NEWS: France Deploys Major Force in Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast is now a battle zone between the fierce French and the people of Ivory Coast. About 14,000 terrified French citizens live in Ivory Coast, one citizen stated, "We have been told by the embassy to stay at home. ... It is a difficult situation to live through." The French citizens are reassured by their government's strategic military capibilities as armored vehicles and helicopters fired percussion grenades into the rioting crowds.



Whomever said the French were cowards had it all wrong, they are certainly fierce when it comes to battling small countries like Ivory Coast and confronting their citizens. How did we get the French all wrong?

[edit on 11-8-2004 by Zion Mainframe]

I thought they were going to send only 660 troops, or is that a major force??

I am unaware whether the French troops, dispatched to the Ivory Coast, are "regular French soldiers" or Foreign Legionaires. There is a difference. The ferocity and training of a Foreign Legionaire is well known. Of course, it is alos well known that the legionaire is NOT French (except for their commanding officers).

This might sound stupid...but why are the ivorians causing problems for the french in the first place? I thought the French were part of an international peacekeeping force? Could someone fill me in, cause I don't understand this situation.

In any case, French cowardice is overblown...after WWI they were so devastated that they couldn't possibly have stood up to the Nazis. And with regards to Saddam Hussein...I supported the war fully, and wish the French (and for that matter everyone else) did as well, but everyone has a right to their opinion, including the many patriotic Americans who were against it...are they also cowards? We really need to rethink our attitude towards the 'old europe'. We live in a world of suicide bombers and islamic militants ready to massacre children...and the French are our enemy? Get real. Let's take this opportunity to stand with them, and strongly condemn any harm that comes to any French citizen in Ivory Coast.

Here we go, cue up the anti-war protesters and give the French government hell.

Say, aren't they supposed to get approval from the U.N. for this, or is that only required for the U.S.?

I think they were there at the behest of the UN. Im not sure about all this recent action though.

Yeah, where are Europes fameous "greens" why havent they protested this?

[edit on 11/8/04 by FredT]

I thought they were going to send only 660 troops, or is that a major force??


If you think about it, 660 troops IS A MAJOR FORCE. These professionally trained troops are confronting mobs of ill-trained (sic), machete wielding civilians. There is simply no comparison. Think of Blackhawk Down and what a smaller force of professionally trained troops were able to suppress. In Somalia, Delta and Rangers, with considerably fewer numbers than what the French are fielding in the Ivory Coast, faced thousands! There is no doubt that 660 professional solders are, by comparison, a formidable force indeed against the opposition that they are expected to face.

Yeah Majic, I was about to ask what France scored on the Global Test for this one.

Originally posted by Majic
Here we go, cue up the anti-war protesters and give the French government hell.

Say, aren't they supposed to get approval from the U.N. for this, or is that only required for the U.S.?

The difference is French citizens were in danger. Kind of like the US and Grenada.

The French never lied and said that they had WMDs, then used war as a first resort. Then said they invaded because of a dictator. Then terrorists. Then oil-for-food scandal. I mean, if you were trying to draw a parallel with Iraq. Which, you probably weren't because that would be silly. Sorry. Ignore this post.

Its a good thing the UN and France are interested in controlling the Ivorian uprise..

and STILL choose to ignore Sudan

Originally posted by QuietSoul
Its a good thing the UN and France are interested in controlling the Ivorian uprise..

and STILL choose to ignore Sudan

Quiet Soul, nations simply aren't willing to expend blood for things that are out of their interest. That simple...not that I like it, but that's the way it is. But better that at least Ivory Coast should be addressed rather than neither of the two addressed. Ofcourse, both problems should be dealt with, but we should be thankful that at least one is in the interest of a major power.

Your wishes are noble, only unrealistic

Originally posted by FredT
I think they were there at the behest of the UN. Im not sure about all this recent action though.

Yeah, where are Europes fameous "greens" why havent they protested this?

[edit on 11/8/04 by FredT]

It was kind of stupid for the UN to ask the former "colonizers" of the Ivory Coast to keep the peace over there....

FredT, the french and most the Europeans are not going to protest against this.... They only protest against anything the US does.... that's socialism for ya....