[Hostage]

Alot of our fellow Freepers posting here do not understand the history and culture of France and Africa, especially France and Algeria.

Algeria was once thought a part of France and in fact even today the South of France is referred to as 'Le Midi' meaning the middle, whereas Algeria was thought of as South France.

So Algerian Arabs are very much aligned with France in the same way as Puerto Ricans are to the USA. We can also look at Algerians that moved to France in the same way that Cubans moved to Florida.

Once this context is understood, and given that political correctness and multiculturalism has affected France in the same way as it has America, then one should be able to sympathize more with France's current dilemma..

Where criticism is deserved (IMO) is in the Oil-For-Food corruption and the delays that France caused in the invasion of Iraq. Rather than take an adversarial position to the USA in the UN as to Saddam Hussein's regime, France could have taken a neutral position while quietly demanding compensation or insurance/protection for its commercial interests in Iraq (Total, Elf, Fina etc.).

[Alia]

Well put.

Anyone who has ever play the game "Diplomacy" (or even Risk) understands what it's like to play "France". Argh.