A Peacekeeping Dream Team

The countries that the Lebanese most trust for peacekeeping in Southern Lebanon are Canada, Brazil and Japan.


No matter how this crisis ends, there will be without doubt some kind of peacekeeping force that will assist the Lebanese army in the south of Lebanon. Here are my ten cents on why they should be Canadian, Brazilian and Japanese.

We won’t trust the neighboring countries to send their soldiers because they might never leave. This discounts Syria and Jordan. Turkey brings ugly colonial memories, so they are out too (sorry, I know you want the job, but we’re not comfortable with it). The Arab countries and Iran are too involved and partial. Sub-Saharan Africans won’t scare anybody (with my deepest respect to Ghanaian peacekeepers in the UNIFIL).

The force should have unanimous support from the Lebanese people; this immediately discounts Israel, the US and the UK. France is admired by some Lebanese (The Maronites and the Sunnis), but to others (like President Emile Lahhoud and the Shiaas) it represents a colonial past and is an unwelcome influence. Spain and Italy are too Catholic, Germany still needs time before it could send soldiers abroad, the Scandinavians and the Swiss are too pacifist, Eastern Europe is too pro-American.

The Russians are too eager to spite the Americans and the Chinese are too willing to bargain for oil. Besides, both are too heavy-handed. Pakistan is too Muslim and India is too anti-Muslim. Australia is too pro-American and New Zealand is too far. Argentina has a history with Hezbollah and Venezuela is too anti-American. Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Chile are too poor.

Which brings us to the most trusted, most independent countries in Lebanese eyes: Brazil, Canada and Japan.

Aside from the Soccer fans who raised Brazilian flags all over the country during the world-cup, Brazil has the right mixture of independence, thirld-worldism and clout. It also helps that Brazil has more Lebanese descendents than Lebanon itself.

Canada is the most respected and neutral country in Lebanese eyes. I remember once going to the south, in a Hezbollah controlled area. There was a hotel that wanted to portray an international image; so it raised the Canadian flag next to the Iranian, Saudi and Syrian flags. Canada has been very sympathetic to Lebanese Immigrants and Canadian Universities are having special measures to help Lebanese students follow their studies there. There are no Lebanese who consider Canadians their enemies.

Japan is associated here with nothing but hi-tech, robots and gizmos. A peacekeeping force will definitely need assistance with their computers and laser-guided missiles. The sushi (which we’re beginning to terribly miss here) will be a plus.