Muslim Peace Keeping Forces for Lebanon

I'd give this more credence if the spearhead of the group wasn't a complete nutcase.

Aroused by restive populations back home, and aghast at the death toll in heavily Muslim southern Lebanon, select members of the Organization of Islamic Conference, spearheaded by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, gathered in special session -- more than three weeks after the start of the crisis.

"We must show preparedness to contribute forces for peacekeeping operations under the United Nations banner," Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malaysia's prime minister and host of the conference, said in remarks prepared for delivery in closed session. "Malaysia is ready to do that."

Summing up the frustration of many across the Muslim world, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia demanded of her fellow OIC members: "The question that may come up is why this meeting could not be convened earlier."

Can Israel take a force with military units from places like Iran and Syria? Not to mention how the presence of such military units would further endanger non-Muslim forces.

Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map, arrived just before the opening session and declined any comment. On Wednesday, Iranian state television quoted Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in matters of state, as saying Iran would never bend in its support for Lebanese resistance against Israel.

As their leaders met behind closed doors, OIC diplomats said a draft communique now circulating would seek to place Muslim "Blue Helmets" under U.N. control. It also calls for an inquiry into possible Israeli war crimes in its campaign against targets in southern Lebanon and Gaza.

"Many countries have expressed their readiness to send troops under the banner of the United Nations," OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu told reporters during a break.

The Iranian statement should immediately disqualify them right from the start. As for the UN running the thing, that pretty much will ensure failure, if you go by their previous record.

I don't doubt that having military forces from Muslim countries is a good idea. I just think that the selection of those countries needs to be very cautious. And that the military head of those units must be beyond all doubt in his loyalty to the UN mission. Countries like Turkey and Jordan would be excellent choices for participants. They are more moderate Muslim countries and that should satisfy the need.