In January, France invaded Mali, and by April Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced that the occupation would continue “permanently.” The frenzied pace of French policy changes continues, and now Fabius insists France doesn’t want anything to do with Mali’s ongoing territorial disputes.
“It’s up to the Malians, and particularly President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita,” insisted Fabius. The quick case of buyer’s remorse on Mali isn’t changing the Hollande government’s interventionist ambitions.
No sooner had Fabius disavowed any responsibility for the mess they’d made in Mali than President Hollande announced a full-scale military intervention in the Central African Republic (CAR).
“I have decided to act immediately, in other words, this evening,” Hollande told reporters. France already has 600 troops in the CAR, and promises to double the number within a matter of hours.
This kind of "analysis" jeopardizes the credibility of the site-even among the supporters like me. "The mess (the French) have done in Mali"? Are you seriously saying there would have been a lesser mess without the French/ African Intervention ( with logistical support from many others) in Mali? Are you against ANY kind of international peacekeeping operations, even those duly approved by the Security Council? Are you in favor of withdrawing UN sanctioned peacekeepers from, say, Cyprus, and Timor Leste? Of allowing Iraq to annex Kuwait by force? Are you recommending closing down the UN Department for PK operations? perhaps the whole UN? If so, this site should be called the " Pro -war" -since you would be condoning international and civil wars, genocides etc…
You're probably right, by now, that there is a reflex involved.
I don't take the UN for a Thin Blue Line — which, 'coincidentally,' is not far from how the USA has seen itself: "a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. […] those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
'The West,' even as coddled by the UN, has probably shown it could find an excuse to 'intervene' anywhere it likes. Just push a Bad Man Kicking Puppies (or out-to eat-you-up). The Right might focus on The-Bad-Man and his Dangerous Toys, The Left on Suffering Puppies.
The last thing I want is the Kicked-Puppy emphasis gaining credence after the 'muscular' emphasis lost it. If they want-in somewhere, I want a referendum (for starters). And I won't be impressed when they-break-it so I-bought-it –opposition aint done just 'cause prevention failed.