French troops fired on Ivorian crowds, Paris says

[djk]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L29703422.htm

Cheers,

-djk

 

[onthebottom]

"(The French troops) had to stop this crowd coming into contact (with the expatriates) otherwise there was a risk of a real massacre," she said.

Has a real "we had to destroy the villiage to save it" sound to it doesn't it.

OTB

 

[Ranger68]

One wonders why these people all hate their old colonial masters so much?
Perhaps those seeking to build their own empires should take notice.

 

[djk]

Shame on France for 'continuing the cycle of violence'.

Cheers,

-djk

 

[djk]

So now that Bush is gone, how about you anti-war, anti-violence protestors display a protest at the French embassy.

Cheers,

-djk

 

[Ranger68]

To be blunt, I think there's real hope that the Americans may be convinced that their current administration is sadly lacking. The Americans have been, on the most part, an extremely benevolent superpower, historically speaking.

I hold no such hope for the French, and history is not on their side.

That having been said, when's the rally?

 

[jwmorrice]

So now that Bush is gone, how about you anti-war, anti-violence protestors display a protest at the French embassy.

Cheers,

-djk

Is there a double-standard in place here? Yes, in the sense that some innocent poor bastard in the Ivory Coast is just as dead from French bullets as is some innocent poor bastard in Iraq from American bullets. But that's only part of the picture, isn't it? There's the political context that's to be considered. If, against most peoples' judgements, you're going to monkey about in the Middle East, for a prolonged period and on the grand scale, you'd better be doing it right in every respect (including the moral) because the stakes are just too damn high for everyone. So far, it's been a farking fiasco!!! Don't be surprised if America's being slanged.

jwm

 

[Ranger68]

Also, there's the little fact that France hasn't really involved itself in any NEW colonies for quite some time. Not necessarily that they haven't *wanted* to, mind you, but world opinion likely would have been as firmly against any new foreign incursions as they have been against the US' incursion into new colonial territory.
Some Empires still do have colonies, or at least places they have been until very recently.
Naturally, they should get out and stay out, in general.

 

[onthebottom]

Also, there's the little fact that France hasn't really involved itself in any NEW colonies for quite some time. Not necessarily that they haven't *wanted* to, mind you, but world opinion likely would have been as firmly against any new foreign incursions as they have been against the US' incursion into new colonial territory.
Some Empires still do have colonies, or at least places they have been until very recently.
Naturally, they should get out and stay out, in general.

Do you sincerely believe the US is building a colony in Iraq?

OTB

 

[Ranger68]

"We're going to be on the ground in Iraq, as soldiers and citizens, for years. We're going to be running a colony almost."
- Paul Bremer, March 2004, (former) Chief US Executive Authority in Iraq

 

[onthebottom]

"We're going to be on the ground in Iraq, as soldiers and citizens, for years. We're going to be running a colony almost."
- Paul Bremer, March 2004, (former) Chief US Executive Authority in Iraq

I guess that's a yes.

OTB

 

[Ranger68]

Straight from the horse's mouth.

Yes, I'm very concerned that the US may be indulging in a little old-fashioned empire building. What's the evidence that they're not?

I take it you don't think so. Why not? What's your evidence? Why did they ever invade in the first place?

 

[djk]

Is there a double-standard in place here? Yes, in the sense that some innocent poor bastard in the Ivory Coast is just as dead from French bullets as is some innocent poor bastard in Iraq from American bullets. But that's only part of the picture, isn't it? There's the political context that's to be considered. If, against most peoples' judgements, you're going to monkey about in the Middle East, for a prolonged period and on the grand scale, you'd better be doing it right in every respect (including the moral) because the stakes are just too damn high for everyone. So far, it's been a farking fiasco!!! Don't be surprised if America's being slanged.

jwm

Oh, so the killing of innocent civilians from a certain country is justified and moral as long as public opinion sides with it.

Thanks for setting me straight.

Cheers,

-djk

 

[jwmorrice]

Oh, so the killing of innocent civilians from a certain country is justified and moral as long as public opinion sides with it.

Thanks for setting me straight.

Cheers,

-djk

Just don't expect people to get as excited about what happens in the Ivory Coast as they do about what happens in Iraq - for the reasons I've given.

Always glad to set someone on the right path.

jwm

P.S. To emulate the French, the US could always go into some small Central American shit-hole, kick ass, and never be thought the worse. Or has that been done?