Having a place in peace keeping initiatives is not new for the French military, especially in Africa where they have deployed on many instances to safe lives of innocent civilians.
Realizing it was the French Air Force that was closest in logics to Libya. They refused to wait for the rest of the fleet and allies to arrive.
The French Air Force took on the challenge of recon and implementation of the No Fly Zone because they could be "The Tip of the Spear."
US OPERATIONS IN AFRICA - The allies are not without 'back up.' I am not saying any of this is a good idea or necessary, but, it exists. The USA military budget definately reflects its role as World Police. In my opinion, this was very much a response by Bush / Cheney to the foramtion of 'The African Union,' which Gaddaffi once was the President.
May 3, 2007
There is also a lot of OTHER STUFF going on in Africa which the UN and French peacekeepers are involved in. The Ivory Coast still has a very contentious President disputing any right by anyone to challenge his presidentcy. While they make look like a backlash due to the position of France and the UN this is more or less an ongoing dispute.
10 March 2011 Last updated at 17:48 ET
He said an African Union (AU) panel, charged with finding a solution, confirmed he had won the disputed poll.
Mr Gbagbo has refused to attend the summit in Addis Ababa.
Speaking from the Ethiopian capital Mr Ouattara said: "The panel confirmed that I am the president-elect of the Ivorian people. It's the final decision and there's no way to go back on that"....
There are many, many dynamics playing out in Africa and they cannot be lumped into one understanding of what is transpiring.
Realizing it was the French Air Force that was closest in logics to Libya. They refused to wait for the rest of the fleet and allies to arrive.
The French Air Force took on the challenge of recon and implementation of the No Fly Zone because they could be "The Tip of the Spear."
Introduction (click here)
For decades France viewed post-colonial Africa as an exclusive sphere of influence, or pré carré. France still maintains military influence and stations thousands of its troops across the continent, from western Senegal to the Horn of Africa. But changes in its strategic priorities have this posture under review. France has folded many of its African missions into multinational operations since its unhappy experience in Rwanda in 1994, when French troops failed to intervene in the opening days of that nation's genocide. But recent, small-scale interventions in Chad indicate Paris continues to reserve the right to unilateral action....
US OPERATIONS IN AFRICA - The allies are not without 'back up.' I am not saying any of this is a good idea or necessary, but, it exists. The USA military budget definately reflects its role as World Police. In my opinion, this was very much a response by Bush / Cheney to the foramtion of 'The African Union,' which Gaddaffi once was the President.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) (CLICK HERE)
| Author: | Stephanie Hanson |
|---|
May 3, 2007
Introduction
In February 2007, President Bush announced the creation of a unified military command for Africa. This puts the continent on par, in the Pentagon’s eyes and command structure, with the Pacific Rim (Pacific Command), Europe (European Command), Latin America (Southern Command), the Middle East (Central Command), and North America (Northern Command). The Pentagon and many military analysts argue the continent’s growing strategic importance necessitates a dedicated regional command....
There is also a lot of OTHER STUFF going on in Africa which the UN and French peacekeepers are involved in. The Ivory Coast still has a very contentious President disputing any right by anyone to challenge his presidentcy. While they make look like a backlash due to the position of France and the UN this is more or less an ongoing dispute.
10 March 2011 Last updated at 17:48 ET
Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo bans UN and French flights (click here)
The announcement came as Alassane Ouattara, recognised by the UN as the winner of November's poll, attended a meeting in Ethiopia on the crisis.He said an African Union (AU) panel, charged with finding a solution, confirmed he had won the disputed poll.
Mr Gbagbo has refused to attend the summit in Addis Ababa.
Speaking from the Ethiopian capital Mr Ouattara said: "The panel confirmed that I am the president-elect of the Ivorian people. It's the final decision and there's no way to go back on that"....
There are many, many dynamics playing out in Africa and they cannot be lumped into one understanding of what is transpiring.
