| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| UNIFIL suggests force against Israel |
| 2006-10-19 |
| THE commander of UN troops in Lebanon overnight suggested that the rules of engagement for his forces might have to be changed to allow future use of force to stop continuing Israeli air violations of Lebanese air space. General Alain Pellegrini, commander of the UNIFIL force in Lebanon, told a press briefing here that currently the UN was relying on diplomacy to try to end the violations. "If the diplomatic means should not be enough, maybe it could be considered other ways," he said, referring to the possible use of anti-aircraft missiles equipping French forces in Lebanon. But Gen Pellegrini made it clear that such a move would require "new rules of engagement drafted and decided here (at UN headquarters)". He said the issue of Israeli incursions into Lebanese air space was "of major concern" for UNIFIL. French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who arrived in Washington yesterday for a four-day visit, raised the issue in talks with President George W. Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley. On a military level "the situation (in Lebanon) is calm but fragile", Ms Alliot-Marie told Mr Hadley yesterday. She said that it was "important to avoid anything that may seem to revive the violence" such as Israeli air force flights over Lebanese air space. UN diplomats played down Gen Pellegrini's suggestion and made it clear that there was no plan to change UN rules of engagement in Lebanon. And Israel's UN envoy Dan Gillerman also cast doubt on Gen Pellegrini's remarks. "General Pellegrini more than anybody else knows exactly why the UNIFIL force is there. It is not because of Israel," he said. But Gen Pellegrini insisted that Israeli air violations were a "clear violation" of Security Council resolution 1701 which ended the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon in August. "They are not to be accepted. Every time these occur, we report them first to the Secretary General immediately and we protest to the Israelis," Gen Pellegrini said. He said that at the moment UNIFIL had "no other means to prevent these kinds of violations" than diplomacy. But he pointedly said that the French contingent of UNIFIL was currently equipped with "anti-aircraft missiles but only for its self-defense". "If I have this means to protect my soldiers, I'll use them, in self-defense only," he said. Asked whether he was suggesting using force to stop the Israeli violations, he said: "This has to be considered". Gen Pellegrini also touched on reports of continued weapons smuggling from Syria into Lebanon, in violation of Resolution 1701. "We have not spotted any person with any weapons in the (UNIFIL) area of operation between the Litani River and the Blue Line border demarcation with Israel," the French general said. He said that if smuggling did occur, "it was outside my area of operation, in the Bekaa Valley, along the border with Syria". Mr Gillerman meanwhile said Israel was collecting evidence of alleged weapons smuggling from Syria. "We are in the process of collecting this evidence and verifying it and as soon as we have what I believe will be clearcut and conclusive evidence we will present it," he told reporters. Gen Pellegrini also said he was pleased with the "rapid expansion" of UNIFIL on the ground. He put the force's current strength at 7200 but said it would not reach its peak of 15,000 which was authorised by resolution 1701. Share this article (What is this?) |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #23 I cannot see Franch launching nuclear weapons against Israel. It forever would cement WWII Vichy as their true intention. Saddest of all, even if France is doing this to appease their domestic Muslim population, they are still only feeding the crocodile. Morons. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-10-19 23:50 |
| #22 Ima engineer, I think of bad things and plan for them. I create targets for the military, heh. Throwin this out to you. Let us say that Hizb starts some kind of *ahem* incident. IDF retaliates. UNIFIL Frenchies launch AA missiles at IDF planes. IDF sez, "holy schitskis, WTF are they doing? What will we do? IDF takes out batteries, killing Frenchies. Then Chiraq and Co consider it an act of war and start rattling nukes, despite their histor of being pussies. Now what happens? I can this thing getting out of hand and France becoming Iran's proxy in the destruction of Israel. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-10-19 22:40 |
| #21 I adore you, Frank G. Thank you so much! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-10-19 22:34 |
#20 JohnyRubin, interesting that you would dignify all that with the attribution of being an idea?? I've noticed slippage,in recent,mostly alarming ways but now I'll be damned if it's not starting to resemble dementia... dementia expertize eh little johnny LOL! EG: "Inforce(sic) Martial Law, shoot to kill(as opposed to trying to talk someone out of it?), summary trials on the spot in the greater Baghdad area (as opposed to summary detention,torture and murder?)." how bout you and me johny, K-Bars locked in a phone booth? I'll show summary detention and guts. :-) WHAT?? a sad and sorry excuse for an occupation. thats a bad attitude johnny, look on the bright side the Palistianian and Sunni numbers are going in the right direction. WHAT?? a failed democratization effort. yep the savages and their commie cheerleaders like you J can't handle Democracy yet. WHAT?? a inept and totally failed attempt to demonstrate American superiority!!
|
| Posted by: jumping jehosaphat 2006-10-19 22:16 |
| #19 have a cup of tea TW, they're European. No actual harm or action can follow their threats |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-10-19 22:15 |
| #18 Shit. Somebody say something comforting, please. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-10-19 21:59 |
| #17 So the same people unwilling to send troops to fight the rag tag taliban will take on the Israelis? Idle talk |
| Posted by: john 2006-10-19 21:50 |
| #16 LOL! The UN threatening to fire on the IDF?! I'd pay to see that one. Blue helmets would fly, kiss the French good bye! |
| Posted by: Icerigger 2006-10-19 21:36 |
| #15 And when Hezbollah launches a rocket salvo from south of the Litani into northern Israel, what happens then? |
| Posted by: mrp 2006-10-19 21:35 |
| #14 I'm with RWV. It must be maid clear---beyond any shadow of doubt---to the French manning these batteries that while an incident may be a great success for their political masters---they, personally, are not going to survive it. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-10-19 21:32 |
| #13 I think that UNIFIL talks tough against the Israelis because they can. If they talk tough against Hezbollah, they will disappear in the night with their heads going North and their bodies South. Talk like this makes them feel they are real soldiers instead of stooges in blue helmets. |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-10-19 20:53 |
| #12 I wonder what the quid pro quo is? Quiet in French cities. Fewer injured French cops. Maybe even fewer raped French women, but I don't think the Muslims would give that up. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-10-19 20:30 |
| #11 Not sure what quid pro quo. May be straight blackmail. Europe stands with the muzzies in destroying Israel and the muzzies won't immediately take down their countries from within. Riots can be called on demand - demo France. And muzzies will protect them from the Satans revenge. Puts the UN against US, Australia, UK and Canada - if the latters can stay the course - in demanding no strike back for destroying Israel - (and now with the nukes to back it up - Pak, Rus, prob Iran, DPRK and who all else). Stand off, they'll believe. They believe Israel will be eliminated as they desire and "united" the muzzzies with include Europe under their umbrella. So far, Euro's been paying the blackmail. Or just dancing cause it' fun. |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-10-19 20:23 |
| #10 French trade with Iran, specifically oil on preferential terms I would guess. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-10-19 20:14 |
| #9 I think that was always the plan: To get a nuclear-armed, Muslim-friendly European power in Lebanon, which would then provide a deterrent against Israeli anti-Hezb strikes . French anti-aircraft batteries also provide some cover for Syria, too. I wonder what the quid pro quo is? |
| Posted by: mrp 2006-10-19 20:06 |
| #8 There is so much wrong with this that it is chilling. General Pelligrini is clearly stating his allegiance with terrorists and mapping his intended assistance to their cause. The UN is clearly assisting terrorists by ignoring all demands of 1701 as they apply to the islamists, the blind eye (not my table, sorry) to the re-arming and promising to fire on a country defending itself from the actions condemned in 1701. Freaking chilling. |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-10-19 19:59 |
| #7 Then shut the hell up and refuse to talk to the French. They would poop in their collective coulettes. You kidding? The French would look at it as a chance to return to Jew-killing *AND* get on the good side of their restless Islamic yoots. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-10-19 19:57 |
| #6 Oh gawd, if we just had one operational battlewagon to park off the coast. The instant the Frogs did anything but fart grotesquely we could lay down a pattern and obliterate anything within a 1/2 mile box of the coordinates of the launcher. I think ~ 200 16" shells landing on their heads would clear up their thought process. |
| Posted by: SpecOp35 2006-10-19 19:56 |
| #5 The Israelis could really turn this into a major humiliation for the Europeans by sneaking in some slightly defective surface to air missiles and launching them at Israeli aircraft near the UNIFIL positions. Then forcefully slamming France in particular with committing "acts of war" against Israel, huffily withdrawing their ambassador, and in their national newspapers declare that any other acts of war would have to be treated as national act of war by France, not UNIFIL acts. Then immediately afterwards, launch a few more ineffective missiles at Israeli aircraft for all to see. Then shut the hell up and refuse to talk to the French. They would poop in their collective coulettes. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-10-19 19:52 |
| #4 Somewhere in northern Israel is a map of Lebanon detailing every UN position, weapon and vehicle. The only question is where the map is a list of targets or non-targets. |
| Posted by: Brett 2006-10-19 19:19 |
| #3 After decades of UN sanctioned terrorism, it's about time they finally showed their true colors. I hope they try and I hope Israel blows them all straight to hell. Including their fucking aircraft carrier. If the Europeans are going to pretend that Hezbollah is conforming to Resolution 1701, they are effectively giving the terrorists free reign to rearm. Preventing Israel from monitoring or prosecuting what they refuse to enforce is nothing but abetting terrorism. It is difficult to imagine just how satisfying it would be for Israel if they finally got a chance to blow away the military staff of Hezbollah's European pals. Europe has overtly funded Israel's most dire enemies for so long that the IDF must be salivating at a chance to dole out some paybacks. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-10-19 19:08 |
| #2 'If' they do attack Israeli military with anti-aircraft weapons, then i hope the Israeli's level the entire UN Force in Lebanon and then finish turning the Lebanese clock back another 20 years. |
| Posted by: Glinegum Glerelet8307 2006-10-19 18:59 |
| #1 "If we really want to, we can stop the Jooos from pestering the brave and glorious warriors of Hizbullah". |
| Posted by: Brett 2006-10-19 18:47 |