Lebanon mission for Irish troops

Steyr

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/lebanon-mission-for-irish-troops-2460785.html


Lebanon mission for Irish troops


Tuesday December 14 2010

Hundreds of Irish soldiers are to be deployed to a peace-keeping mission in Lebanon in the new year, it was announced today.

Defence Minister Tony Killeen said 440 troops would be sent to the troubled Middle Eastern country before next summer to serve under the United Nations.

The Cabinet has approved the proposal and Mr Killeen will seek the backing of the Dail in the coming months.

"It is vitally important for Ireland to maintain a level of commitment to international peace-keeping operations and the obligations it has assumed through its membership of the UN," he said.

"Overseas operations contribute greatly also to the professional development of the Defence Forces."

Army chiefs had been considering options for the international deployment of troops since the unexpected and unplanned withdrawal from Chad earlier this year.

The Irish troops will serve alongside the Finnish armed forces in Lebanon, who were also involved in the UN mission in Chad.

Mr Killeen said most of the costs of the Middle East mission will be met by the UN.

Irish soldiers served in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) from its establishment in 1978 until 2001, when the main battalion was withdrawn.

Another contingent was deployed for one year in 2006 after an escalation in hostilities.

Press Association

bitemybanger

About time!

arybvtcw0eolkf

Heard it earlier, although I haven't heard were we'll be serving in UNIFIL's A.O.

'Tis all good

OS119

its better than sitting in barracks painting grass and polishing rocks, but its a major step back in professional terms from Chad.

its damage limitation - it may make the next few years less damaging to the IA than they might otherwise have been, but real damage to the professional development of the Army will still be done by the move away from larger, more demanding deployments.

wildfowler94

Always Wanted To Serve There...Bring It On!!:D

arybvtcw0eolkf

OS119 wrote: »

its a major step back in professional terms from Chad.

Operationally I'd imagine the new UNIFIL mandate will be much more challenging than Chad. Plus the situ on the ground in Lebanon is liable for change at the drop of a hat.

UNIFIL's mandate is nothing like the old mandate, its much more robust. We'll be taking a younger and better equipt mobile battalion out instead of speading six months on checkpoints and groundhog.

Professionally I don't think its a step back at all tbh.

PeterIanStaker

This can only be a benefit for the DF.

dodgydes

Its good to be serving with the Finnish battalion too, they're a good bunch.

Holybejaysus

Best of luck to the members of the DF. No doubt they will do us proud and keep up the excellent work, as usual. Soldiering can be a thankless and dangerous job at times, but they just suck it up and get on with it without making a fuss. One of the few government institutions the public can still be genuinely proud of.
I'm sure the older salts will have the experience to show the younger lads how things are out in the Leb.

Manic Moran

Aden White Crab wrote: »

instead of speading six months on checkpoints and groundhog.

Groundhog? = LPCs?

NTM

newby.204

dodgydes wrote: »

Its good to be serving with the Finnish battalion too, they're a good bunch.

and at least you know there will be a decent gym!!! if i get the trip that is

goldie fish

newby.204 wrote: »

and at least you know there will be a decent gym!!! if i get the trip that is

Ask the old sweats about the finnbatt saunas...

discus

Delighted to hear this. Can we assume Pocc isn't online cause he's off celebrating?

Best of luck to any of the lads on here looking to get on this mission. It's great to see Ireland doing our share worldwide, and great to see an army so eager to do it.

dodgydes

can't wait to paint some rocks and build some gabions. Seems it will be somewhere near the old stomping ground.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/lebanon-mission-for-irish-troops-485693.html#ixzz187lKaNip:eek:

arybvtcw0eolkf

dodgydes wrote: »

can't wait to paint some rocks and build some gabions. Seems it will be somewhere near the old stomping ground.

The Ghan's must be pulling out!..

The Irish soldiers will operate in an area measuring around 140sq km extending from Tibnin in southern Lebanon to the blue line.

Time to hook up with some old friends - Ali 'Straw balls', Hafif 'the thief', Rosy in Brashit with the Galway accent & Monsure and his horrible Hezbollah son's :pac:

Manic, 'Ground Hog' is sitting it out in the bunkers while the IDF play with their big guns :P

ex_infantry man

it,ll give the naval service a few trips over also to do unifil drops so twil be good all round for df personnel eh

Manach

Godspeed and may they all in the DF have a safe return.

Mahatma coat

Aden White Crab wrote: »

Manic, 'Ground Hog' is sitting it out in the bunkers while the IDF play with their big guns :P

So By Your own admission then Groundhoging is your term for not having the Balls to fulfil the Mission You have been sent there for i.e. Maintaining Peace between Lebanon and Israel.

jill_valentine

I'm sure they were just waiting for your own good self to get out there and show them how it's done.

Mahatma coat

I'm not in the Army, when I left School I had prospects

oncevotedff

Deploying to Lebanon for the third time is a waste of time and a waste of money.

UNIFIL's mission was to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon. The Israelis pulled out 10 years ago. Why is UNIFIL still in existence? Incase the Israelis re-invade? Well they have, and they will again with or without the presence of UN observers.

From the government/military hierarchy point of view of course Lebanon is ideal. They can pat themselves on the back for providing "peacekeepers" someplace that isn't Afghanistan.

It'll be nice for the lads that go there as long as Hizbolla doesn't do something crazy. Weather is nice in summer, it's a few bob extra and a shiny new medal for those who haven't been there before.

SIRREX

Aden White Crab wrote: »

Ali 'Straw balls', Hafif 'the thief', Rosy in Brashit with the Galway accent & Monsure and his horrible Hezbollah son's /QUOTE]

I thought Rosy was killed during the last Israeli offensive? or was that the Woodpecker?

arybvtcw0eolkf

SIRREX wrote: »

I thought Rosy was killed during the last Israeli offensive? or was that the Woodpecker?

Rosey was killed?. I've no idea tbh, the 'woodpecker' was an infamous 'working lady' in Israel.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Mahatma coat wrote: »

So By Your own admission then Groundhoging is your term for not having the Balls to fulfil the Mission You have been sent there for i.e. Maintaining Peace between Lebanon and Israel.

Normally I wouldn't respond to a troll, but for the ignorant I'll make an exception.

We didn't do too badly when we won the Noble Prize for peace on the 63rd Bn, a member from B'Coy 64th Bn had the honour of travelling to Stockholm, Sweden for its presentation.

I've a feeling trying to enlighten you with scheme of defence matters etc might further go to fuel your trolling - oh, troll sighting reported.

Manic Moran

Mahatma coat wrote: »

I'm not in the Army, when I left School I had prospects

[Mod]See you in January.[/Mod]

NTM

arybvtcw0eolkf

Massive boost in morale today eh!.

Subject on everyone's lips today 'Lebanon' :P

Cryos

Aden White Crab wrote: »

Massive boost in morale today eh!.

Subject on everyone's lips today 'Lebanon' :P

Im surprised that it wasn't mentioned last night at training; Explains the hive of activity at the bruagh.

cork2

Mahatma coat wrote: »

I'm not in the Army, when I left School I had prospects

Enjoying emptying wheelie bins are we?

Manic Moran

Cork2

A moderator has already acted on that comment, drop it.

NTM

cork2

Manic Moran wrote: »

Cork2

A moderator has already acted on that comment, drop it.

NTM

Apologies.

Manic Moran

No worries.

I leave the infracting post up so that people know what the offense was, but similarly I expect members to leave what's been dealt with alone and not restart the problem. You've a low post count, you weren't to know.

NTM

Fukuyama

Aden White Crab wrote: »

Normally I wouldn't respond to a troll, but for the ignorant I'll make an exception.

We didn't do too badly when we won the Noble Prize for peace on the 63rd Bn, a member from B'Coy 64th Bn had the honour of travelling to Stockholm, Sweden for its presentation.

I've a feeling trying to enlighten you with scheme of defence matters etc might further go to fuel your trolling - oh, troll sighting reported.

I'd love a link or something to read up on this achievement more. I've never heard of it!

(Not saying it isn't true. I've come to respect your posts. Just would like to know more about it)

goldie fish

Dean0088 wrote: »

I'd love a link or something to read up on this achievement more. I've never heard of it!

(Not saying it isn't true. I've come to respect your posts. Just would like to know more about it)

http://www.military.ie/overseas/pkmedal.htm

Donny5

Dean0088 wrote: »

I'd love a link or something to read up on this achievement more. I've never heard of it!

(Not saying it isn't true. I've come to respect your posts. Just would like to know more about it)

Aden White Crab's post makes it seem like Irish Peacekeepers were awarded the medal, when in fact the medal was awarded to all United Nations Peacekeepers, of which the Irish contingent was a (small) part.

goldie fish

Donny5 wrote: »

Makikomi's post makes it seem like Irish Peacekeepers were awarded the medal, when in fact the medal was awarded to all United Nations Peacekeepers, of which the Irish contingent was a (small) part.

Did an irish member of the defence force not collect the award?

Donny5

goldie fish wrote: »

Did an irish member of the defence force not collect the award?

No, Perez De Cuelliar, the then Secretary-General of the UN collected it. Maybe we sent an envoy to the ceremony.

depaly

In the usual Irish orgy of
self-congratulation - when
the soldiers pulled out of
Lebanon - I remember a Private
or Corporal on the radio
bragging that 'the Irish soldier
was respected throughout Islam'!!!!

Impartial to his fingertips, no
doubt!!!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps this time around, there will be
a greater appreciation of the threats
facing Israel from Hezbollah missile
attacks????

gunnerfitzy

Perhaps this time around there will be less irish soldiers killed by israeli/israeli-backed forces....

arybvtcw0eolkf

gunnerfitzy wrote: »

Perhaps this time around there will be less irish soldiers killed by israeli/israeli-backed forces....

Well the Israeli's aren't occupying the south anylonger, they withdrew in 2000. And their Christian DFF militia are long gone.

The biggest threat now is IED's, there have been a number of UN casualties from them all ready.

So please God the Hezbollah and the other A.E.'s won't take a similar shine to us this time around either.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Donny5 wrote: »

Makikomi's post makes it seem like Irish Peacekeepers were awarded the medal, when in fact the medal was awarded to all United Nations Peacekeepers, of which the Irish contingent was a (small) part.

Sorry if I'm coming across as defensive, I don't do defensive tbh..

But its how you read what I wrote and nothing else, as for our "(small)" part I thought a military man would be familiar with 'for the want of a nail'.

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

gunnerfitzy

Aden White Crab wrote: »

Well the Israeli's aren't occupying the south anylonger, they withdrew in 2000. And their Christian DFF militia are long gone.

The biggest threat now is IED's, there have been a number of UN casualties from them all ready.

So please God the Hezbollah and the other A.E.'s won't take a similar shine to us this time around either.

Indeed. Although the possibility of further incursions remain, especially if the rockets start flying again.. and we know how fond Israeli ordnance is of UN positions.

tricky D

Could get very interesting down there in the next while. King Sadist and Dinner Jacket have both visited the area in the last few months lending support to their friends. The possibilities of things getting stirred up soon with so many players is fairly high.

Good luck

Donny5

Aden White Crab wrote: »

Sorry if I'm coming across as defensive, I don't do defensive tbh..

But its how you read what I wrote and nothing else, as for our "(small)" part I thought a military man would be familiar with 'for the want of a nail'.

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

I didn't at all think you were being defensive; I just didn't think your post gave the full story.

harmoniums

tricky D wrote: »

Could get very interesting down there in the next while. King Sadist and Dinner Jacket have both visited the area in the last few months lending support to their friends. The possibilities of things getting stirred up soon with so many players is fairly high.

Good luck

Who are these guys, can you tell me or is it classified?

Manic Moran

I do believe the heads of State of Saudi Arabia and Iran.

NTM

arybvtcw0eolkf

gunnerfitzy wrote: »

Indeed. Although the possibility of further incursions remain, especially if the rockets start flying again.. and we know how fond Israeli ordnance is of UN positions.

And they will target 'em whilst the hairy's attack from behind us.

But from my understanding of it UNIFIL II are operating under a much tougher remit, so hopefully we can do more now than make representations to the A.E.'s when they want to get rid of surplus ordnance or fire two red flair's as a warning to the IDF that a UN position is under fire!.

depaly

gunnerfitzy wrote: »

Perhaps this time around there will be less irish soldiers killed by israeli/israeli-backed forces....

Let's hope that no soldier
or civilian from
any country is killed, that
there's no firing from any side -
and that there is steady progress to
peace in that troubled region......

depaly

gunnerfitzy wrote: »

Indeed. Although the possibility of further incursions remain, especially if the rockets start flying again.. and we know how fond Israeli ordnance is of UN positions.

As ordnance is inanimate, I can only assume that you
are casually smearing or accusing Israelis of enjoying
firing on UN positions.

dahamster

depaly wrote: »

As ordnance is inanimate, I can only assume that you
are casually smearing or accusing Israelis of enjoying
firing on UN positions.

They casually fired on UN positions regularly.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Anyone remember the drinking song 'Christian shells from Saf al Howa' ?..

I can't remember the full version, I'll mull over it and post if anyone is interested, its good craic - more or less about the Christians shelling us, and us not giving a damn.. It ends in "'Cause we don't care about your Christian shells".

Or (to to the tune of 'Old Mc Donald had a farm) ''There's a flair in the air, there's a body in the wadi, e.i.e.i.o...".

Poccington

Lads, does anyone know if Boots gives out a military discount?


Gonna have to stock up on Ambre Solaire before I head off. :pac: