A
-
Last edited by Jean-Loup; 03-19-2007, 01:46 PM. -
And thats all for now. I will finish with this picture of a rebel leader.
IT is a typicaly African war:
-rebels often coming from neighboring countires wanting to do no good, and financed by unknown foreign powers.
-Local civilians getting killed for no reason, or some getting killed while attacking French troops who were suppoed to help them.
-Mercenaries and weapons dealers getting richer.
etc, etc, etc...
Personaly, I cant make any sense out of it, even after reading several articles, and watching all the documentaries I could find about this war.
Anybody who wants to see things from closer can always go to the Legion: any physicaly fit man between 17 and 40 years of age can try to join them.Comment
-
Reminds me of Sierra Leone.Comment
-
Jean-Loup
Thank you for that *excellent* photo-history ... very little heard about that conflict way down here in Australia!
PaulComment
-
Jean-Loup - Thanks for putting the thread and photos together and the reminder that there continues to be places that are dangers to visit or even live. Especially in Africa that has such beauty to offer...Somebody, after all, had to make a start. What we wrote and said is also believed by many others. They just don't dare express themselves as we did. Quote - Sophie Scholl - White Rose resistance groupComment
-
Thanks guys for the comments.
For anybody interested, there are a few scenes of Ivory Coast combat in this very short documentary called "A Kiwi in the Foreign Legion:"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xopQ2qlPyto
It is in two parts, and both parts have a few scenes showing Ivory Coast.
Here is the video showing the shooting of civilians in front of the "Hotel Ivoire" by French soldiers, when things started to get out of control: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0L8T-vxDTbM
By the way, the soldiers who fire are from the same unit that got several men killed a few days before by the "friendly fire" of the bielorussian mercenary pilots that were helping the Ivory Coast army.
JLLast edited by Jean-Loup; 03-20-2007, 11:59 AM.Comment
-
Sounds a lot like Iraq, except we weren't invited in! Thanks for the thread, Jean-Loup!
DonComment
-
Africa
That's the way of Africa...And you will go crazy in an attempt to understand this.
The more hunger, chaos and death there is the better. That's the way they like it!!! Foreign aid should be stopped. Zimbabwe is a typical example.
1. The white government wasn't good enough, so Mogabe took over and everything turned to chaos.
2. Now they are begging the world to help them,
3. You give them food and when the tummies is full, it's the white man fault for the chaos.
4. (In the meanwhile Mugabe still get alot of votes!!)
5. Untill the foreign aid is finished then they beg the world for food again...Comment
-
Well, well, I had almost forgot this old thread existed. Thanks for waking it up.
As far as I know the French army is still garding the cease fire line between rebels and government forces today, things have calmed down, and an election is supposed to occure.
"3. You give them food and when the tummies is full, it's the white man fault for the chaos."
As far as I see it, the white man likes to give a bowl of rice through the front door, but they then trade 10 AK's for 10 diamonds through the back door.
Chaos is good for the whites, for the blacks in power and for the "soldiers" who can do whatever they want.
The civilians are dying, but who cares?
JLComment
-
Africa
Jean-Loup,
Good point!!
But my question is: Who is the man that wants the diamonds? If that guy is gone there might be some peace!
Thanks for your input!
Lt VisserComment
-
"But my question is: Who is the man that wants the diamonds? "
Probably some guy who can hardly point out where Africa is on a map!!
JLComment
-
Yes sure, lots of diamonds in Zimbabwe and Somalia and Chad and.... I can go on. Jacques
Originally posted by Lt Visser View PostComment
-
the sheer extremes of geological heat and pressure required to force diamonds to form mirror the social conditions surrounding their extraction. a fine climate turns out a modest harvest for the arms trade. excellent human portrait of a tragic situation. would the 'girl' think them her best friend knowing how such stones cut through with such repercussions? knowing how so many women have become hardened fighters with one aim, to go to school, to study, such jewels would be better left to swine.Comment
-
Great sequence of photos. Thank you for sharing. I admire the French expeditionary culture and their ability and willingness to project force when required!Comment
-
Cool thread, glad it got brought back up.
Hard to avoid the conclusion that it is much better off leaving the natives to settle their own differences, may the best clan win !
But of course there are a variety of factors at play, some obvious some not including but not limited to ideology, greed, force projection ect.Comment
Comment