Yanks in Blue Berets: American UN Peacekeepers in the Middle East

The United Nations launched the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in 1948 to oversee ceasefire lines between combatant parties in the Middle East. However, the organization faced challenges in its peacekeeping mission, particularly in the 1980s, when Israel invaded Lebanon. Yanks in Blue Berets: American UN Peacekeepers in the Middle East by retired US Army colonel L. Scott Lingamfelter chronicles the role of the US military in UN Middle East peacekeeping operations, examining the difficulties faced by UN forces and the challenging dichotomy of a soldier trained for combat in an unarmed peacekeeping environment.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 04 July 2023
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky

The United Nations established the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in 1948 in response to the conflict that erupted between Israel and its Arab neighbors, who strongly opposed the establishment of a Jewish state. UNTSO was tasked with overseeing the ceasefire lines between the combatant parties. However, as countries along the eastern Mediterranean engaged in a series of escalating military conflicts, UNTSO faced numerous challenges in its peacekeeping mission, often requiring it to alter its configuration. The situation reached a critical point in 1982 when Israel invaded Lebanon for the second time, casting doubt on the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations and US support for them.

In Yanks in Blue Berets: American UN Peacekeepers in the Middle East, retired US Army colonel and former UN military observer L. Scott Lingamfelter explores the role of the US military in UN Middle East peacekeeping operations. The book is framed by Lingamfelter's personal experiences, providing a firsthand account of the difficulties faced by UN forces positioned between warring sides with limited trust in their authority and the challenging dichotomy of soldiers trained for combat while immersed in unarmed peacekeeping. Yanks in Blue Berets offers a boots-on-the-ground perspective of the building Arab-Israeli tensions and geopolitics preceding the 1982 invasion of Lebanon.

The establishment of UNTSO was a significant response to the conflict that had engulfed the region following the establishment of Israel in 1948. The organization's primary mission was to monitor and supervise the ceasefire agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors, which had been signed as part of the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. However, UNTSO's role quickly expanded as the region experienced a series of escalating military conflicts.

In the early years of UNTSO's existence, the organization faced numerous challenges. One of the most significant was the lack of trust between the combatant parties. The ceasefire agreements were often violated, and UNTSO struggled to maintain a neutral and impartial stance. Additionally, UNTSO was tasked with overseeing a vast territory, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River, and it faced logistical challenges in providing adequate support to its troops.

Despite these challenges, UNTSO played a crucial role in maintaining stability in the region. The organization's troops were deployed to various conflict zones, including Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. They worked to establish and maintain ceasefire lines, monitor compliance with the agreements, and provide humanitarian assistance to the affected populations.

However, UNTSO's mission was not without its controversies. In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon for the second time, sparking a major conflict that lasted for more than a decade. The invasion was widely condemned by the international community, and it called into question the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations and US support for them.

One of the key criticisms of UNTSO's role in the 1982 invasion was its failure to prevent the conflict from escalating. The organization's troops were stationed in Lebanon, but they were unable to prevent Israel from launching a massive military offensive against Lebanon's Christian population. The invasion resulted in the displacement of millions of people and the destruction of much of Lebanon's infrastructure.

Another criticism of UNTSO's role was its perceived bias towards Israel. Some observers argued that the organization was too lenient on Israel and too harsh on its Arab neighbors. This perception was fueled by the fact that UNTSO's mandate did not explicitly require it to enforce the ceasefire agreements, and it often relied on the cooperation of the combatant parties to maintain stability.

Despite these criticisms, UNTSO continued to play a significant role in peacekeeping operations in the Middle East. The organization's troops were deployed to various conflict zones, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Sudan. They worked to establish and maintain ceasefire lines, monitor compliance with the agreements, and provide humanitarian assistance to the affected populations.

In conclusion, the establishment of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in 1948 was a response to the conflict that erupted between Israel and its Arab neighbors. UNTSO played a crucial role in maintaining stability in the region for several decades, but it faced numerous challenges, including the lack of trust between the combatant parties, logistical challenges, and perceived bias towards Israel. Despite these criticisms, UNTSO continued to play a significant role in peacekeeping operations in the Middle East, and its troops worked tirelessly to establish and maintain ceasefire lines, monitor compliance with the agreements, and provide humanitarian assistance to the affected populations.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813197630