Israelis.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/25/world/middleeast/25force.html?hp&ex=1153800000&en=c674155d78f8c777&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[bluestateguy]

1. Stationing troops would just be asking for October, 1983 all over again

No. Fucking. Way.

[TomInTib]

2. This cannot be allowed to happen, no matter the aggressor

Invade another country and expect the world to carry your water?

No effing way.

Not again. Not after Iraq.

[Drum]

3. D I Y nt

[Eugene]

4. Reuters: NATO says discussion of Mideast role premature

NATO says discussion of Mideast role premature

By Mark John
Reuters
Wednesday, July 26, 2006; 9:06 AM

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Discussion of a possible NATO role in ending hostilities
between Israel and Hizbollah is premature, alliance Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer said on Wednesday, while not excluding such a role outright.

"This is not the moment," he told reporters in Brussels of indications by Israeli
officials that they would welcome such a role within a robust multinational force
on its border with Lebanon.

<snip>

He said it was unclear what mandate such a force would have, who would participate
in it and how it would be received in the region.

<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/26/AR2006072600484.html

[saigon68]

5. Who is going to get involved in the RELIGIOUS WAR?

NO ONE SANE that's for sure