"Do you think that the French army is still credible as a referee? I don't think it is," he told a news conference. "France is now one of the belligerents."
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| Africa: Subsaharan |
| Gbagbo 'insulted' by Chirac's fascism remark |
| 2004-11-15 |
| Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo has dismissed as "an insult" comments by French President Jacques Chirac that France will continue its UN-mandated action in the troubled west African nation and will not stand by while a situation of anarchy or fascism develops. "President Chirac supported the only party in Ivory Coast for 40 years. What is closer to fascism than a one-party system? We were in prison under the regime of the sole party supported by France. It's an insult," Gbagbo said in an interview published Monday in the Liberation daily here. Referring to the recent incident in the central Ivory Coast town of Bouake when Ivorian air force planes killed nine French soldiers, Gbagbo said that "objectively France has taken the side of the rebels". The attack on the French troops was followed by a French air assault which destroyed Ivory Coast's small air force. The French retaliation "left me speechless," the Ivory Coast President said, adding that he found himself wondering "what had pushed Chirac to such swift and brutal action". Gbagbo also accused colonial power France of "navel-gazing" and "forever bringing the Ivory Coast story back to themselves" while "my country is on the road to a transition towards democracy". "France is still very involved in our internal political life, notably with the presence of its army," he added. Gbagbo compared the presence of French troops in Ivory Coast to the Soviet invasion of Prague. "The French soldiers are already less present in the streets. Their massive deployment was intolerable; it resembled the invasion of Prague in 1968". Finally the Ivorian leader bemoaned his own treatment in the crisis. "I have developed democracy and I never harmed any French economic interest," he declared. "And then we were attacked. Rather than disarming (the rebels), it's me who is being judged. It is an unacceptable and intolerable injustice and we will not accept it," he concluded. President Jacques Chirac said Sunday that France would continue its UN-mandated action in the Ivory Coast, saying: "We do not want to allow a system to develop that could lead to anarchy or to a regime of a fascist nature." Chirac said Gbagbo's government had created a "disastrous" situation and was carrying out a witch-hunt against whites and other foreigners, including those from neighbouring countries and mixed-race Ivorians. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #7 The Best thing about the US Army is it's ability to integrate all colors, creeds and religions. Once you are part of the "Big Green Machine" the other things are minor issues. I think it is worth millions in propaganda to have an African see a Black Americian Officer giving orders to some big 'ol white boy. From a Strategic POV, I'm not sure the Cote de Ivory is where we want to start on Africa. Sudan has a greater need and would fit into a expand from the M.E. approach. And the timing sucks. WE need to do Iran and Syris before getting started on Africa. |
| Posted by: Stehpinkeln 2004-11-15 7:53:13 PM |
| #6 Governments like Chirac's are reaping what they sow-they are quick to paint others with imperial tar, then surprised when they are grouped with the imperialists and are attacked. We are probably only looking at the very beginning of anti-Western/anti-white mob-making events in our world, thanks in large part to guilt complexes worn like hairshirts by liberal European politicans like Chirac and the trailing liberal press that enjoy a good show of self-flagellation. |
| Posted by: Jules 187 2004-11-15 2:35:15 PM |
| #5 This just in via ABC News: 'In Abidjan, firebrand youth leader Charles Ble Goude, one of those who called anti-French protesters onto the streets, said France should pull out of Ivory Coast. "Do you think that the French army is still credible as a referee? I don't think it is," he told a news conference. "France is now one of the belligerents." |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-11-15 2:14:04 PM |
| #4 Make mischief, as much as possible. Screw Chirac. Payback time. |
| Posted by: lex 2004-11-15 1:52:31 PM |
| #3 The media is doing a good job of obfuscating this point, but the 4,000 French troops are not under UN control. There is a separate UN force in the country. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2004-11-15 12:43:21 PM |
#2  I agree, the US should be visibly backing Gbagbo sending a strong message to Chirac and the Islamic enemy in the north.  |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-11-15 12:26:53 PM |
| #1 Ok... I'm coming around on this. This Gbagbo might not be what I thought (another Mugabe). I say give him a chance. France out, coalition of US, UK & Aussies in. Let's kick the islamist rebel ass out of the north and see if we can't make something of this country. |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2004-11-15 11:39:17 AM |