...More to the point, there has been a peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon since 1978 - paradoxically named the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or Unifil - charged with confirming Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, restoring "international peace and security" and helping the Lebanese government restore its authority. The force, 2,000 strong, has failed in all but the first task, instead focusing on humanitarian aid.

The Lebanon mission is the most deadly United Nations operation, with 260 personnel killed over 28 years. The most recent deaths came last week, when four peacekeepers were killed by Israeli fire, outraging the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan. Regrettably, instead of bringing these lame- duck troops out of the fray, the Security Council chose to extend the mission's mandate, which was to have expired Monday, until the end of the month. 

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