Russia offers to send replacements for Austrian troops on Israel-Syria border

[oberliner]

Russia has stunned the international community by offering to replace Austrian troops withdrawn from the peacekeeping forces on the Israeli-Syrian border in the Golan Heights, despite its open political and military support for the Assad regime.

"Given the complicated situation in the Golan Heights, we could replace the leaving Austrian contingent in this region on the border between Israeli troops and the Syrian army," Vladimir Putin announced during a televised meeting with Russian military officers.

"But this will happen, of course, only if the regional powers show interest, and if the UN secretary general asks us to do so," the president added.

The decision to approve this offer sits with the UN security council, currently chaired by the UK, which is unlikely to judge Russia a neutral party in the Syrian conflict and suitable peacekeepers.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/07/russia-troops-israel-syria-border

[Alamuti Lotus]

1. At least Putin's people have kept their dark sense of humour

I seriously doubt anybody will bite on this--the reciprocal implications would become absurd when the US wants to send "peacekeepers" too. I don't like the idea of "peacekeepers" in the first place (long story, perhaps), but having active participants in war filling such shoes is just ridiculous.

Any thoughts on the storey, obe?