Text 17953, 54 rader
Skriven 2011-05-03 10:18:00 av Ward Dossche (2:292/854)
  Kommentar till text 17914 av Robert Bashe (2:2448/44)
Ärende: Re: Generalizations
===========================
Bob,
 
RB>WD> I will repeat ... that was a UN contingent which just happened to be
RB>WD> from the Netherlands. It just as well could have been from Pakistan
RB>WD> or Kenia.
 
RB> But it was Dutch. Do you want to deny that?
 
They were Blue Berets, the vehicles they used said UN on them. When my brother
and sister in law were there, their higher-up in command was a Canadian officer
under UN mandate. Their monetary compensation was paid by the UN.
 
It's not that the Netherlands sent troops to Srebrenica, it was the UN.
 
RB>WD> The mandate only covers light weapons ... handguns, rifles, handheld
RB>WD> machine guns and .50 machine guns.
 
RB> Is that supposed to impress me?
 
Yes, I suppose you never served in the military, otherwise you'd understand
that kind of equipment is not something to protect 30,000 individuals with.
 
400 military are not even enough to even simply patrol the perimeter, everybody
thought that the mere presence of the UN and the world looking-on would be
enough to protect those people. That was wrong we now know but at the time it
was thought that the Serbs would honor the UN resolution.
 
RB>WD> The UN contingent of troops consisted of 400 lightly armed
RB>WD> peace-keepers. UN peace-keepers are something else than offensive or
RB>WD> defensive forces.
 
RB> True. They could have requested reinforcements. And a good deal earlier.
 
Reinforcements of what and by whom?
 
There was nothing and no-one else. Those UN troops were on their own not even
able to protect themselves, their presence was symbolic at best.
 
RB>WD> The UN commander called for air support which couldn't be delivered
RB>WD> due to the weather and they were simpply overrun.
 
RB> There's always an excuse, as Michiel would say if the troops had been
RB> Americans.
 
If the troops had been Americans operating under a UN mandate, the situation
would have been exactly the same. Light weaponry.
 
As it is, I don't think the US participate in UN peacekeeping missions. Do
they? I don't think so ...
 
 \%/@rd

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