| France's Latest Blunder |
10 February 2003
|
Cote d'Ivoire Want France Out, US In
The Ivory Coast, now known officially as Cote d'Ivoire, used to be one of the wealthiest and most stable nations in Africa. The past four months have seen it torn by civil war. French intervention has prevented a rebel victory, but pro-government commentators and demonstrators claim that the Quai d'Orsey have forced too much upon the government in the peace deal. They want the French out and the Americans in.
Cynics will, of course, note that that did little for Vietnam. On the other hand, few Americans these days are able to watch the French fall face first without laughing hysterically at them. Meanwhile, the French are pursuing what they perceive to be their national interest without reference to the UN, NATO or the European Union. Of course, it is one thing to keep the peace in an ex-colony, and quite another to start a war over oil. Putting boots on the ground to enforce a peace does not require the same world support as putting them on the ground to enforce whatever it is Mr. Bush wants, regime change, disarmament, West Texas Intermediate Crude at $10.
Still, the French have stuck their noses where they don't belong, they are keeping a regime in office that probably couldn't stay without their help, and they have no real hope of the Ivorians settling things by ballots rather than bullets. The world owes them a debt of gratitude for showing how a bumbling power would act in matters of war and peace.