"France Uneasy About Mandate," by Alasdair Sandford (in Paris) - BBC News, 16 August 2006
The war in Lebanon has given France the chance to shine again on the world stage.
Many see the French as natural mediators because of the strong historical ties between the two countries.
France's role in helping to negotiate the UN resolution allowed it to continue mending its relations with the US after the past divisions over Iraq....
The good publicity helped both president and prime minister's [domestic] opinion poll ratings rise by 5%. But the next stage may prove to be a far tougher test.
French troops have been called upon to form the backbone of the strengthened UN force in southern Lebanon.
Speaking in Beirut, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said France was ready to participate as long as the Lebanese army was deployed in southern Lebanon beforehand.
A survey for the newspaper La Croix found that seven French people out of ten supported the deployment of an international force. However only a small majority - 53% - were in favour of the French military getting involved....
The poll for La Croix suggested relatively strong backing for a French troop deployment among young people.
But some are afraid of negative consequences back in France.
"I've seen what's been happening in England with terrorism threats because of the engagements of its army," said Ozlem, a 24-year-old estate agent.
"I don't want the same here. Having a French army over there would create tensions with other countries."...
In 1983, 58 French parachutists were killed in Beirut when the building in which they were staying was blown up. They too had been part of a multinational peacekeeping force.
France has been trying to obtain guarantees from the Lebanese government, Hezbollah and Israel. It does not want its troops to be powerless observers.
But nor does it want to get dragged into taking part in a dangerous and potentially disastrous conflict.
Another incident from recent history that might be influencing French opinion on Lebanon is the 1995 Paris metro bombings that Algerian militants carried out to retaliate for France's support of the Algerian government.
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