Should there be a second UN force in Lebanon?

Captain's Quarters doubts the wisdom of the idea--especially since there already has been a UN force in Lebanon for almost thirty years.

Now if the UN Security Council authorized an international force--not under UN command--with a Charter Chapter VII mandate to go in, secure the Israel/Lebanon border, and use force to disarm Hezballah, that would be something else. But the UNSC will never vote for such a force, and I can't see many countries being willing to participate anyway.

There was an earlier "multilateral force" (US, UK, France, Italy) in Lebanon in 1982-84 to help deal with the results of the 1982 Israeli invasion. Do not forget

the suicide car-bomb attacks against the US Marine Corps and the French contingent (October 1983) of the multinational force.

Particularly striking was the terrorist attack at the Marine compound in Beirut, where a truck loaded with about 5,450 kilograms of TNT broke through the barracks of the American force and exploded inside Marine headquarters; the explosion destroyed the building and killed 241 American troops...

These terrorist actions, which accounted for about 300 American and over 40 French casualties, served Syria's political objectives by bringing about the departure of the multilateral force from Lebanon and the strengthening of Syria’s influence over the Lebanese regime...

Mark C.

Update: Canadian-style mush from, of all places, a Daily Telegraph leader:

The Lebanese government and army are too weak to contain Hizbollah without outside assistance. Persistent Israeli bombardment may turn the population against the movement but, as with sanctions against Hamas, it could just as well boost its popularity.

A stabilisation force could give the Lebanese the chance at last to assert control over all their territory. But those setting it up should be under no illusion about the magnitude of the task. While Mr Blair is right to push for rapid intervention in strength, his enthusiasm should not hide the fact that there is a good way to go before such a wish can become reality.

Could, could, could... no illusion, no illusion, no illusion...

Posted by markc at July 17, 2006 08:10 PM