Posted on 08/18/2006 6:07:36 AM PDT by IrishMike
In a classic case of the French being the French, reports indicate that President Chirac is balking at sending troops from his nation to be part of the international force to enforce the United Nations-orchestrated "peace" deal. This is the good news relating to this international force.
Recent history suggests that, at best, international forces under the United Nations flag are neutral and ineffectual and, in many, cases outright pernicious.
It was only 13 years ago, but nobody seems to remember the American tragic experience in Mogadishu, Somalia, which shows what can happen. That effort began with great optimism. The well-meaning international community hoped to bring peace between warring factions in Somalia and bring an end to the horrific famine taking the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians. There was a real villain here, warlord Mohammed Aidid. Subsequent historical evidence suggests that Aidid may have been aided by fighters loyal to Osama bin Laden.
The international force here was no help and may have even been in league with the enemy. Pakistani troops who composed a substantial portion of the international force assiduously avoided areas of danger. In 1993, America deployed its Delta Force and Ranger units in an operation designed to capture Aidid. According to a 1998 PBS Frontline documentary, "Ambush in Mogadishu," American efforts to capture Aidid were repeatedly thwarted by Italian allies, who were also operating in Somalia under the flag of the United Nations. "The Italians were not happy about the war the Americans were fighting against us," an Aidid militia commander told Frontline. "We had an understanding with some U.N. contingents that we would not attack them, and they would not attack us."
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
This is typical of the French. All they want are the contracts to help rebuild Lebanon, at the expense of the US and other countries. The French have always been completely self serving in everything that they do and never do anything out of an altruistic nature. They are just looking for their next chance to stick their hand in the big giant cookie jar, and take out a fat overpriced wad of cash. Just like the Oil for Food program.
France is like a gang of cash bandits. They lie in wait of some poor unsuspecting country with foreign aid, and then they swoop in under the guise of a contractor and steal them blind.
De Gaulle behaved himself like a regular prima dona
France is like a gang of cash bandits. They lie in wait of some poor unsuspecting country with foreign aid, and then they swoop in under the guise of a contractor and steal them blind.
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I recall the French and our other good friend Russia doing a booming business with Sadam and Iraq.
Remember the hubris when the oil contracts were cancelled ?
Even John Kerry was upset.........[sarc]
Comes down to leadership as well. Just like with France.
When you have people of the corrupt nature as Chirac and Anan running things, it sets the agenda for everything.
Napolean was a Corsican..
How very true.
I split a gut this morning when an expert being interviewed on Fox spoke of this cut when it was expected France "...would be the 'BACKBONE'...[of the military presence there]".
I wondered if he intended the pun.
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