Article

2003-06-10 East/Subsaharan Africa

And then the cry went up: âWhere are the French?â

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Posted by Secret Master 2003-06-10 11:45 am|| || Front Page|| [9 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 O how my fellow Rantsburgians could I not post an article called "Where are the French?"

Posted by Secret Master 2003-06-10 11:52:14|| [www.budgetwarrior.com] 2003-06-10 11:52:14|| Front Page Top

#2 It probably turns the stomachs of the French military personel on these missions that they aren't allowed to do anything without clearance fron either Paris, New York, Genevea or all three. As much as I would like to see the EU peace keeping mission succeed I have the feeling that they are going to about as successful as Task Force Smith was in Korea except without the resultant casualities. If the EU was serious about this peacekeeping mission the Foch or Clemencaeu would be off West Africa right now. And Bush would most likely be encouraging them as much as possible. Or the Spanish carrier if they still have it in servie after selling the Sea Harriers to Singapore. Or the Indian carrier they ot from the Brits after the Falklands. Or they could buy the former HMS Vengance from the Brazilians and refurbish it as a helicopter/VTOL aircaft carrier just for use in missions as this. The EU quick reaction force is never going to be a creditable force for some of these types operations until they have their own organic air support and transport.

Posted by Someone who did NOT vote for William Proxmire 2003-06-10 12:34:47|| 2003-06-10 12:34:47|| Front Page Top

#3 I still say that the U.S. should offer to help the French.
That way the Marines can humilate the paper pushin' pussies on the battlefield, then leave the nation building, and the resulting failure, to the French.

Posted by Mike N. 2003-06-10 12:44:51|| 2003-06-10 12:44:51|| Front Page Top

#4 Frog-fucking snail lickers, all of 'em.

Posted by FormerLiberal 2003-06-10 14:35:00|| 2003-06-10 14:35:00|| Front Page Top

#5 This is cold, but my view is that it's not our war. Let somebody else resolve it. Either way, it will resolve itself - the strong will prevail, and the weak will submit, flee or die.

If our forces were readily available, fine, but they're way stretched as it is. The only we have the forces to do so is by mobilizing the National Guard. Calling up the National Guard so we can rescue Congolese? I don't think so. (This will kill both re-enlistment rates and combat readiness among NG troopers, for sure).

Posted by Zhang Fei 2003-06-10 14:47:20|| 2003-06-10 14:47:20|| Front Page Top

#6 ...my fellow Rantsburgians...

I think the correct term is Rantburgers--if we stick with that perhaps PETA will pay us to change it, and that can help pay for Fred's bandwidth charges.

Posted by Dar 2003-06-10 16:11:40|| 2003-06-10 16:11:40|| Front Page Top

#7 Rantsburgundians

Philistines...

Posted by mojo 2003-06-10 17:25:22|| 2003-06-10 17:25:22|| Front Page Top

#8 Shouldn't that be Rantburghers?

Posted by Zhang Fei 2003-06-10 17:36:18|| 2003-06-10 17:36:18|| Front Page Top

#9 What a bunch of useless assholes.Why do the Frogs even bother?

Posted by raptor 2003-06-10 18:14:42|| 2003-06-10 18:14:42|| Front Page Top

#10 Not to be too picky, but where the hell are the Uruguayan soldiers? Cowering beside the journalists, that's where.

It's time for the French + Uruguayan troops on the scene to take charge. This whole thing aches for a local commander with some stones and a bad attitude, someone who can chomp a cigar butt and say, "Goddammit, I am SICK and TIRED of sitting here getting shot at (or towards)!" And to take some initiative. This might give the UN weenies in New York a case of the vapors (no Ethel, don't get the pills), but that just might be what the situation needs.

I read that the Foreign Legion is tough as all get out. Good. Time to stand up and be counted, or as Raptor notes, why even bother?

Posted by Steve White 2003-06-10 18:21:19|| 2003-06-10 18:21:19|| Front Page Top

#11 So that Chiraq can claim he did something.

Posted by RW 2003-06-10 19:13:15|| 2003-06-10 19:13:15|| Front Page Top

#12 Uruguayans, like most of the military contingents from Latin America, are mainly useful for internal security - i.e. facing down unarmed demonstrators. Against people with guns - I just can't see it. And they call themselves soldiers? In most places, a uniform and a rifle is all it takes...

Posted by Zhang Fei 2003-06-10 23:40:23|| 2003-06-10 23:40:23|| Front Page Top

08:11 raptor
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04:54 Ben
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23:12 11A5S
22:45 tu3031
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22:38 Aris Katsaris
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