It would be tempting to laugh over France’s commitment of 200 additional peacekeepers for Lebanon. The French are behaving as if they have no responsibility for helping dig Lebanon out of the mess.

When the Security Council agreed earlier this month on a ceasefire resolution it was with the clear understanding that Paris would head the 15,000-member international force. Now President Jacques Chirac’s generals have developed cold feet. And there are serious concerns about whet-her the UN can field enough well-trained troops without the French to ensure that Israeli troops withdraw and Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel do not restart. At least part of the explanation for Paris’ reluctance is that Chirac is a lame duck. But the French military command has also raised some legitimate concerns about the peacekeeping force’s lack of a clear mission. The best that may be hoped for in Lebanon is an eventual political marginalisation for Hezbollah. For that to happen, a well-armed peacekeeping force needs to deploy quickly. At a minimum the troops could block Hezbollah’s supply lines from Syria.

The French generals are right to be nervous. This is a very dangerous mission. And there are no guarantees that it will succeed, but a second-tier power can sidestep difficult choices. The superpowers cannot.