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| Africa: Subsaharan |
| "French military response was swift and decisive" |
| 2004-11-06 |
| French forces in Ivory Coast have destroyed two government warplanes after an air strike which left eight French soldiers dead and 23 injured. The French struck the airbase in the capital, Yamoussoukro, soon after an air raid on the rebel-held town of Bouake hit the French peacekeepers. France said its forces had struck in a direct response to the bombing. |
| Posted by:Classical_Liberal |
| #16 Paris delende est. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-11-07 10:38:56 PM |
| #15 9551, would that be mooslimes? |
| Posted by: Conanista 2004-11-07 10:38:24 PM |
| #14 The French obtained a Security Council resolution several weeks after intervening in Cote d'Ivoire. Please note that this is primarily a case of Moslems ina the north and illegals, especially from Burkina Faso, entering the country and now wanting power currently held by Christian from the south. Guess which side the French have supported?? |
| Posted by: Crinerong Chomoque9551 2004-11-07 10:37:48 PM |
| #13 I'm sure their ICC legal advisor was on the scene and gave them permission to fight back. Otherwise, their troops could end up in the block in Hague, y'know. And Fox sez the French death toll is now 9... |
| Posted by: .com 2004-11-07 10:37:10 PM |
| #12 "French military response was swift and decisive" Yup , coat self in tar and feathers , then run home to garlicland |
| Posted by: MacNails 2004-11-07 10:36:40 PM |
| #11 A little more history: President for Life Felix Houphouet-Boigny, once a country doctor, ruled as a mostly benevolent dictator for several decades. During French Colonial times and H-B's regime, the governments kept a tight lid on tribal war. With the death of H-B and no clear successor, plus the bloodbath next door in Liberia, tribal war resurged in Cote d' Ivoire as well. Remember Tom Lehrer's song about "National Brotherhood Week?" The West African version might be: Oh the Mano hate Mandinka And Mandika hate the Mano And the Krahn all hate the Gio And everybody hates the Kru! Take a country with two major climate zones (rain forest and sahel) about the size of Missouri, put in two dozen or so tribes who speak different languages and, because of climatic differences, generally have completely different life styles. Add militant Islam and you get hell. The Liberian loonies have decided to adopt Jihadi slogans, and the Mandinka in Liberia are now trying to trash that country again. |
| Posted by: mom 2004-11-07 10:36:08 PM |
| #10 No blood for chocolate! (someone had to say it) |
| Posted by: phil_b 2004-11-07 10:35:31 PM |
| #9 It's a conspiracy... Make those dumb ass Americans pay more for their chocolate as punishment for reelecting W. Unfortunate collateral damage, the one big loser will be Michael "socialist slob" Moore. Too bad, so sad. |
| Posted by: Constitutional Individualist 2004-11-07 10:34:55 PM |
| #8 We know they like oil and cheese .... Do the French like chocolate ?? |
| Posted by: leo88 2004-11-07 10:34:19 PM |
| #7 A few years ago Jacques Chirac stationed French troops in it's former colony for a principal monetary reason. The Ivory Coast produces 40% of the world's Cocoa beans. The Ivory Coast is becoming a French Iraq. Another critical cause of the civil war is 40% of the population in Ivory Coast as Muslim, compared to about 20% as Christians. Another large segment of the population is animist. This happened within the last 24 hours: 'Warplanes bombed French peacekeepers today, killing eight French soldiers and one U.S. citizen, and wounding 23, prompting a French counterstrike, officials said, in a clash that threatened to escalate Ivory Coast's renewed civil war.' Also: 'The UN security council was to hold an emergency meeting on Saturday to discuss the violence in the Ivory Coast.' With civil war breaking out again the cocoa bean crop is threatened, and prices of 'chocolate' beans are beginning to really climb on the global market. |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-11-07 10:33:50 PM |
| #6 Hey! Cut slack! They got right after 'em. Let's see what happens. It might be a blood bath. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-11-07 10:33:18 PM |
| #5 Do I see "Celsius 116" in someone's future? Nah... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-11-07 10:32:52 PM |
| #4 I'm surprised they didn't surrender to the helicopter. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-11-07 10:32:25 PM |
| #3 Those warmongering French have finally shown their true colors! Their Imperialistic agenda has finally been put into motion! How dare they attack a sovereign government without UN approval or investigation into the "accidental" bombing of their soldiers! Their unilateral and agressive actions show all, the seething contempt they have for the world and peaceful diplomatic solutions in general. Shame on you Chirac! Shame on you France! How many more innocent lives will you take!!?? The blood of innocents is upon you!!! uh, ...oh yeah! How dare you "Wag the Dog" to avert attention from your corrupt banks and officials in the Oil for Food Scam!!! FOR SHAME!!! P.S. Yeah, what Stephen said too! |
| Posted by: 98zulu 2004-11-07 10:31:56 PM |
| #2 QUAGMIRE! Chirac was bribed and people died! French Imperialists out of Africa! 80% of Americans believe France is the greatest threat to world peace! What other country would claim knocking down a couple of aircraft as a "decisive" victory? |
| Posted by: Stephen 2004-11-07 10:31:27 PM |
| #1 And unilateral. Did they have a UN resolution for this? |
| Posted by: AzCat 2004-11-07 10:30:58 PM |