Peacekeepers - France and Italy bidding for leadership
Who knew… that creating a bidding war for leadership of the UN-led peacekeeping force in Lebanon would cause France and Italy to offer more troops? France, demanding leadership but embarrassed by its initial offer of a mere 20 troops, but apparently threatened when Italy rose to the occasion, first raised the ante to 200 troops and now, 2000.
FRANCE has pledged to send a total of 2000 troops to the United Nations multinational peacekeeping force for Lebanon, in a last-minute effort to hold on to its leadership role in the face of Italian competition.
President Jacques Chirac made the announcement on Thursday after his country had come under widespread criticism for initially offering just 200 more soldiers to the force, which already includes 200 French soldiers.
But now Italy has countered with 3000 soldiers:
In the meantime, Italy stepped forward with an offer of up to 3000 soldiers, and Israel’s Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, placed a call to his Italian counterpart, Romano Prodi, urging him to assume leadership of the force.
The Italian Foreign Minister, Massimo D’Alema, said yesterday that international troops could be sent to the Gaza Strip if the Lebanon force proves successful.
And this is the fastest organized peacekeeping force in the history of the UN, not that that is saying much.
Amazing what a little competition and threat to international dignity can do.