Juwono Sudarsono, currently Republic of Indonesia Minister of Defense since October 2004. more
Diplomacy and Military Balance (2)
11:21 AM | Comments (15) | TrackBacks (1) | Permalink
Saturday
2
September
2006
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 of August 11, 2006, came into force on August 12, following the confluence of two related events affecting the military balance in Lebanon. First, Israeli forces in Lebanon faced formidable resistance from Hezbollah militia which stymied efforts by Israeli troops to achieve outright and immediate military victory. For its part, the Hezbollah leadership realized that stalemating Israeli military might had its political costs in terms of political acceptance among other Lebanese religious and communal groups. The suffering of life and property of Lebanon by Israeli ground and air forces, which had been offset by admiration for Hezbollah from across the Lebanese communities, began to take its political toll.
Israeli Prime minister Ehud Olmert came in for fierce criticism for the handling of the military campaign launched July 12. The chief of the Israeli defence force was criticised for relying too much on air power. But the underlying reason for the less than commendable performance of the Israeli ground forces seem to be more sociological than military tactics: the bulk of the Israeli reservists who were called for duty came from a new generation of professionals in the management, service and information service sectors. Unlike previous generation of Israeli soldiers, who were more hardy and tribulation-tested men and women coming from the harsher farms and rural areas, the new generation soldiers had less training and field experience to face the guerrilla-cum-rocket technology type warfare adapted by Hezbollah.
For his part, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah acknowledged somewhat ruefully in an interview that had he knew that the abduction of the two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah in mid-July would have sparked the 34 day war he would not have embarked on that move. Coming from a figure that had gained stature among anti-Israeli Muslim across the world, it was a rare admission of the limits (and costs) of Hezbollah bravado.
As it stands, UN Security Council Resolution 1701 has still to be fully implemented. Israeli still applies naval blockade to parts of Lebanon deemed likely to become channels for military support to Hezbollah. Israeli troops still occupy key areas in southern Lebanon, along which the reinforced UN peacekeeping force is expected to take over to secure the peace.
From the outset Indonesia has maintain the position that the essence of Resolution 1701 was to enable the Lebanese government and Army regain full control and authority over its own territory. That seems to be the message of the resolution’s reference to “all armed personnel” other than that of the Lebanese authorities be withdrawn from Lebanon. In essence, it avoids UN peacekeepers having to disarm Hezbollah while at the same time affirming the imperative for the Lebanese government to assert full control over Hezbollah militia through Hezbollah’s party wing in the coalition government. Only the Lebanese Army would disarm Hezbollah.
In diplomatic-speak, the mandate of the UN PKO forces is to be engaged in “pro-active self defence”. “The reinforced” or “robust” peacekeepers from the European Union and selected Asian countries will not hesitate to use measured force to implement Resolution 1701. Therein lies the confluence of diplomatic language and the new balance of military power on the ground. The strains of military attrition suffered by both Hezbollah militia and the Israeli forces in the 34-day conflict have, for the moment, made diplomacy gain the higher ground. The UN takes centre stage again for the time being.
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Tracked on October 25, 2006 08:43 PM
Comments
Bung Masindi,
Sending RI troops on UN-PKO missions began in 1957. To date we have sent 23 Garuda peacekeeping missions from the 1950s through 2005 in the MidEast, Africa and Asia, each time by Indonesian governments facing difficult economic circumstances.
In any case, most of the USD 40 million cost would be reimbursed by the UN. In consultations with President SBY the other day Parliament agreed that Indonesia's role in Lebanon would be "priceless."
Let's honor Indonesia's fine tradition in UN peacekeeping and be proud that our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen have always been "the best of the best" in UN peacekeeping. J.S.
Bung Masindi,
Be proud of the humanitarian work your country carries out as part of its world commitments.
My country uses its army to aid other aggressive countries to kill kids.
no_injustice
australia once fair.
Pak Juwono,
I would be more disappointed if we don't send the army to this humanitarian work. Especially when we are asked to join.
Yes, we are poor (at this moment), but it doesn't mean we cannot help others. In my opinion, prospering a country and joining this UN mission to Lebanon are two different/separate matters. But, that's my opinion as an ordinary/common citizen.
Pak Juwono, thanks for additional information about the budget allocation for RI Troops in UN-PKO.
Personally, I am agreed with RI Government decision to participate in UN-PKO. It will show to the world that Indonesian is peace lover.
I believe that the main reason for sending troops is purely to save human live not for religion sentiment.
Keep Peace Forever
Hear, hear. Let us show the world that a significant part of Indonesia proactively supports peace and humanity; and that the reactionary, violent, short-sighted and intolerant actions of some are the exception rather than the rule.
Your Excellency,
Our government's initiative to take part in the UN peace making force in Lebanon (I dont like the term peace keeping force you used in your article) is no doubt a brilliant move that deserves big applause.
It is not only an exemplification of Indonesia's strong solidarity towards other muslim states but also an effective means to attain greater access to the west's military equipments.
I therefore wish to call on my Indonesian brothers and sisters to extend your full support to our government's initiative.
Dont bother how much money our country needs to spend for this noble mission.
There's something money cant buy, for anything else there are always foreign grants and loans *wink*
Mr. Juwono, Sir please permit me to ask: is it true that the budget for this peacekeeping mission is USD 350 million?
I must ask this because there have been allegations to this effect, and these allegations have been used as a thesis in the argument that the Indonesian government is wasting budget better spent elsewhere, regardless of UN funding (especially since as you have stated the UN is contributing 'only' USD 40 million.
The Budget for sending our peacekeeping troops to Lebanon (including purchase of 32 retrofitted VAB (French armoured personnel carrier) is projected to be 355 billion rupiah, assuming that each VAB costs 700.000 Euros. As it stands now, the vehicles will each cost about 550.000 Euros so we save roughly 6-8 million US dollars.
The VABs are selected to complement the 14 VABs owned by the Indonesian army, making operational and maintenance costs much more efficient through compatibility and systems matching. I've often mentioned that Indonesian participation in peacekeeping is "priceless" and would like to add that the performance of our soldiers in UN peacekeeping is "peerless".
No, that is not true. The ground force that comes mostly from Israeli reservist isn't failed because they come from professionals.
The problem relies on their training system that is prepared to overcome Palestinian suicide-bombers and 'peasant' fighters, not a guerilla (and well-equipped) fighters from Hezbollah's millitia
Dear pak Juwono,
I really agree with our government decision to send our troops to Lebanon. It will show our solidarity to Lebanon's people.
I understand that they might be some problems with some people about the budget, but I believe that that budget won't be useless, especially in order to raise again our diplomatic position in international politics. I think we should gain back our diplomatic position in ASEAN, Asia, UN, and OKI.
Oscar, I think he has already mentioned it in the post:
"Unlike previous generation of Israeli soldiers, who were more hardy and tribulation-tested men and women coming from the harsher farms and rural areas, the new generation soldiers had less training and field experience to face the guerrilla-cum-rocket technology type warfare adapted by Hezbollah."
In many military history, mentioned small power could overun big power which was cause by the not equal size in power itself. However this could be worked in both way too, is it? Whoever understand and could take the advantage of its condition become the winner.
The main concern is that before this condition happen, the more advance and stronger power able to shell out the large part of it's enemy mean to live. For example the Israeli was able to paralyze Lebanon by mean destroying infrastructur such as roads and bridges. This could lead less room for Hezbollah to gain its financial power to suplement its force logistic domestically. It had to look for logistically abroad, even Iran already denied this accusation.
Battle of ground forces are the way of the guerilla strategy can be implemented.
But by air force or other mean of remote attack can cause severe pain and paralyze economy. This could diminish the opponent power in the future and will to fight.
Indonesia should learn from this event that eventhough we could have guerilla strategy as defensive plan, but shelling out for example Jakarta as way to paralyze our financial economic main vein could slowly diminish our power and will to fight.
Ivan, that's why it's not true. The current generations of Israeli reservist just had enough training. But not the right training to deal with Hezbollah
Dear Pak Juwono,
I'm glad to hear that our country will send their troops to Lebanon. It is same like our UUD 45 preambule to be 'participate in world peace'. As a citizen of Indonesia there is no word than 'very2 proud to our troop' it is a noble mission to every person of them.
But, somehow I think our troops must be realize that their mission there is to keep peace between Israel and Hizboolah, in other word they have to be a neutral troops wich not protec only Lebanon people but also have to think about Israel people.
This is Important because we don't want our troops marked as a " Lebanon Protector Armed Forces" right? So every troop must be known that they are duty is to keep peace there, not to be a protector.
I'm saying this because I hve heard that our President said in his speech at DPR ( on RAPBN 2007 speech if I'm not mistake ) " we send our troop to protect Lebanon people from Israel aggresion". I don't know, but I think it is sound like Indonesia will defence other country people.
Hope we can be a neutral country that bring peace to every part of the world.
OOT : Pak, if possible, please support our Defence Indusry so that we can be more Independent in our Defence system
At last, I say success for your and god always bless you..
Pak Juwono,
I am expressing my disappointment in Indonesian government for spending so much money on something that I believe should be left alone.
It is here:
"Sending Troops to Lebanon while Country Remains Poor and Undeveloped" -
http://www.indrani.net/index.php?q=2006/08/sending_troops_to_lebanon_while_country_remains_poor_and_undeveloped
Can you confirm if this statement is true?
""The army has been in preparation for two weeks now and Yudhoyono's son, who serves as a military officer, is also included in its forces. The operation is expected to cost 380 billion rupiahs (US$ 42 million)."