To bad he's only one of the only MEPs to actually show up most of the time.

Speaking of the French, they're just finishing up mopping up some Al Qaeda in Mali, one of their former colonies. If I were a Frenchman, I'm not sure how much I would've approved of getting involved in that mess. But credit where credit is due... the "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" did kick some backside. Alone, too.

And they will withdrawal next month. No nation-building planned.

Makes you wonder what mainstream global media's reaction would've been had the US gone in there instead. France just dropped their military in a North African country to do battle in an internal conflict, but I didn't see any protests, burning flags and drum-banging marches in major city streets. At least nothing newsworthy.

(02-06-2013 11:44 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Speaking of the French, they're just finishing up mopping up some Al Qaeda in Mali, one of their former colonies. If I were a Frenchman, I'm not sure how much I would've approved of getting involved in that mess. But credit where credit is due... the "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" did kick some backside. Alone, too.

And they will withdrawal next month. No nation-building planned.

Makes you wonder what mainstream global media's reaction would've been had the US gone in there instead. France just dropped their military in a North African country to do battle in an internal conflict, but I didn't see any protests, burning flags and drum-banging marches in major city streets. At least nothing newsworthy.

It's like when the US beat Grenada... It's not hard to knock over a bunch of rag tag rebels and then get out when yourmilitary that possess far superior technology. Holding territory and/or stabilizing the political situation in the aftermath is much more difficult.

If Mali falls apart again in the next year what good was frances intervention?

(02-06-2013 02:47 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(02-06-2013 11:44 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Speaking of the French, they're just finishing up mopping up some Al Qaeda in Mali, one of their former colonies. If I were a Frenchman, I'm not sure how much I would've approved of getting involved in that mess. But credit where credit is due... the "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" did kick some backside. Alone, too.
And they will withdrawal next month. No nation-building planned.
Makes you wonder what mainstream global media's reaction would've been had the US gone in there instead. France just dropped their military in a North African country to do battle in an internal conflict, but I didn't see any protests, burning flags and drum-banging marches in major city streets. At least nothing newsworthy.

It's like when the US beat Grenada... It's not hard to knock over a bunch of rag tag rebels and then get out when yourmilitary that possess far superior technology. Holding territory and/or stabilizing the political situation in the aftermath is much more difficult.
If Mali falls apart again in the next year what good was frances intervention?

Hey, it's France. In the words of Norman Schwartzkopf, "Going to war without France is like going hunting without an accordion." It was probably a major accomplishment for them. Actuallly, it looks like they acquitted themselves pretty favorably.