Reply #1: What I have heard of the rumors here [View All]

[tocqueville]

the military people say that a 9000 men force is sufficient. Because it's not a situation of "peace-keeping" à la Kosovo or an occupation. The problem is not to quell an insurgency or something like that. Most of the French that have already been sent work on demining and reconstruction, they don't patrol and are lightly armed.
The coming task is to neutralize from the beginning any attempts to resume the hostilies.

What is far more important than the sheer numbers is the level and quality of equipment. For example the rumours are that the French are sending at least a brigade of Leclerc tanks which are superior to the Merkavas. It is going to be interesting to see too what level of air support can be sent. The latest European fighter jets are superior to Israeli ones and a show of force could deter new Israeli incursions.

The most interesting thing is the chain of command : it will probably be Italian/French, but purely military. No diplomats telling the local commanders what to do. The highest responsible will be a UN general sitting in New York and reporting to Kofi. But no civilians between him and the local command.