Staff-eds in the Washington Post, the Times of London, LA Times, and the Sunday Times blast French waffling over peacekeepers for Lebanon. So does the Chicago Tribune, which writes:
But the UN forces can and must be expected to help stop the shipments of arms from Iran and Syria. That will allow the Lebanese government time to work out a political solution that could lead to Hezbollah’s laying down its weapons. That’s the best path to peace in Lebanon. It will take a Herculean effort by the Lebanese government–and a strong assist from the world.
UN dickering and dithering for weeks or months over rules of engagement will destabilize the region. The earlier UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon was ineffective. If this new incarnation is to be any better, it will need to find its … what’s the French word for “backbone”?
