French leaders accused of complicity in Rwanda genocide

The Daily Telegraph ^ | 05 Aug 2008 | Mike Pflanz

[ScaniaBoy]

Rwanda said top French politicians should "answer for their actions" as it named them in a report accusing France of arming and advising extremists in the 1994 genocide.

The two-year investigation said France helped the extremists who carried out the genocide and even took part in some of the killings. It named François Mitterand, France's late former president, and former prime minister Dominique de Villepin among 33 military and political leaders.

[ScaniaBoy]

Re: Dominque de Villepin - who we of course remember for his part in the Food for Oil caper and his anti-US stand in the UN on the build-up to the Iraq war (Wikipedia):

"Foreign Ministry's top adviser on Africa (1992 - 1993) Villepin was also heavily involved in developing the French foreign policy leading up to the Rwandan genocide. Among his questionable decisions are the import of weapons in spite of an arms import embargo, as well as the close links to Hutu officials responsible for the genocide."

Note that in the original piece in the Daily Telegraph the article is illustrated by a picture of de Villepin and President Chirac (not his predecessor Mitterrand).

Interesting thought: de Villepin was in all likelihood involved in a smear-campaign against Sarkozy before the presidential election. Investigation in the Clearstream affair continues. Thus, Sarkozy may not be inclined to protect his old adversary.

Couldn't happen to a nicer fellow, now, could it?

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Just wonder if deVillepin will ever be charged. These days, unless you kill Muslims or Mexicans, they will never prosecute for war crimes or crimes against humanity

deVillepin, if found guilty, should be executed...just like they all are trying to do to the Serbs

[DocRock]

This info will get the same MSM response as when French troops opened fire on unarmed civilians in the Ivory Coast in 2004.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1284447/posts

[SolidWood]

Villain-Pinhead

[ScaniaBoy]

As I noted above it may depend on the support he receives from the present French government, and as I also noted from a purely personal point of view Sarkozy may not be too friendly towards Monsieur de Villepin.

Another important thing to note from the US domestic point of view: Obama wishes to convert the UN into a clearinghouse for the US foreing policy. De Villepin - a man suspected of aiding and abetting a genocide - was one of those trying to determine US policy in 2002 - 2003. Will the US voters really think it is a wise policy Obama advocates?

[ScaniaBoy]

You may be right, but hopefully the new-media (us, that is!) will make it difficult for them to hide this story.

And both McCain and Sarkozy have reaasons to weigh in on this story (see my response above).

[faloi]

Will the US voters really think it is a wise policy Obama advocates?

Given the minor, practically non-existent, outcry over promoting the Security Chief during the Genocide to the head of the United Nations, then blowing off all the scandals that continued to befall the UN...I'd say US voters aren't informed enough to care. I'd like to see more outcry about how "Clinton Lied (there is no genocide), people died," but it's just not there.

[monday]

“deVillepin, if found guilty, should be executed...just like they all are trying to do to the Serbs”

Really? I thought capital punishment was banned in the EU. I doubt they are trying to execute the Serbs.

[ScaniaBoy]

Ping!

[eleni121]

Mitterand probably OKayed orders to start the butchery.

He said did he not:

“In such countries, genocide is not too important…”

(in Gourevitch’s “Reversing the Reversals of War”, The New Yorker, 26 April 1999.)

[ScaniaBoy]

I hadn’t heard that before, but I take your word for it. (The article isn’t on line yet.) Mitterrand definitely could have said it.