UN Secretary General Kofi Annan asked the Security Council to consider sending an armed multinational force to help end violence in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory. He told council members in closed session that the contingent should have "a robust mandate" under Chapter Seven of the United Nations Charter, which authorises the use of military force to impose council decisions. Annan said he did not envisage a United Nations force, but "rather a multinational force formed by a coalition of the willing" -- a group of nations allied in a military operation with council approval such as that in Kosovo.
"Coalition of the willing"? Like Syria, Saudi Arabia, Libya? The idea was crummy a few days ago, and it hasn't gotten any better. |