 The war in Lebanon has given France the chance to shine again on the world stage. Many see the French as natural mediators because of the strong historical ties between the two countries.
France's role in helping to negotiate the UN resolution allowed it to continue mending its relations with the US after the past divisions over Iraq.
The good publicity helped both president and prime minister's opinion poll ratings rise by 5%. But the next stage may prove to be a far tougher test.
| “Sadly, all too often, the United Nations forces don't have the power that they asked for.” |
French troops have been called upon to form the backbone of the strengthened UN force in southern Lebanon. Speaking in Beirut, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said France was ready to participate as long as the Lebanese army was deployed in southern Lebanon beforehand.
| Umm, no, you're supposed to help the Leb army, such as it is, deploy, so that the Hezbies can't move back in. We're speaking theoretically of course. |
A survey for the newspaper La Croix found that seven French people out of ten supported the deployment of an international force. However only a small majority - 53% - were in favour of the French military getting involved.
| Send in the mighty Uruguayans! Hell, send in anyone. |
The poll for La Croix suggested relatively strong backing for a French troop deployment among young people. But some are afraid of negative consequences back in France.
French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie voiced concern about deploying troops without clearly defined goals. "France wants the mission's rules of engagement to be clear and it to have real means," she told French TV. "Sadly, all too often, the United Nations forces don't have the power that they asked for."
Since your country helped write the resolution, perhaps the time to demand clarity was while you were writing it. Not that I'm a diplomatic expert or anything, but now the sucker is set in wet sand concrete. |
The main political parties share such reservations. Jacques Myard, an MP in France's governing UMP party and a member of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, told the BBC the last UN resolution did not make it clear how France can act. "I know that a lot of military, high-ranking officials in France are reluctant if this mandate is not very precise," he said.
| You'd think a little wiggle room would be what they want, so that they can be tough or accomodating, whatever is required as the situation unfolds. The demand for specifics is just another way of saying 'non' without saying it. |
The opposition socialists have also warned that "extreme vigilance" is needed, saying the UN resolution does nothing to address the conditions necessary for a political agreement that would guarantee the security of peacekeeping forces.
| Read one way, that's a call to dismantle the Hezbies. I don't think the socialists meant that. |
Above all, France wants to avoid a situation where its own soldiers find themselves having to disarm Hezbollah fighters.
In 1983, 58 French parachutists were killed in Beirut when the building in which they were staying was blown up. They too had been part of a multinational peacekeeping force.
| And the building was blown up by the Hezbies. No one ever thinks to mention that. |
France has been trying to obtain guarantees from the Lebanese government, Hezbollah and Israel. It does not want its troops to be powerless observers. But nor does it want to get dragged into taking part in a dangerous and potentially disastrous conflict.
| The whole mission is dangerous. That's the point: it isn't peacekeeping, it's peace-enforcing and peace-making. I'm of the opinion that it can't be done, but if you're going to volunteer to lead the mission, you accept the fact that your soldiers will have their weapons unslung and ready for use with clear, stiff rules of engagement. If you can't accept that, stay home and avert your gaze while the Israelis (with a new PM) do what they should have done the first time. |
Bolton and Condi strike again. Rather than oppose the arrogant French demand to run things they are allowing them to do just that.
In fact, they're encouraging and even DEMANDING they do it. From the front. Where the bullets are flying.
Heh. |
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