United Nations Combat Brigade

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/9/5/un-tests-combat-brigadeindemocraticrepublicofcongo.html

Unmentioned and unnoticed in other news services. The United Nations Peacekeeping forces for the first time in their history have dropped two policies for their peacekeeping and stabilization mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which are not to shoot unless fired upon and not to seek out hostiles. I have been quietly watching this story develop as the UN developed this new brigade which is better trained and equipped than any of the local militants.

Some in the region and world have called this a fundamental breach of the United Nation's trust as a neutral mediator of international disputes and others see it as a step in the right direction of making peacekeeping and stabilization viable in missions that continue to worsen. The people in the Democratic Republic of Congo were angry that UN Peacekeepers would chase militant forces out of their towns only to later retreat leading to a riot where they attacked UN peacekeepers. This of course did not go unnoticed and lead to the creation of this brigade.

In the first encounters with this UN Combat Brigade the enemy's lines have been dramatically been pushed back with very little casualty on part of UN Peacekepers.

 

So uh... who's paying for these offensive operations in enemy territory? I don't quite see how an organization that has become little more then a forum for the world's superpowers has anything to gain "actively" using military actions in foreign countries. You realize someone has to clean up the mess afterwards. Is the UN going to pick sides like if they too were a independent country with motives?

Of they pick on Africa. Can't risk a international accident so pick on Africa.

So much for peaceful resolutions. (Though they were failing that too but gained much respect for the effort)

 

So uh… who’s paying for these offensive operations in enemy territory?
The United Nations receves revenue from the nations of the world through "membership dues", the United States pays for about one-fifth to one-fourth of the United Nation's total budget.I don’t quite see how an organization that has become little more then a forum for the world’s superpowers has anything to gain “actively” using military actions in foreign countries.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Corps has been in operation since its founding and has helped many war-torn regions from becoming worse. Some examples of success stories would be Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mozambique, Namibia and Tajikistan. Peacekeeping operations that have yielded good progress for example might be Sierra Leone, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Timor-Leste, Liberia, Haiti and Kosovo. Without the aid of international peacekeepers these regions would be much worse off.You realize someone has to clean up the mess afterwards.
After peacekeeping comes "peacebuilding". Somalia for example is a success story of UN Peacekeeping, the nation has been stabilized enough that they have a reasonably stable government and is progressing in its practice of democracy. So yes, the mess has to be cleaned up like after any conflict, but the aid of UN Peacekeepers is indispensable, so much so Somalia's flag is the same color blue as the UN's in a gesture of gratitude and thanks.Is the UN going to pick sides like if they too were a independent country with motives?
That is one of the big questions about this first UN Combat Brigade. Will the United Nations lose their ability to be neutral mediators and peacekeepers? But one of the big criticisms of the United Nations peacekeeping operations has been being too passive, moreover in Africa.Of they pick on Africa. Can’t risk a international accident so pick on Africa.
The African Union and the Democratic Republic of Congo  BOTH support the presence of UN Peacekeepers. The UN Combat Brigade is another welcomed change after the peacekeeping operation having little to no success for decades in the Congo. So much for peaceful resolutions. (Though they were failing that too but gained much respect for the effort)
Not quite sure what you mean. But in the Congo it appeared that all attempts at dialogue were futile and the people themselves were suffering as a result. I am torn on this UN Combat Brigade but I have to admit it is good to see perpetrators organized violence being pushed back.