Tom Carew writes from Dublin: Two aspects of "proportionality" are worth noting. First, when Ireland had only 2.8m people in 1960, and an Army of only 7 Regular Infantry Battalions, with no overseas experience, with WW II bolt—action Lee Enfield rifles, we sent an Infantry Battalion to the Congo, of under 700 men, and maintained that level of commitment to Congo, Cyprus and Lebanon UN duty. Indeed for 6 months we even provided 2 Bns in the Congo and an Armoured Car Squadron. France to—day has a population 21.74 times bigger, and pro rata could provide the entire additional 13,000 for the UN Lebanon Force with a lower level of commitment than tiny and impoverished  Ireland made in 1960. Instead they send 200 Engineers. And pompous denounciations. And resolutions. And even if they lack the courage of their verbal posturings, they could send their Foreign Legion to once again give glory to France, while avoiding French deaths. Perhaps its time for other States to...(Read Full Post)