# Iraq/Kuwait DMZ: UN peacekeepers vs. US marines? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 7, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-kuwait-dmz-un-peacekeepers-vs-us-marines/159795 "2003-03-07T21:09:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-kuwait-dmz-un-peacekeepers-vs-us-marines/159795/1 "2003-03-07T21:09:17Z")
[http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030307/ap\_on\_re\_mi\_ea/un\_iraq\_marines\_10](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030307/ap_on_re_mi_ea/un_iraq_marines_10) > [@](#): > > International peacekeepers have complained to the U.N. Security Council about U.S. Marines that they believe are cutting holes in a U.N.-patrolled fence between Kuwait and Iraq. > > U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said peacekeepers who monitor a demilitarized zone set up after the 1991 Persian Gulf War (news - web sites) between Iraq and Kuwait reported “numerous violations,” since Tuesday “by personnel in civilian clothes in 4 x 4 vehicles, at least some of whom were armed and identified themselves as U.S. Marines.” So … if the USA goes into Iraq without firm Security Council backing, would the UN peacekeepers have to try to stop the US Marines from crossing the DMZ? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-kuwait-dmz-un-peacekeepers-vs-us-marines/159795/2 "2003-03-07T21:42:38Z")
I don’t understand that article at all. Why on earth would Kuwait and the U.S. Marines want to cut holes and install more gates in the fence? So people can drive through, obviously, but in which direction? The U.S. invasion force, if and when it gets the green light, heading towards Baghdad? Why wouldn’t they just roll their tanks over the fence? Seems like it would be faster. > [@](#): > > He said, however, that Kuwait has been making extra openings in the fence. In the last two days, workers from Nepal and India have made seven new gaps and have been installing gates on them. > > The 120-mile fence already had 19 gated openings. > > “We have not seen anyone in uniform,” at the sites of the new openings, Bagga said. > > He said UNIKOM has reported the seven new gaps to the United Nations and asked the Kuwaiti government for an explanation. In a word– Huh? ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-kuwait-dmz-un-peacekeepers-vs-us-marines/159795/3 "2003-03-07T22:11:27Z")
It’s to keep refugees from coming back in the other direction, of course. Usually peacekeepers are only allowed to observe and defend themselves. I suppose they’ll have to stand by and watch, unless a new UN directive changes their role in some way. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-kuwait-dmz-un-peacekeepers-vs-us-marines/159795/4 "2003-03-08T15:12:59Z")
So they’re cutting holes in the fence and installing more gates to facilitate the presumed flood of post-Saddam’s War Iraqi refugees? So they really ought to be checking with the UN before they do that, looks like. And it looks like what the UN observers would do if the U.S. invaded Iraq without Security Council backing would be–they’d “investigate all violations and communicate their findings”. They only have a single mechanized infantry battalion to deal with “small-scale violations”. I don’t think 350,000 U.S. troops pouring through the fence would count as a “small-scale violation”. [http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unikom/background.html](http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unikom/background.html) > [@](#): > > While military observers continue to carry out their original responsibilities, the mechanized infantry battalion is tasked to provide reinforcement patrols in areas where the situation is sensitive and where an infantry force could be required to prevent incidents. The battalion also provides the force mobile reserve capable of rapid redeployment anywhere within the DMZ to prevent or redress small-scale violations of the DMZ and the boundary. Also, where necessary, it provides security for UNIKOM installations. > > The overall situation in the DMZ has remained generally calm, although there were periods of tension in November 1993 resulting from the demarcation of the Iraq-Kuwait boundary, and in October1994 in connection with reports about the deployment of Iraqi troops north of the DMZ. Otherwise, there were only a limited number of incidents and violations of the DMZ. These involved mainly overflights by military aircraft and the carrying or firing of weapons other than side arms. UNIKOM investigated all ground violations and communicated its findings to the parties. It also investigated all written complaints. So, no, it doesn’t look like they have a mandate to try to physically stop a huge number of U.S. troops. Or Iraqi troops, come to that. They’re basically “cops”, and cops aren’t usually expected to hold off the entire Red Army. This is more in their line. [http://www.refugees.org/world/countryrpt/mideast/2001/iraq.htm](http://www.refugees.org/world/countryrpt/mideast/2001/iraq.htm) > [@](#): > > Little is known about some 100,000 stateless Arabs from Kuwait, called Bidoon, who were expelled from Kuwait into Iraq after the Gulf War. In October, about 1,000 Bidoon protesters crossed into the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between Iraq and Kuwait, demanding the right to return to their homes in Kuwait. They erected 38 tents inside the DMZ in violation of the UN Iraq-Kuwait Observers Mission border rules. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-kuwait-dmz-un-peacekeepers-vs-us-marines/159795/5 "2003-03-08T15:17:23Z")
Well, hey, I just found this. They _were_ cutting holes for tanks, not refugees. [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/08/sprj.irq.kuwait/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/08/sprj.irq.kuwait/index.html) > [@](#): > > Kuwait tanks along breached fence > Saturday, March 8, 2003 Posted: 6:07 AM EST (1107 GMT) > > KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait (CNN) – One of Kuwait’s strongest army battalions has positioned its tanks at each of 33 openings recently created in the demilitarized zone fence on its border with Iraq, Kuwait’s Defense Ministry said Saturday. So, huh. And then I found this, from Friday. [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/07/iraq.kuwait.border/](http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/07/iraq.kuwait.border/) > [@](#): > > By U.N. mandate, no military activity other than a police presence by Iraq and Kuwait can take place in the DMZ. Technically, if U.S. troops go through breaches in the demilitarized zone fence to enter Iraq from the south, they would be in violation of Security Council rules, and that would be reported to the United Nations.