What's the exit strategy for the UN?

The UN has been involved with peacekeeping in Haiti off and on since 1993. The latest force, MINUSTAH, has been there since 2004 (this is the Canadian Forces' contribution, this that of Canadian police forces). The Security Council has extended MINUSTAH's mandate to October 15, 2008. I don't think the force will be leaving for some time after that:

U.N. soldier killed in Haiti's riots over food

Senators fire PM over turmoil; rising price of rice led to crisis and cost cut

Almost all leftists in Canada oppose Canadian participation in military/peacekeeping missions that are not UN-run--even if, as with our Afghan mission, they are authorized explicitly by the UN Security Council. Most leftists in Canada, indeed most Liberals, demand a firm "exit strategy" for our mission in Afghanistan. So what is one to make of the UN mission in Haiti, and Canada's participation therein? I guess missions can go on in a country interminably, with no discernable chances of success, as long as Canadians are not engaging in "combat" and suffering fatalities.

Now that's a principled, pro-UN position.

Mark C.

Damian adds: actually, many Canadian leftists are opposed to our presence in Haiti - see here and here.

Update: Damian is on to my mature reflection--little, thank goodness, escapes him. My leisurely reflection led to this comment at Dr Dawg:

"What's the exit strategy for the UN?"

Yes, Dr, I know some Canadian leftists, maybe including yourself, even oppose the UN mission in Haiti. It's just so hard to determine the criteria some progressives accept to validate an international military intervention, when even a UN-run mission is unacceptable.

And what say you about East Timor, a failed UN mission that Timor Jack nonetheless holds up as an exemplar of why the UN, and not NATO, should run the international military mission in Afstan (if indeed that's what he means--he's not exactly clear):

"A great moment in UN peackeeping?"

I rather like "Timor Jack", perhaps less invidious than the other "T" word and even more to the point about Mr Layton's ignorance.

Posted by markc at April 13, 2008 06:33 PM