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Rioters overrun airport as French flee Abidjan
SAPA-AP via News24 (SA) ^ | January 31, 2003 | Austin Merrill

Posted on 01/31/2003 2:53:30 PM PST by Clive

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To: Rocky

21 posted on 01/31/2003 4:10:05 PM PST by ImaGraftedBranch (Education starts in the home. Education stops in the public schools)
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To: Clive
" Aidez nous , sallez Americains !", they shreik. " Where do we go to surrendair ?? "
22 posted on 01/31/2003 4:16:34 PM PST by genefromjersey (Dances Through Flames)
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To: Clive
Got up to 22, and not one post here with any "rest of the story" remarks.

Even on the first thread, the subject was studiously avoided, as to who was rioting, and why.

Islam is peace has touched yet another country.

The "rebels" the French decided to pacify with new powers, to secure an end to civil war and produce peace, were ...ISLAMIC!

The current defence forces are ..CHRISTIAN.

Is the pattern emerging people?

23 posted on 01/31/2003 4:38:02 PM PST by sarasmom
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To: El Gato
Be serious. Are you suggesting that our troops would have fired on a rock-throwing mob? LOL
24 posted on 01/31/2003 4:43:01 PM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: harpseal; knighthawk; Clive; dennisw
What happened is that the French, as usual, tried to appease Muslim terrorists. That's what this fight is about: radical Muslim illegal aliens from Burkina Fasso to the north trying to take over IC.

Instead of helping the govt of IC to crush the Muslim rebels (like an "American cowboy"), Chirac shoved a sellout deal "power sharing arrangement" on the non-Muslim IC govt, a deal which gave the military portfolio to the Muslim terrorists!!!!!!!!!!!!

Incredible!!!!!!!!!!!

The French ALWAYS look for the easy way to appease, surrender, or collaborate. ALWAYS!

That's why Paris will be the capitol of EURABIA in 50 years, and all formerly French women will be wearing burkas and will have had "the operation" to stop their "filthy infidel lust."

25 posted on 01/31/2003 5:53:43 PM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: Clive; Squantos; wardaddy; Matthew James
#15: Amen. And they NEVER LEARN!!!
26 posted on 01/31/2003 5:56:03 PM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: 1rudeboy
Be serious. Are you suggesting that our troops would have fired on a rock-throwing mob? LOL

It's not a good idea to throw rocks at armed people- Tom

Years of pro-war/anti-war division among the American people culminated during those 13 seconds of bloody mayhem at Kent State. American citizens fired high-powered rifles into a crowd of unarmed American students.

For a brief moment, I assumed they were firing blanks because there was no reason whatsoever to fire live ammunition as they seemed to be retreating over the hilltop. At the moment the massacre occurred, as I stood and watched carefully, I saw several of my fellow-students run away and drop to the ground.

As the bullets began to fly, my survival instinct caused me to make a quick dash behind an oak tree a few feet away--the only tree in the direct line-of-fire. Because I had been taunting the guardsmen, I am convinced they shot at me (and others) intentionally. As I ran behind the tree during the first seconds of gunfire I felt a sharp pain in my right wrist. An M-1 rifle bullet passed through my right wrist.

27 posted on 01/31/2003 6:13:39 PM PST by Capt. Tom
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To: harpseal
ROFLMAO! I wondered when the froggies in camo would surrender. :-) Too bad about the equipment.
28 posted on 01/31/2003 8:04:01 PM PST by CARepubGal (Liberals: what are they good for? Absolutely NOTHING!)
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To: 1rudeboy
Be serious. Are you suggesting that our troops would have fired on a rock-throwing mob? LOL

That would of course depend on their orders and their officers. What I am suggesting is that I would have fired on them, and given the order to my troops do so, had I been the commander on the scene. Rocks can kill and maime, and those who would throw them at armed people or at innocent women and children protected by armed people should think long and hard before doing so, and if they decide to throw 'em, they take their chances at getting shot.

29 posted on 01/31/2003 8:54:41 PM PST by El Gato
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To: Clive
Jan. 31, 2003, 9:43PM - Mobs attack French at Ivory Coast airport - Knight-Ridder Tribune News [Full Text] ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast -- Stone-throwing mobs assaulted French soldiers and looted fleeing French citizens at the international airport here Friday while attempting to prevent the return of a new prime minister named under a shaky French-brokered peace accord. "Go home and don't come back!" the protesters screamed at terrified foreigners lining up by the hundreds to leave the world's largest cocoa producer, once a model of stability in West Africa.

Two French soldiers were wounded -- including one who was hit in the face by a rock -- as their heavily armed forces took control of the airport with helicopters and armored vehicles, said Lt. Col. Philippe Perret, a French military spokesman. "The demonstrators blocked the entrance to the airport, and aggressively threw stones at vehicles with French people," he said. "French citizens were trapped inside the airport, in the departure lounge. The demonstrators looted bags and suitcases."

The exodus of Westerners from this former French colony came as West African leaders gathered in nearby Senegal to try to salvage the peace pact, which is in danger of collapsing after the Ivorian army, key politicians and traditional chiefs rejected it as giving too much power to the rebels. Seydou Diarra, a former prime minister from the rebel-held Muslim north, was scheduled to return Friday from Senegal to head a coalition government designed to end the five-month civil war, which has killed hundreds. He elected to stay in Senegal rather than face the mob.

The thousands of protesters outside the airport were in no mood to let Diarra return. Many felt that France forced Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo to sign the peace deal, which was hammered out last week in Paris. The protesters invaded parts of the airport and flooded onto the tarmac, blocking airplanes from taking off or landing. About 100 French soldiers managed to push them out of the airport, where other demonstrators burned a French flag and jeered at the fleeing French citizens.

By midafternoon, French soldiers managed to secure the airport. Cannon-mounted armored vehicles took up positions around the perimeter, but demonstrators kept taunting people in vehicles entering and leaving the airport. "We're going to stay as long as it's necessary," said Col. Frederic Thomazo, the French commander who said he was also hit with a stone. [End]

30 posted on 02/01/2003 12:25:28 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Clive; Travis McGee
#15: Well said; we need people with your views at State!
31 posted on 02/01/2003 7:23:17 AM PST by Matthew James (SPEARHEAD!)
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To: Travis McGee
Sadly....when I was hanging in West Africa 15 years ago, the IC was considered a paradigm of civility.

That whole continent is slipping down a greased slide into primordial oblivion.
32 posted on 02/01/2003 11:07:06 AM PST by wardaddy (Pass the hot cocoa ....quick!!)
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To: wardaddy
Sure seems that way.

BTW, it's 75* in SD.

33 posted on 02/01/2003 11:41:46 AM PST by Travis McGee (DICTATORS LOVE PACIFISTS: THEY ARE THE EASIEST TO KILL.)
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