Global Policy Forum

By Dr. Tom Clonan*

Kofi Annan's call for highly mobile, rapidly deployable UN 'battlegroups' reflects a growing requirement worldwide for what are termed 'third generation' peace-enforcement operations. First and second generation operations would typically describe the 'classical' UN peacekeeping mission mounted during the Cold War. Such operations were normally deployed with UN Security Council approval and with the prior consent of the belligerent parties involved. The political manoeuvring necessary to secure such consent allied with the large numbers of peacekeepers deployed normally meant it was several months, even years, before peacekeepers arrived in the zone of conflict. This assessment was confirmed in the UN commissioned 2000 Brahimi Report which endorsed rapidly deployed peace-enforcement as a viable mode of military intervention. The report provides the blueprint for the UN's multinational battle groups proposed in Dublin yesterday.

It would be a UN aspiration that the new battle groups follow the precedent set by US and French troops in recent years in trouble spots such as Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These forces were deployed at very short notice and in relatively small numbers. At brigade strength, the deployments were remarkably similar to the 1,500 strong groups envisaged by Mr Annan. Like the UN's proposed battle groups, these forces were equipped with their own self-contained transport, logistics, air and artillery support. These operations were adjudged a success by the French and US Governments.

Such direct and often blunt military interventions are not without risk and would differ from traditional UN operations in that they could be mounted without the consent of all parties involved. Despite these risks, many military commanders with peacekeeping experience believe that rapid intervention is preferable to an international community standing by as genocide is perpetrated - as for example in Rwanda in 1994 and in Darfur today.

Whilst Kofi Annan's appeal for such a rapidly deployable force may be new for the UN, the Irish Defence Forces are already committed to such a set of arrangements under our obligations towards the EU European Rapid Reaction Force (ERRF) and the pre-existing UN Standby Arrangement System (UNSAS). Consistent with these requirements, Ireland is already committed to providing a light infantry battalion along with a number of special forces troops to the ERRF. Under the UNSAS system, we are committed to supply a similar number of Irish troops for UN missions. Irish Defence Forces are well placed to respond to the challenge posed by Kofi Anan's call for multinational battle groups.

About the Author: Dr Tom Clonan is a retired army officer. He is a Fellow of the Inter University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society, Loyola University, Chicago.

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