UN -- In Full Force

Israel's lifeline in finally dealing with Hezbollah is getting longer. Just when you think they botched their initial campaign, the UN peacekeeping force coming in may sufficient blow the job so spectacularly, that they might get another crack at them:

Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nepal were among nations that offered thousands of troops to a United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon as Israel's military transferred control of 50 percent of the region to the UN.

``I think we're in business,'' UN Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown said after envoys of almost 50 nations attended a closed meeting of potential troop contributors. The UN wants to deploy about 3,500 troops within two weeks and eventually increase to 15,000 the current force of 2,000.

So, the force standing in the way of a militant proxy army backed by Iran and Syria (who incidentally fired 4,000 rockets into Israel) is to be neutralized by three countries with their own militant Islamic terrorists and another dealing with a Communist insurrection? Isn't this kind of like hiring Michael Irvin and Robert Downey Jr to guard a crackhouse?

Who will be leading this motley crew of scavengers?

French President Jacques Chirac said his country will lead the expanded UN peacekeeping mission and would double its current deployment to 400 soldiers. Chirac said France is ready to assume command of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, a former French protectorate, after speaking with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan by telephone.

Well, being that Lebannon is a small country, this force won't have far to run.