Peacekeeping

[Itchy]

With the UN calling for Irish help in Sudan do you think the DF can sustain another Bn abroad?

Is the DoD in a good enough state to be able send the troops? and more importantly RESOURCES?

[hptmurphy]

simply ...no!

[madmark]

we dont have the people or eqipment to be in so many areas of intrest

[yellowjacket]

The request for Sudan relates to an observer mission, as far as I can see, so we're not talking large numbers.

[DeV]

As the COS said in this month's An Cosantoir, "In the last year the Defence Force has rotated approximately 1,500 personnel in 16 overseas missions, in addition to maintaining out "Aid to Civil Power" and other commitments at home. From an army of 8,500 that is quite an achievement. .... The missions we are now required to undertake means that we are now required to undertake means that we must rotate almost 20% of our army personnel through overseas postings each year, and the figure for officers is above 30%."

[Steamy Window]

so the PDF are being asked to do more tasks with less manpower, then?

[JAG]

The request for Sudan relates to an observer mission, as far as I can see, so we're not talking large numbers.

Kofi Annan wants Irish troops to watch the Sudanese getting slaughtered? Are CNN & Sky News not detailed enough?

[Steamy Window]

Its not a slaughter unless the UN are around...(?)

[DeV]

It isn't an observer mission.

UNMIS (UN Mission In the Sudan) has an authorised strength of up to 10,000 military personnel (including 750 military observers).

It is a Chapter VII mission, the use of force is authorised:

"UNMIS is authorized to take the necessary action, in the areas of deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to protect UN personnel, facilities, installations, and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers, joint assessment mechanism and assessment and evaluation commission personnel, and, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of the Sudan, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence"

Other Chapter VII missions include DRC, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Kosovo and East Timor.

http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmis/index.html

[AIRE]

HELP the pdf

if we have to send more a BN over why not use the RDF in ATCP role and help the irish defences in some way?

[Aidan]

There are already Irish personnel (1) in the Sudan, as an observer with AU troops.

The numbers been spoken about for this deployment are in the region of 250 from the EU as a whole according to the Irish Times (11/4/05). So a figure of 20-30 seems more likely for the DF, mainly comprising Officers and NCOs. That would go up if the DF were asked to provide a security or transport element, but theres only so much a small army can be asked to do. Depends on the request from New York.

[trellheim]

http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmis/facts.html. Ireland is not listed here.


and here

http://www.unmis.org/MilitaryComponent.htm