>>Even if the French simply decided to stop helping us in Africa, we'd be in big trouble. We can't fight the WOT there without them.<< How does assisting the Francafrique rebels against the sovereign Ivorian government and destroying the Ivorian military's air assets assist the war on terrorism? Did the sovereign government of Ivory Coast join Al Qaeda when no one was looking?

I would guess that would be why France bugged out of the UN-sanctioned no-fly zones over Iraq when the US and Britain started bombing France's ally Saddam Hussein when he made moves to attack the Shia Muslims and Kuwait again. Of course, who needs to respect human life when there's chocolate to be had in the Ivory Coast, n'est pas?

American Kafir, if you had been saying the same things about America, I dare say sysops would have given you a warning by now. Your 'argument' has no substance, go poke it..

"The problem is that Laurent Gbagbo as a demagogue choose to play national, and ethnic feelings to theaten the northern modertae muslim population, and now antifrench.He had choosen a slipping way and we will not let that to become a second Rwanda" There would never have been a first Rwanda without all the French weapons and ammunition in the hands of - oh wow a recurring theme - Francafrique rebels. Face it, France has the anti-Midas touch. Everything they meddle with turns to sh*t.

The Ivory Coast has nothing to do with the WOT. But there are GIs in Mali and Mauritania, and periodically Algeria, Morocco, Niger and Chad, countries seen as one of the fronts of the WOT. And in all these countries we need--and receive--substantial French help. They've got our back. They could obstruct us easily. They could also arrange to have our guys ambushed without much trouble. They don't. And don't expect Bush to criticize France on the Ivory Coast. In many ways, so long as neither country's public isn't paying attention, the US and France have a very productive alliance. Know also that in the initial stages of the French intervention in the Ivory Coast, there were AMerican Special Forces working with the French. We were getting out our citizens, they theirs. But we did it cooperatively.

"May be because Gbagbo ask us to stop the civil war two years ago when the rebels were kicking his ass." Perhaps "stop backing the rebels" was mistranslated in Paris?

>>American Kafir, if you had been saying the same things about America, I dare say sysops would have given you a warning by now. Your 'argument' has no substance, go poke it.<< I await a warning from the Sysops then. But as far as I know, I've said nothing that can not be backed up. Let the war between humanity and franco sapiens continue.

okay, i'm new here and i been seeing alot of anti-french jargon from AK and i don't see why its warranted. the french funded the american revolution and if i'm not wrong (please correct me if i am i'm still a student) they too the brunt of WW1 and i don't really recall them losing, the brits came in and had the same issues as france did. and in WW2 i believe the french were taking the brunt of the superior german tactics and fell because of that, america came in at the last minute with fresh numbers. i don't see how france would be considered losers. and i don't see how americans can state they're always there to save the french when they wait till the final push to decide they want to help. also i wanna point out that the americans didn't want to help at first in both wars (from what i read), that seems more ungrateful to me than the current issues we have in reference to the gulf. i'm not a bush policy supporter as is a good portion of the U.S, can u blame france? and finally, sure, frane lost in vietnam, so did the U.S, and the U.S also lost the push to take north korea as well..if i've made an errors, please correct me

While I can't say I agree with AK's "direct approach" ;-) and sometimes I just disagree with his posts.. However, judging from your post and if you are still a student and interested I suggest reading a little more history in regards to the French and US relationship over the years before coming to a solid opinion. But to give you a few things to think about (or look up): "the french funded the american revolution and if i'm not wrong" The French did contribute a lot to the American Revolution. However, in general it was out of spite for the British and what they thought would be a re-birth of French power in North America. There was no "love of Democray" in Paris at that time. Prior to the revolution the colonies had just fought a war with the French (French and Indian War) and soon after the revolution the US began fighting an undelcared naval war against France in order to protect US trade. The War of 1812 could have almost as easily have been against France as England. The French also gave assistance (though admittedly limited) to the South during the American Civil War. Skipping ahead to WWI, an American officer was quoted "Lafayette, we are here" (sorry can't remember the guys name off hand) in reference to the view that America was repaying an old debt to France. In World War II, you have to look at the reasons for the War. Against President Wilsons strong recomendations the British and particularly the French placed opressive and humiliating demands on Germany after the loss of WWI. The economic and political punishment levied against Germany contributed greatly in setting the conditions for the Nazis to come to power. Now, when the US finaly joined the War against the Germans.. The first troops Americans faced in battle were not Germans or Italians but Vichi French. Post WWII, France and DeGaulle were less than best of allies when it came to NATO and presenting a solid front against the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact. Vietnam. Was a French attempt to relive the glory days of being a colonial power. Our (the US) tacit support of France over the Vietnamese had a strong effect of pushing Ho Chi Mihn and the Vietnamese towards communism.. and thus why we ended up eventually entering the war. Ho Chi Mihn was at least mildly pro US after WWII because the OSS had helped the Vietnamese liberate themsevles from the Japanese (who had kicked out the French). My problem with the French is not with their win / loss record... but on a great many other issues over the entire history of the US. ok \ rant - lecture off Back to the topic.. I have very little sympathy left in me for African nations after Somalia... I think the principle of "Never start a land war in Asia" is going to be followed by "Never try to stop a civil war in Africa" as they are both loosing propositions. For as much as I dislike French policy... I still sympathize with the soldiers have in the Ivory Coast and wish them all well.

Bah frenchStratege .. are you crazy ? The french put all wmds, missile roland, saddam passport , nuclear stuff, ... (? i forget the rest...) in ivoirian coast and it is why there is a war here. (AK watched fox new last night) If we leave or if we stay, we are wrong... Let Ak have a small pleasure in seeing our soldier dead and maybe , if he have more chance, some french kids too. As we said in french : A KK tout ca....