France Waivering on Its Role in Lebanon

UNITED NATIONS — While the United Nations is pushing for French troops to form the "backbone" of an international force in Lebanon, Paris is "cautious"about sending its military to help Lebanon's army take control of the south and disarm Hezbollah, Turtle Bay and French officials said yesterday.

Israel's foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, is scheduled to fly to New York today to urge a quick formation of a U.N. force to deploy to southern Lebanon as the Israeli military withdraws from the area. The force should comprise up to 15,000 troops, as called for in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701.

Facing a new, militant tone from Damascus and Tehran — as well as a Beirut government that is too weak to confront the strengthened Hezbollah — several countries are hesitant about sending soldiers. None had pledged any troops as of yesterday.

A French official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record said that, contrary to previous reports, President Chirac has yet to make a decision on sending any French troops to Lebanon.

Seventeen-hundred French troops are on ships near Lebanon and waiting to be deployed, but while Paris sees the importance of strengthening Prime Minister Siniora's government, it is not ready to instruct its soldiers to go to southern Lebanon, the official said. Recent statements from the region have not helped the situation, he added.

Well lets see, France and the U.N. fore Israel into an ill-advised cease fire, they do not guarantee that Hezbollah will disarm, and then they renege on their commitment to patrol the border area. How can the world expect Israel to stand back and watch Hezbollah rearm itself for another conflict? How can Israel reasonably rely on the U.N.’s promise to provide a buffer zone?

If France and the rest of the world will not step in and control the area, then allow Israel to do what it must do, unfettered and without criticism. Until the world is ready to step up and take its share of the responsibility it shouldered upon itself, then do not hinder the one Country with the ability and the desire to take care of the situation.