Posted on 12/02/2004 4:49:31 PM PST by Angry Republican
It's a western power waging war with Muslims in a Third World nation that wants the occupiers out. To top it off, the nation is a leading world supplier of a most valued commodity.
I'm referring to France, its war in the west African country of the Ivory Coast, and that nation's status as the leading grower of cocoa beans - the source of chocolate and hot cocoa.
France was the long time colonial power in the Ivory Coast and until recently as many as 14,000 French citizens lived there. A civil war that has been building in recent years embroiled the French earlier this month when a French base was bombed by the Ivory Coast air force. The French military retaliated by destroying the west African nation's modest collection of air force aircraft.
The French have had some authority conferred upon them by the U.N. to conduct military operations in separating the country's two warring factions: Christian government forces versus Muslim rebels. But lately French officials have been anxious to reduce their country's military profile and would like to bring in peacekeeping forces from other nations to take their place. Sound familiar?
No one suggests the French are in the Ivory Coast in order to plunder that nation's natural resources. In addition to cocoa beans, the Ivory Coast is a major supplier of coffee. Some might argue that a chocolate bar or a cup of Joe are every bit as important as a barrel of oil.
We'll give the French the benefit of the doubt that they're not after the African nation's resources since until recently they had been preoccupied with plundering Iraqi oil with the assistance of Saddam Hussein and corrupt UN officials.
It is a bit ironic to watch French President Jacques Chirac denounce the Ivory Coast presidential regime 18 months after showing support for the murderous regime of Saddam Hussein.
And that's the Point.
I'm Mark Hyman.
It is a bit ironic to watch French President Jacques Chirac denounce the Ivory Coast presidential regime 18 months after showing support for the murderous regime of Saddam Hussein.
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Chirac is like Clinton -- he will do ANYTHING FOR MONEY AND POWER. Chirac will get pretty much anything he wants from the U.N. (whatever that might be worth?) --- the U.N. has been playing to Chirac and his middle-east financial love affair for decades.
NO WAR FOR COCOA!
Chirac is a scumbag.
Ho-hos. Ringdings. KitKats. Reeses' Peanut Butter Cups. Snickers. Twix. Milky Ways. DingDongs. Almond Joys. M&Ms. Hershey bars. Girl-Scout Thin Mints. The list goes on and on.
Do you realize the percentage of the U.S. economy at risk here? What about Easter? WHAT ABOUT THE BUNNIES?
Now are you gonna try to tell us that we can substitute carob or some other commie ersatz nasty stuff? What kind of a mutt-headed econazi PETA-loving vegetarian fruitcake is gonna make triple chocolate decadence out of carob? Hmm? Answer me that!
Hot cocoa. Harrumph!
Someone should call A.N.S.W.E.R. and MoveOn and Jesse Jackson! Send some Democrat senators over there to denounce the occupation! Where is the Hollywood indignation? Michael Moore, how about Franceinheat 911? Chirac lied, people died!
Don't forget Christmas. Now what's going to be in my stocking this year!
I like my tagline better, though it's not original. :)
I dunno, Hot Chocolate is worth fighting for in my book.
Hardley makes the news. Sad.
Red6
Thank God for Mark Hyman, or I'd be madder than hell.
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