U.N. envoys will suggest the deployment of Lebanese troops in south

[bigtree]

UN team to suggest steps to ease Lebanon crisis

19 Jul 2006 07:26:47 GMT
Source: Reuters
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19520786.htm

JERUSALEM, July 19 (Reuters) - U.N. envoys will suggest the deployment of Lebanese troops in southern Lebanon and enlarging an international force there to try to end fighting between Israel and Hizbollah, diplomats said on Wednesday.

They said the proposed steps would be presented to Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York following talks this week between the envoys and top Israeli and Lebanese officials.

But the Western diplomats said this did not mean they already had the agreement of Israel, Lebanon or Hizbollah on the measures to end the conflict.

[cantstandbush]

1. You mean the Lebanese troops that Israel keeps bombing and killing?

Why would they do that? They may as well join Hizbollah; Israel treats them all the same.

[bigtree]

2. I think it depends on the mission of the buffer force.

The one thing they can do is direct the focus of the forces to the ones who are firing on Israel, and help protect innocent Lebanese lives. I do agree that it will be a tricky move to do that without inviting retaliation from Hizbollah forces. But, if there are negotiations concerning the prisoners and the Israeli captives, that are initiated along with the deployment under an umbrella of a cease-fire, there may be a chance to quell the violence.

A huge problem lies with extremists on both sides who see this as the beginning of the great war they envisioned all along, and who still think that implementing some overwhelming force ending in the destruction of their opponent is the inevitable course. But, I hold out just as much hope that the combatants can be reigned in and yoked to the peace that the majority in the region want, despite the idiocy and militarism of their leaders.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

3. They haven't killed that many Lebanese troops.

They've mostly killed civilians. And the Lebanese army is under orders not to fight the Israelis.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. No *that* many, but they did bomb an army barracks

which shows the Lebanese army is regarded as another bit of Lebanese state apparatus to be "set back 20 years" - ie to when there was civil war.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

6. Thanks, I must have missed that one.

It's getting difficult to follow exactly what's going on. Too much data.

[bigtree]

7. It was an outpost that was described by the Israelis as having a

Hizbollah connection somehow.

Israel would be open to Lebanese troops (effectively) patrolling the south, with caveats:

"Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday Israel would pursue its offensive until the two captured soldiers were released, Lebanese army troops controlled all of southern Lebanon and Hizbollah guerrillas were disarmed."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L18105382.htm

[Laotra]

5. No

Of course the Lebanese army is not under orders to defend their country. They are just incapable of.