CompuServe Messages

Karl, What do you mean 'minor powers'? I suggest that you look at the makeup of UNPROFOR in Bosnia. The three main participants since UNPROFOR were originally inserted have been Canada, Britain and France. You will also find that these three nations provide a little better than 75% of the UN forces for those missions that are ongoing worldwide. Do not know about you, but Britain and France are _definitely not_ 'minor powers' (will keep Canada out of this for the moment as I am biased <g>). UNPROFOR has also had troops from Ukraine, Russia and Poland as well as troops from some of those nations that you mentioned (Fiji though only contributes on average 5 personell per year, and all for administration). While the former Warsaw Bloc contribution to UN missions is new, the troops that they provided were definitely _not_ second line (and considering that the US has spent the last 30+ years building up it's forces to defend against the Warsaw Bloc), I find your comment confusing. Sorry about the misquote. As every mission has a chance to succeed, however small, I just read your comment to mean that the chance to succeed had to be paramount in the decision to commit troops. Will try to read better in the future <g>. Trent 'Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori'