France: Walk Tall and....

[AFAIKnow]

carry a big stick.

Where Did the French Go?

Where Did the French Go?

THROUGHOUT this summer’s crisis in relations between Israel and Lebanon, France has been liberal with its advice and admonitions, as befits the major power it claims to be. Now that the time has arrived to assume the responsibility of a major power, however, France appears suddenly bashful. The consequence for the peace deal it helped broker could be calamitous.

…And, U.N. officials were led to believe, France would take a major role in leading and supplying troops to this international force, which would in turn encourage other nations to participate. Asked on the day the resolution was adopted about the deployment of the U.N. force, France’s U.N. ambassador said, “I think it can be very swift.”
Well, not so swift, it turns out, and possibly not so robust. Now that Israel is withdrawing and Hezbollah fighters are emerging with a swagger, French President Jacques Chirac says he is ready to send only an engineering company of 200 soldiers to join 200 serving in the current, and impotent, U.N. force in Lebanon. The French general who had been commanding that force will remain until his tour expires in February; this is apparently as much as the French had in mind when they talked about “leading” the force.

WTF? All that talk of a cease fire and the gungho attitude that Israel can rest safe with the thought that the UN and the French, foremost, would be the buffer Israel needs if it just quits the invasion. The “confidence” that Hezbollah would be disarmed and Israel would have a buffer force of 30000 troops (half provided by the UN) with France taking the lead seems less of a joke and more of a tragedy now. 400 troops? I think they really should save some to protect themselves at home in case there is an emergency.

What I really think is as soon as this house of cards collapses, like it definitely will, the french troops better run as fast as they can back home or Israel might have another “accident” on targeting. I have the feeling that round two will make round one look like a warm up. We would only wish less than a thousand civilians had been killed. What a fucking farce. No wonder Israel doesn’t trust anyone for their well being.