Making peacekeeping safe

The show and use of force to rescue the mostly-Indian peacekeeping soldiers in the western African country of Sierra Leone must augur well for the United Nations and its beleaguered, belittled and devalued peacekeeping department.

The success of the daring operation in which helicopter-borne British troops also participated is a needed shot in the arm for the world body and can signal a turning point. By successfully waging peace in Sierra Leone and by initiating action to cut off the source of strength of the rebels, the UN is serving notice on all warlords. It is conveying the unambiguous message to the mercenaries that there will be less and less profit from waging wars, that the international community has acquired the political will to assert itself for the cause of peace.

But the hurdles to the evolution of a genuine international force are many. The fiercest opposition comes from the U.S., where the Republican-dominated Congress views with suspicion an international army outside of American control, seeing it as a potential rival superpower. The U.S. has also been the main defaulter, owing the U.N. millions of dollars in peacekeeping arrears. If Mr. Kofi Annan and his diplomats convince the developed nations to contribute their share of funds for the peace operations, one major constraint will be removed. More funding can mean a better trained military.

-- The Hindu, New Delhi