"Peace Keeping" Debate for Congo
What to do about the killing in the Congo.
"Everybody in Bunia is waiting: frightened civilians huddling under tarpaulins, United Nations observers in their blue helmets, aid workers on their walkie-talkies, and youthful militia fighters leaning against lampposts with their assault rifles.
"They're all waiting to see who arrives first here in the biggest town in northeastern Congo - a crack multinational force of peacekeepers with a mandate to demilitarize the place or the opposing militia fighters said to be regrouping in the hills just a few miles to the southeast."
It is clear that the current force can barely defend itself. The debate at the UN is over sending so called "Chapter 7" forces that would have authority to be more aggressive witht he warring afactions. The problem with inserting forces in the middle of a civil war is tht they do not have a dog in the fight and wind up being a target. This is the real lesson of Mogudishu. If the UN decides to intervene, they should do so with a large force that has heavy armor and attack weapons. such a force could then "persuade" the factions that it is futile to fight. The current force of lightly armored troops is more a target than a deterent.
What to do about the killing in the Congo.
"Everybody in Bunia is waiting: frightened civilians huddling under tarpaulins, United Nations observers in their blue helmets, aid workers on their walkie-talkies, and youthful militia fighters leaning against lampposts with their assault rifles.
"They're all waiting to see who arrives first here in the biggest town in northeastern Congo - a crack multinational force of peacekeepers with a mandate to demilitarize the place or the opposing militia fighters said to be regrouping in the hills just a few miles to the southeast."
It is clear that the current force can barely defend itself. The debate at the UN is over sending so called "Chapter 7" forces that would have authority to be more aggressive witht he warring afactions. The problem with inserting forces in the middle of a civil war is tht they do not have a dog in the fight and wind up being a target. This is the real lesson of Mogudishu. If the UN decides to intervene, they should do so with a large force that has heavy armor and attack weapons. such a force could then "persuade" the factions that it is futile to fight. The current force of lightly armored troops is more a target than a deterent.
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