tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post8284031466105676349..comments2023-11-17T03:55:40.736-05:00Comments on Ink Spots: Three Indian Peacekeepers Killed in Eastern DRC and UN Builds a Trench Around Refugee CampLilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373158801523577733noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-87571261807591908942010-08-19T18:57:10.182-04:002010-08-19T18:57:10.182-04:00I don't actually agree that the Indians didn&#...I don't actually agree that the Indians didn't have the resources to adequately respond. They are mechanized infantry facing 60 guys with machetes: there's a pretty clear asymmetry in combat power in favor of the Indian troops. <br /><br />But like all clever asymmetric opponents, these machete-wielding Mai Mai militia appear to have studied their MONUSCO enemies (and yes, that is how many Mai Mai in North Kivu regard MONUSCO) and figured out how to neutralize that imbalance. In this case, they either posed as civilians seeking assistance at the gates to the MONUSCO operating base, or waited until genuine civilians did so. Either way, they waited until the MONUSCO troops let down their guard in way that allowed the militia to close distance and kill some of them. Contingent commanders in UN PKOs have a lot of influence over the posture their troops adopt, and if these Indians had shown up with the same attitude their comrades from Gurkha Battalions have in the past (in the same tactical AOR), I doubt this would have happened. <br /><br />As to why the Mai Mai attacked - it was probably PARECO Mai Mai, who have regarded MONUC/MONUSCO as their enemy since fighting in late 2009/early 2010 between the Congolese army and Mai Mai on one side, and the CNDP on the other. The Mai Mai were (violently) unhappy with MONUC for not being hard enough on the CNDP.MKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09101668944584403261noreply@blogger.com