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November 9, 2004
The Other Battle
The news is, understandably, filled with news of the assault on Fallujuh.
But there's another battle taking place that deserves our attention, too. It is in the African country of Ivory Coast, and it involves French troops, who are engaged in battles with rioters. The Washington Times reports this morning that the situation is near anarchy:
Ivory Coast, once an oasis of stability in coup-ridden West Africa, stood at the brink of renewed civil war yesterday as French armored vehicles surrounded President Laurent Gbagbo's home and struggled to curb anti-French rioting in the streets of Abidjan.The rioting has gotten almost out-of-hand in some areas of the country. A BBC report tells us
The earlier attack on its airport ignited anti-French feeling in Abidjan - a much bigger city - where mobs loyal to President Gbagbo went on the rampage.Brandishing axes, machetes and clubs, they roamed the streets shouting "French go home!" and "Everybody get your Frenchman!" as French property was looted.
At Abidjan's airport, French and Ivorian forces exchanged shots and a French military plane was reportedly damaged.
Troops guarding a French base in the city fired tear gas at a crowd protesting at the destruction of the Ivorian planes and a French secondary school was also set alight
There's a temptation to engage in Schandenfreude - taking pleasure in the misfortune of others - and it is darn tempting, but I won't take that route. The French do have some UN resolutions (see listings 2003 & 2004) behind them. They were the colonial rulers of the country, and feel a responsiblilty to set the country right.
Ok, so far so good. I have not problem with what France or the UN are doing. I don't even care if they have any UN resolutions behind them or not. The issue to me is that the French are so two-faced about it; they have no problem sending troops where it suits their interests, but do everything in our power to thwart us when we do the same.
Posted by Tom at November 9, 2004 1:50 PM
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