UNIFIL troops

I have been reflecting on previous peacekeeping efforts in The Lebanon e.g. by UNIFIL soldiers.

Sometimes I worry about the UN forces, given their impotence, for example in Rwanda and Bosnia.

At the time of the recent hostilities, I came across the Irish Lebanon War Veterans Organisation — I hadn’t realised quite how many Irish peacekeepers (47) died in “The Leb”, in the service of peace during what they refer to as “the endless war of Lebanon”.

Visiting their web site gives you an idea of how much they loved the Lebanon and its peoples, particularly the citizens of Tibnin with whom they built .

Earlier this month about 150 Irish troops were deployed to the Lebanon — let's hope with their role clearly defined, properly equipped for it. And that their intervention is not endlessly required.