More contributions to MNF in Beirut
Another thought which just sprang to mind. As a corollary to discussions re Beirut in 1982-83, there were actually US efforts to try to recruit more allied or neutral countries to provide combat troops to the Multinational Force, such as Australia, Austria, Belgium, Morocco, New Zealand, South Korea, Spain, and Sweden, in order to provide the perception of a truly multinational PKF instead of a US-dominated coalition. However, in the end, these efforts came to nought, with none of the countries approached willing to send combat personnel as peacekeepers to support the MNF, and the PKO remained comprised only of US Marine, Italians, French and British contingents right up to the Oct 1983 Marine and French barracks bombings.
WI Alexander Haig's efforts to recruit a wider base of contributors to the MNF had been more successful ? What PODs would be required to entice any of the above countries to have provided their soldiers as non-UN peacekeepers in Beirut ? Could the presence of more national contingents within the MNF have acted as a greater deterrent and disincentive to Shi'ite terrorists and not alienated the Muslim pop of Lebanon as greatly as did the US-dominated PKO ?