Defence forces Deployment to UNDOF

[F_M]

From post #654
with Philippines pulling out in October and I guess the fijis will be going as well

If even one of them pull out that surely would be the end of the mission unless another country will step up to the plate.

Is there precedence of a UN mission failing before?

[ropebag]

...Is there precedence of a UN mission failing before?

UNPROFOR leaps to mind - most of the troop contributor nations were so fcuked off with the UN beaurocracy that they told the UN that they would withdraw from the mission unless it was turned over to NATO. probably not that dissimilar, save the NATO bit..

[SwiftandSure]

So would the Ground Level Joe Duffy electorate assessment of this whole scenario be that the DF are only on UN peacekeeping missions that will keep the peace where peace prevails anyway?

Should war encroach upon a peaceful UN AO, the UN will either tell our boys to surrender to the nearest belligerent or move all UN assets and personnel to somewhere else that's peaceful in the name of peacekeeping in the hope that war won't disturb the peace once more. If no more peaceful places exist or if war gets too close, we'll pull the troops from the mission altogether, forcing the UN to send everyone home with a "fúck it, we tried!" statement at UN HQ NY, swiftly followed by tea and medals. Hurrah!

Is about the size of it?

[DeV]

Except Joe Duffy doesn't realise that UNDOF is actually a success

There is little fighting between the Israelis and Syrians

A 3rd party which has nothing to do with the mission is now in the region and targeting the small mission that is not heavily armed/equipped who's mandate allows for self defence only

Also as the force is on Syrian (Israeli occupied) territory, UNDOF is only there for as long they want it there.

That is the same for all PSOs

[GoneToTheCanner]

The only reason the Israelis and Syrians are not pegging at each other is because they have plenty to be going on with in their respective backyards. I'd say it's a mutual unwritten agreement not to kick off at each other, because they need all their firepower, men and money for Gaza and the Syrian rebels respectively. The Syrians need their Air Force for battering their own kind, knowing full well that the Israelis would shred it if they went head to head. In the case of the UN, reinforce the mandate to include no surrendering and a willingness to shoot or else get them out.

[Rhodes]

The only reason the Israelis and Syrians are not pegging at each other is because they have plenty to be going on with in their respective backyards. I'd say it's a mutual unwritten agreement not to kick off at each other, because they need all their firepower, men and money for Gaza and the Syrian rebels respectively. The Syrians need their Air Force for battering their own kind, knowing full well that the Israelis would shred it if they went head to head. In the case of the UN, reinforce the mandate to include no surrendering and a willingness to shoot or else get them out.

The Israelis are constantly attacking the Syrian Army and have killed dozens of Syrian soldiers so far this year.

On 2nd June the Israeli's shelled the area around Camp Faouar forcing Irish troops to run to the bunkers as shrapnel rained into the camp. Irish troops again went to the bunkers during an Israeli air attack on the 23rd June and shelling on 14th July. Israeli fire has also hit other UN posts including with phosphorus and with direct fire from tanks.

The Israeli military have openly taken hundreds of rebels still armed from the ceasefire line to their hospitals for treatment of wounds sustained during fighting and later sending them back across ceasefire line including the bodies of some rebels who died in Israeli care.

Israeli is an active belligerent in this conflict and they're certainty not sitting on the fence.

[Rhodes]

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news...-30567417.html

The Israleis seem to have been of some help. That'll drive the crusties wild...

Jim Cusack is using this forum as his source of info, its bullshit by the way Jim, very bad journalism.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news...-30567426.html

MfD Simon Coveney said this today in the Dail:

"In terms of the involvement of Israeli troops in supporting, rescuing or coming to the aid of Irish troops, there was a misleading report in the Irish media that somehow Irish troops were rescued by Israeli forces. That is simply not true and I am glad to confirm that. The Irish forces' engagement here, which has got some accurate coverage, was that they were asked by General Singha to go in and, effectively, evacuate Filipino troops who were under huge pressure and were surrounded by rebel forces. They did that in a very professional way. They took some fire and returned some fire and they successfully helped their colleagues to get out of a very difficult situation.

Another UN post was surrounded, which had a different outcome, but it was also a solution that resulted in protection of the lives of peacekeepers. However, there was no incident in which Israeli troops had to rescue Irish troops."

So Jim Cusack, who are your "senior sources"?

[hedgehog]

Good man Simon.

[Shaqra]

So would the Ground Level Joe Duffy electorate assessment of this whole scenario be that the DF are only on UN peacekeeping missions that will keep the peace where peace prevails anyway?

Should war encroach upon a peaceful UN AO, the UN will either tell our boys to surrender to the nearest belligerent or move all UN assets and personnel to somewhere else that's peaceful in the name of peacekeeping in the hope that war won't disturb the peace once more. If no more peaceful places exist or if war gets too close, we'll pull the troops from the mission altogether, forcing the UN to send everyone home with a "fúck it, we tried!" statement at UN HQ NY, swiftly followed by tea and medals. Hurrah!

Is about the size of it?

I attended the launch of Dan Harveys latest book - Attack on At Tiri last night - and it was fascinating to see how little the UN has changed in 35 years. In that incident it took 4 days for New York to authorise return fire and then only after a tank round had impacted in a billet. These are the same clowns who have a veto through Triple Lock on our Foreign Policy.

If it was up to me the story of Jadotville, of At Tiri and now of UNDOF would be on the history syllabus in school - I've given up on the current generation, and indeed my generation, seeing sense on Foreign Policy but maybe the next generation, with the right education, might be more sensible.

[pym]

The Philippines has pulled its peacekeepers from the Golan Heights ahead of schedule amid worsening security there, a military spokesman has said.

A total of 244 of the 344 Filipino soldiers and staff will arrive back in Manila later today, with the rest flying in the next week or so, military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Ramon Zagala told AFP.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0919/644837-golan-heights/

Sin é.

[B Inman]

The tank round was a solid shot and it hit the house that was the Irish position in At Tiri, it left large holes in the internal/external walls and smashed the hand rail on the stair case. The outline of the holes/damage was still visible when the repairs were carried out, it was a chilling reminder how lucky we were that day. The troops occupying the position were lucky that it was not a HE round.

[DeV]

I attended the launch of Dan Harveys latest book - Attack on At Tiri last night - and it was fascinating to see how little the UN has changed in 35 years. In that incident it took 4 days for New York to authorise return fire and then only after a tank round had impacted in a billet. These are the same clowns who have a veto through Triple Lock on our Foreign Policy.

If it was up to me the story of Jadotville, of At Tiri and now of UNDOF would be on the history syllabus in school - I've given up on the current generation, and indeed my generation, seeing sense on Foreign Policy but maybe the next generation, with the right education, might be more sensible.

Some would say of course that if it wasn't for UN there would be hardly any Irish troops overseas

[Shaqra]

That's like saying if there weren't bad men in the world we wouldn't need an Army. The UN is needed, peacekeepers are needed, an international body ruled by 5 ex colonial (UK, France), new colonial (US) and aspiring colonial powers (China) is not ! (In case you're wondering about my maths I just couldn't figure out where to put Russia - it seems to fit into all 3 categories )

[B Inman]

Missile arms refused to Irish troops in line of fire
UN soldiers not allowed to deploy 'Javelin' missiles against Islamists


Jim Cusack
Published 21/09/2014 | 02:30
Irish troops were sent into the highly-dangerous UN mission in the Golan Heights without missiles that military sources said would have been a "game changer" in any fire-fight with Islamist rebels.

Instead, the Javelin missiles, which cost €70,000 each, remained back in the Curragh Camp in Co Kildare while Irish peacekeepers armed with just machine guns and rifles were caught up in a dramatic gun battle with al-Qaeda-linked rebels.

The revelation comes just weeks after Irish soldiers managed to rescue trapped fellow UN Filipino troops who were surrounded by rebels belonging to the al-Nusra Front militants.

Details of the Irish contingent's armaments were withheld while the troops were effectively trapped inside Syria in order not to jeopardise their safety.

However, the 130-strong Irish mission and around 1,000 other UN troops are now safely inside Israel after an early morning withdrawal last Monday through a "safe corridor" provided by the Israeli Defence Forces.

Full Article http://www.independent.ie/irish-news...-30602902.html

[GoneToTheCanner]

Like i said before, bring the weapon in under diplomatic cover, no-one can touch it, including the UN or Israelis. This kind of shit has shades of the Congo all over it. Give them the best tools for the job or pull them out.