Because the French demand the approval of the UN for any military intervention, especially an American one. it is surprising that they forgot about asking Kofi Annan if they could "intervene" in the Ivory Coast.

It looks like that France, which still considers the Ivory Coast as its colony, is acting UNILATERALLY — for which they reproached George W. Bush — and violently. According to many sources, the French Army killed sixty non—violent Ivorian demonstrators who were calling for the withdrawal of the French troops from their country.

The French opposed the president in place, Gbagbo, mostly because he is not their puppet and also because [Horror!] he is very friendly with the US and Israel.

Interestingly, according to the French weekly Le Canard Enchaine, France has officially asked Israel to stop its military support to the Ivorian president. France also demanded that Israel call back their military advisers for the Ivory Coast.

So no rules apply to France, and the other nations just have to cave in to satisfy the French Empire.

Should we be surprised that Israel helps Gbagbo? Not really. France has been the staunchest of supporters of all the Arab rogue regimes and of Arafat as well. Opposing Israel systematically is Chirac's way of thinking...

I guess you only reap what you sow.

Olivier Guitta   12 3 04