Peacekeeping in Chad - No support, no mission

WE HAVE a long tradition of punching above our weight in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Our commitment to that honourable cause should not blind us to reality. Neither should we feel obliged to send ill-equipped Irish troops where they will be exposed to lethal threat. If they are to put their lives at risk — and they may be asked to do so in Chad — they must have the very best of support and equipment.

Patently, that is not the case and Defence Minister Willie O’Dea is right to be concerned. The mission has been delayed because nobody has offered the air support vital to the success of any such mission.

It should be remembered that rebel forces in the country have declared they will wage war against foreign soldiers there and that, just last week, the defence minister was sacked because he could not control former rebels. That same week hundreds of people died in fighting in the east of the country.

The Irish army’s record speaks for itself and it can be proud of its UN participation. The least we owe our soldiers is not to ask that they put their lives in jeopardy because of a lack of resources or support.