ahhhhh.....the irony.....

this is from www.littlegreenfootballs.com and they later quote from the NY times:

Title: Europe Backs Out of Lebanon Cease-Fire
Author: Charles
Date: 8/20/2006 at 7:47:20 pm

--------------------------------

They're all backing out.

None of the European countries who were so loudly calling for a
cease-fire in Lebanon are willing to commit troops. They're afraid of
being sitting ducks, human shields for Hizballah. And they should be:
Europeans Delay Decision on Role Inside Lebanon [1]. (Hat tip: Ron.)



------------ START QUOTE ------------
PARIS, Aug. 20 -- The shaky, United Nations-brokered cease-fire in
Lebanon suffered another blow on Sunday when the European countries
that had been called upon to provide the backbone of a peacekeeping
force delayed a decision on committing troops until the mission is more
clearly defined.

Their reservations postponed any action on the force at least until
Wednesday, when the European Union will take up the issue.

Haunted by their experiences in Bosnia in the 1990's, when their forces
were unable to stop widespread ethnic killing, European governments are
insisting upon clarifying the chain of command and rules of engagement
before plunging into the even greater complexities of the Middle East.

"In the past, when peacekeeping missions were not properly defined,
we've seen major failures,'' a spokeswoman for the French Foreign
Ministry, Agnès Romatet-Espagne, said Sunday. "There are the bad
memories of Bosnia. This time we want the answers beforehand, so we
don't come to the problems when they have happened.''

In addition, a senior French official said, "Italy, Spain and Finland
have raised the same questions as France has." Following the usual
diplomatic practice, the official asked not to be identified. A
spokesman for the Spanish Foreign Ministry said Spain was willing to
send troops, "but the rules have to be clarified and agreed on."

Some countries, like Australia, which has placed forces in Iraq and
Afghanistan, have flatly refused to commit troops. "We have no
intention of making any significant contribution," said a senior
Australian government official, who was not authorized to speak
publicly on the matter. "We don't have any confidence in it. It is not
going to have the mandate to disarm Hezbollah."
------------- END QUOTE -------------




go figure.