Article

2003-06-14 East/Subsaharan Africa

French Troops, Congo Gunmen Exchange Fire

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Posted by Frank G 2003-06-14 08:25 am|| || Front Page|| [11 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 This is such a fiasco that I have to feel sorry for the soldiers. Imagine being in their place!

The individual fighters are just trying to stay alive and get home before the EU sacrifices them as pawns in a diplomats board game. Nothing will be gained by their presence or bravery. Personal survival should be their first order of business. This is a lost cause at the highest levels. Why should they waste their lives in vain?

Posted by Becky 2003-06-14 13:34:04|| 2003-06-14 13:34:04|| Front Page Top

#2 Sad thing is, 800 French troops plus the 700-odd Uruguayan troops, with a mandate to kick ass and with proper support and motivation, could stabilize that city. They could secure it, turn it into a real safe haven for the civilians, and link it to the airport. Then you could actually get some food and medicine into the place.

Reminds me of the Clinton fiasco in Haiti -- Clinton was wringing his hands about what he could do. He actually telephoned Colin Powell (at that point a civilian) and asked what possible good 20,000 US troops could do in Haiti. To which (I'm doing this from memory) Powell actually exploded and yelled into the phone, "Mr. President, if you put 20,000 troops into Haiti, you OWN the place!"

The UN force now in Bunia could own the place if only the lace-pants crowd could see it.

Posted by Anonymous 2003-06-14 13:47:12|| 2003-06-14 13:47:12|| Front Page Top

#3 Ack, that anon comment was mine. Fred, the name and e-mail fields aren't being remembered in the comments form. Sorry.

Posted by Steve White 2003-06-14 13:48:14|| 2003-06-14 13:48:14|| Front Page Top

#4 The French patrol of about 70 troops and 20 vehicles, including one light tank fitted with a 90-mm gun, stopped when the firing started, and the soldiers took up positions in the long grass on the side of the muddy road.

Thus demonstrating thet they learned almost nothing in Vietnam.

Clear the kill zone if you can, you jerks. Any copetent adversary would have had mines in the long grass to welcome you to Jesus' arms...

Posted by mojo 2003-06-14 15:00:25|| 2003-06-14 15:00:25|| Front Page Top

#5 "Somebody forgot to safety their weapon?"
Not to worry, they're firing rubber bullets (they don't want to actually hurt anyone).

Posted by RW 2003-06-14 09:14:10|| 2003-06-14 09:14:10|| Front Page Top

#6 Ten French Mirage jets connected to the force are based in N'djamena, Chad and Libreville, Gabon.

Both of which are over 1,000 km away, well beyond their operational range.

Posted by Phil B 2003-06-14 10:52:24|| 2003-06-14 10:52:24|| Front Page Top

13:26 Alaska Paul
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