THERE are still many who believe that a United Nations military force could replace the American-led troops supporting the Iraqi Army and police. The principle is good but the practicalities are not. One of the largest current UN military deployments is the 13,000-strong multinational force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where last week nine Bangladeshi troops were murdered by militia men.
Yesterday the UN struck back. A Pakistani contingent backed by helicopter gunships attacked the base of this particular militia, apparently killing some 50 of its members. There is a grim satisfaction among UN troops that their comrades have been avenged but in truth, this blow against the assassins is likely to have little more than a temporary effect.
This is again an interesting editorial from Arab News. It talks about when and how the UN can make use of force–the prime case here being the Congo. But it also says that there’s no role for UN peacekeeping forces in Iraq, yet.
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March:03:2005 - 12:09
Well, they are certainly on point that the UN would likely just mess things up, but it is good to see the UN do something in Congo. I think this attack will help them. The militias there don’t respect the UN because it won’t engage them. They often attack civilians right under the UN’s nose and it does nothing. Just like in Iraq, where its first reaction was to cut and run.