I've seen no evidence that the French are supporting the Sudanese government. They have been stalling, however, and protecting it from American-proposed sanctions. Why? I'm convinced that it's an amoral policy based on France's commitment to re-cast its role in Africa and to wed itself to multilateralism, which it sees as the best way to promote its influence. France wants to make itself indispensable by becoming the facilitator of multilateral talks and the "God-father" to the new multinational African regional organizations like the AU, NEPAD, and ECOWAS. This really isn't about oil. The priority of the French, like the AMericans, is securing oil production and supply, not claiming a bigger slice of the pie for its companies. Hence French cooperation with the US military's anti-terrorist efforts in the Sahel. France, like us, wants stability in energy prices and the securization of energy production. Right now, by the way, the big players in Sudanese oil are the Swedes, the Indians, the Malays, and the Chinese. No one else is actually producing oil there. TotalFina does have the largest concession, but it has not touched it.

No more than hearsay, I'm afraid, but, allegedly, from intel sources. The solid fact we all have is the existence of a strong, adequately equipped French military force practically in-theater, in Chad. If France had acted upon it's declared pro-human rights stance, such a force could quickly have positionned itself between the Arabs and their Fur victims, and could have stopped the genocide quickly and effectively, even pending any UN mandate. Fact is, it did not, chosing instead to stand and watch, or, according to debka.com, to even support the Janjaweed. The Fur, it seems, have made the fatal mistake not to be Palestinians, thus becoming unworthy of having their human rights championed by the French.

Maybe chad governement have to be taken in account.No evidence for me (but I did not look )that France played again a UN resolution on Sudan.

The UN observation teams are too busy walking through the ruins of burned out Darfur villages and stacks of dead bodies with its hands over its eyes saying "nope, no evidence of genocide here." Tell me, is the United States the only country that has officially noticed the genocide yet?

I answer myself: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3875277.stm

well AK, u can keep bashing the french for their views on iraq but here in the unted states democrats are pretty darn upset with the conservative christians about the whole bush re-election. on more than one occassion i've heard jokes about secceedin from the union and seen far too many articles about the division within the country and betrayal of the government and so forth. theres also some article in a british news paper mockin the election. i mean come on now, personally i can't blame the french in their choice as a good portion of this country (u.S) and the world agrees with them

"not in 1941 and at this time German respected armistice.At this time most French were thinking that France would do like Germany after WW1.Beaten but recovering after. BTH US had ambassador in Vichy." We had a US ambassador in the Third Reich before December 1941, but that didn't legitimize Hitler. "Vichy "republic" became a puppet after invasion of French free zone: as we have respected our obligation on neutrality of empire on a legal point, German were breaking first armistice convention so our gov should have resigned or sided allies after." All I have to say is that you're the first Frenchman--and I've known a few--to defend the Vichy regime as anything more than Nazi collaborators. I assume there was a reason why many of them were shot after the war. "Vichy was right to fight as US did not tried to find a solution for us neither gave us any garantees." Wrong. Both FDR and Patton broadcast--in French--guarantees that French sovereignity in its African colonies would not be interfered with, and that no French soldiers or sailors would be harmed. Basically, all that was asked was free passage across French territory. In addition, Giraud attempted to reason with Darlan before the Torch landings, and a group of Allied personnel were landed early to convince Darlan that the real enemy was Germany, not the Allies. This group was repaid for their efforts by being gunned down in an ambush by Vichy soldiers. Darlan was an anti-Semitic idiot; once he was out of the way, the bloodshed ended and there were no problems. In fact, Patton struck a deal with the remaining Vichy forces (now more or less on their own) that they would keep their weapons, as the French were rightfully afraid of a Moroccan revolt. "It was very wrong to stay in power after German invaded French free zone and attempted to seize our fleet.A lot of French choose resistance after." A lot of French chose resistance sooner. I dislike de Gaulle for being a pompous ass, but for once he was entirely correct that all Frenchmen had a duty to fight the Germans--not fight for them. "The basic assumption on nationality is that you protect your national first.Does an American life is less important than a Iraqi life?" Of course not--both are equal, unless the Iraqi happens to be trying to take an American life. "BTH we did not know that German intent was to massacre them and moreover German decided that in 1942." True, the Wannsee Protocol was drawn up in 1942, but the concentration camps--including one at Rivesaltes, France--already existed. Did the Vichy government think the Germans were putting the Jews in the corner to think it over? A great number of French women were already being sent to camps, where they were mistreated and tortured, long before the Germans invaded Vichy, and most of them weren't Jews. Also worth noting is that anti-Semitism existed enough in France that a great many Frenchmen joined the SS. "True in 45, not in 46.Read more." I have. I've yet to find any evidence that France was in Vietnam for the sole purpose of defeating the Viet Minh. Perhaps Lassigny thought so, or public opinion had changed by 1953 or '54, but in 1945-46, the French were very much committed to regaining control over Indochina. "On NATO I have answered many time: De Gaulle was right as US behavior was unacceptable however we repected our comitments on alliance." How was US behavior unacceptable? Did we not kiss de Gaulle's ass enough for him, or what? (Worth noting is that while de Gaulle ordered the US out publicly, he privately asked us to redeploy in Germany, because he feared West Germany more than the Soviet Union.)

Interesting Thread The French can bombs on the president compound shoot their guns directly at the crowds killing Ivorian’s. And now, the French want an embargo against the sale of arms for the Christians. It’s ok for them to sell arms to the rebels. It’s time for the French Army to leave the Ivory Coast. My missionary friends told me that they witness and watch with dismay as the French solders looted the Christian school in Bouake during the initial revolt. The real interest for the French is not peace for the Ivorian People. It’s all about greed. It’s for control of the Utilities, the Cocoa farms, and the Oil reserves. Ice-man

"All I have to say is that you're the first Frenchman--and I've known a few--to defend the Vichy regime as anything more than Nazi collaborators. I assume there was a reason why many of them were shot after the war." As I said, to stay and defend Vichy policy after 1942 and after the armistice agrement was broken (either on free zone, Alsace or navy), was a betrayal.But before it was a political choice. You would notice that former socialist French president F Miterrand was a vichy secretary of states for example. Most of French don't want to speak openly about this period or are uninformed about detailled history. BTW, after thinking a lot, I think I would have done as most of French did: side Vichy until end of 1942.De Gaulle choice was really a bet.

The United States should protect the Ivory Coast from France 11/8/2004 11:16:10 AM Quietly, if necessary. Boldly, if practical. "It'd be a shame if some American accidently e-mailed the Ivorian military some commercially-available real-time satellite images of French military positions. " Its seems your excellent anti-french friends give the positions of french women in Ivorain cost too... Some were raped by your new laurent bagbo's friends in the last few days. Well, I am sure it is an excellent news for you. Call him, there are yet some french kids available . Poor guy...