[Washington Institute for Near East Policy] Andrew Exum and Gerri Pozez - UNIFIL's presence south of the Litani River is a large physical obstacle in the way of both Israeli and Hizbullah military planners. It has provided Beirut with the necessary political cover to deploy the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to the border with Israel in previously unprecedented numbers. If UNIFIL wants to guarantee its long-term security, however, no amount of force protection can substitute for building lasting personal relationships with the people of southern Lebanon and providing continued training and assistance to the LAF.
2007-08-17 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive