Article

2003-06-06 East/Subsaharan Africa

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Steve 2003-06-06 08:42 am|| || Front Page|| [8 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 So the second stringers finally get their chance to show up the varsity squad. I guess the EU figures that if Iraq gave the US some international muscle, tnen Africa will do the same for the French, I mean, the EU. Unfortunately, I suspect the French, I mean the EU, has no idea what a complete fuck up of a continent Africa actually is - the many, many tribes simply don't like each other.

Or maybe Chirac got one of those "please lets us deposit $20,000.00 millions in dollars US in your bank" e-mails and decided he wanted in on the ground floor.

Posted by FormerLiberal 2003-06-06 11:19:38|| 2003-06-06 11:19:38|| Front Page Top

#2 Did the French take this before the UN?... just wondering...

Posted by ----------<<<<- 2003-06-06 14:39:14|| 2003-06-06 14:39:14|| Front Page Top

#3 The guy in the article picture has a weapon, but how many paper pushers will have to give the nod before he's allowed to load it?

Posted by (lowercase) matt 2003-06-06 15:31:29|| 2003-06-06 15:31:29|| Front Page Top

#4 I am happy to see the French take on the burden of the colonial mess they left behind.

Posted by Yank 2003-06-06 19:17:32|| 2003-06-06 19:17:32|| Front Page Top

#5 Congo was Belgium's pride and joy. Read joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" for a flavour. Those Belgians showed us all!

Posted by Bulldog 2003-06-06 19:30:37|| 2003-06-06 19:30:37|| Front Page Top

#6 I read this report and saw the pix...BFD.

A few dozen guys in Land Rovers drive in unannounced from Uganda, catching the rebels unaware...right into the UN compound at Bunia Airport. Notice the "rebels" watching the parade...don't look too intimidated, do they? Gee, you brought us a few more "peacekeepers" to terrorise and hold hostage, how nice!

At best, this is an advon team designed to provide Air Traffic Control and protect the first light transport in. But will this stop the killings even in the city, much less the countryside...hmmm...not yet.

BTW, the UN has already assessed that Bunia can't handle more than 2 flights a day. The French say that because of this, it will take them 45 days to fully deploy 1400 troops (until say 20 July), and that they intend to have all their forces out of the county and the "peacekeeping" duties asumed by Bangladesh by 1 Sept (45 days after that). Does something seem wrong with the math here?

Posted by Watcher 2003-06-06 22:10:46|| 2003-06-06 22:10:46|| Front Page Top

#7 Why only 2 flights/day,watcher?

Posted by Raptor 2003-06-07 08:14:08|| 2003-06-07 08:14:08|| Front Page Top

10:02 shahid
17:54 Ben
08:54 Raptor
08:14 Raptor
04:37 Anonymous
02:15 Mike Kozlowski
01:15 Rex Mundi
00:51 Anonymous
00:50 Malthusiast
23:14 Mark IV
22:10 Watcher
22:02 Cyber Sarge
21:19 Frank G
21:16 john
20:37 Celissa
20:05 Celissa
19:42 Yank
19:36 Yank
19:34 Anonymous Coward
19:30 Bulldog
19:26 Yank
19:23 Yank
19:17 Yank
18:23 Alaska Paul