The Bush administration is worried that security in northern Lebanon is not tight enough to prevent Iran and Syria from re-arming Hizbullah terrorists. "I think, in part, it will require placing on the northern border of Lebanon somebody who is capable of handling security in such a way as to intercept, interrupt and, with any luck, stop the transport into Lebanon of arms from Iran and Syria," White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters.
What happened to "robust"?
It's here in Bush's own words:-
Yesterday's resolution aims to end Hizballah's attacks on Israel and bring a halt to Israel's offensive military operations. It also calls for an embargo on the supply of arms to militias in Lebanon, for a robust international force to deploy to southern Lebanon in conjunction with Lebanon's legitimate armed forces, and for the disarming of Hizballah and all other militia groups operating in Lebanon.
But, wait, read this:-
French troops in the proposed multi-national UNIFIL force in Lebanon will not act to disarm Hizbullah terrorists. France has offered to send soldiers who would make up about half of the UNIFIL force.
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy made the statement in a newspaper interview, despite the resolution's statement calling for a demilitarization of southern Lebanon.
That got this response:-
La diplomatie française souffle le chaud et le froid. Elle pourrait avoir une démarche plus offensive pour faire valoir le cessez-le-feu. Actuellement, la France semble s’aligner sur les thèses américaines. Certes, comme l’a dit le ministre des Affaires étrangères, Philippe Douste-Blazy, il faut considérer « les points de vue des différents belligérants». Mais il y a urgence : le Liban est sous le feu israélien».
How does one say "robust" in French?
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