French jets bomb rebels in Chad
ridenrain @ Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:15 pm
Well this definately didn't get into the news.
Anyone else heard this?
$1:
France admits air raids on Darfur neighbours
By Alex Duval Smith
Published: 15 December 2006
France yesterday defended recent fighter jet raids on towns bordering Sudan's Darfur region by claiming the aggressive action was aimed at preventing regional chaos.
In the past two weeks, with minimal publicity, Mirage F1 jets have attacked and scattered a rebellion in north-eastern Central African Republic (CAR). But reports from the ground say the operation has had a devastating impact on civilians.
A French Defence Ministry spokesman said the action - which included regular Mirage sorties in neighbouring Chad where tens of thousands of refugees from Darfur are living - was in line with international calls to stabilise the region.
He claimed that without action there was a danger of a "Somalisation" of the region."We want to ensure that the Darfur crisis does not take on a further dimension. The region is crucial if we want to put a peace force in Darfur," he said.
After opposition from the Sudanese President Omar El Beshir, plans to send 20,000 United Nations peacekeepers to Darfur have been axed. Mr Beshir will only accept a beefed-up African Union force with UN logistical support.
The French operations in CAR have been centred on repelling rebels which the government claims are - like the Darfur militias - backed by the Sudanese regime. Others say the rebels of the Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement (UFDR) are disgruntled allies of CAR President François Bozizé who helped him come to power in a 2003 coup and are dissatisfied with his ruling of the country along ethnic lines. Both the rebels and Sudan deny they have any links.
In early November, the UFDR took the north-eastern town of Birao, which has a population of 30,000 people, as well as Ouadda-Djalle and Sam Ouandja.
President Bozizé asked for French help and Paris added 100 troops to the 200 already stationed in the country. These, including paratroopers, are on the ground with the CAR army and with Fomuc - soldiers brought in from regional allies Chad and Gabon.
According to the UFDR, the raids over several days at the start of December included an attack on Birao with six Mirage F1 fighters and four helicopter gunships. It claims the attack forced thousands of civilians to flee towards Darfur and southern Chad.
A French armed forces spokesman yesterday refused to give details of whether bombs, missiles or machinegun-fire had been used by the jets.
Humanitarian groups have not yet succeeded in reaching Birao but in phone calls to residents they have heard reports of executions and rapes by the CAR army.
The rebellion, according to the CAR army, was finally crushed on Monday with the capture of Ouadda-Djalle. However, there are fears that the rebels, who have scattered, will relaunch their offensive.
Nganatouwa Goungaye Wanfiyo, president of the Central African Human Rights League, said France's intervention on the side of the CAR army had been out of all proportion and may have increased the risk of a Darfur-style ethnic conflict. "They have just delayed the problem and worsened it. The opposition wants dialogue with Bozizé, that's all."
France yesterday defended recent fighter jet raids on towns bordering Sudan's Darfur region by claiming the aggressive action was aimed at preventing regional chaos.
In the past two weeks, with minimal publicity, Mirage F1 jets have attacked and scattered a rebellion in north-eastern Central African Republic (CAR). But reports from the ground say the operation has had a devastating impact on civilians.
A French Defence Ministry spokesman said the action - which included regular Mirage sorties in neighbouring Chad where tens of thousands of refugees from Darfur are living - was in line with international calls to stabilise the region.
He claimed that without action there was a danger of a "Somalisation" of the region."We want to ensure that the Darfur crisis does not take on a further dimension. The region is crucial if we want to put a peace force in Darfur," he said.
After opposition from the Sudanese President Omar El Beshir, plans to send 20,000 United Nations peacekeepers to Darfur have been axed. Mr Beshir will only accept a beefed-up African Union force with UN logistical support.
The French operations in CAR have been centred on repelling rebels which the government claims are - like the Darfur militias - backed by the Sudanese regime. Others say the rebels of the Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement (UFDR) are disgruntled allies of CAR President François Bozizé who helped him come to power in a 2003 coup and are dissatisfied with his ruling of the country along ethnic lines. Both the rebels and Sudan deny they have any links.
In early November, the UFDR took the north-eastern town of Birao, which has a population of 30,000 people, as well as Ouadda-Djalle and Sam Ouandja.
President Bozizé asked for French help and Paris added 100 troops to the 200 already stationed in the country. These, including paratroopers, are on the ground with the CAR army and with Fomuc - soldiers brought in from regional allies Chad and Gabon.
According to the UFDR, the raids over several days at the start of December included an attack on Birao with six Mirage F1 fighters and four helicopter gunships. It claims the attack forced thousands of civilians to flee towards Darfur and southern Chad.
A French armed forces spokesman yesterday refused to give details of whether bombs, missiles or machinegun-fire had been used by the jets.
Humanitarian groups have not yet succeeded in reaching Birao but in phone calls to residents they have heard reports of executions and rapes by the CAR army.
The rebellion, according to the CAR army, was finally crushed on Monday with the capture of Ouadda-Djalle. However, there are fears that the rebels, who have scattered, will relaunch their offensive.
Nganatouwa Goungaye Wanfiyo, president of the Central African Human Rights League, said France's intervention on the side of the CAR army had been out of all proportion and may have increased the risk of a Darfur-style ethnic conflict. "They have just delayed the problem and worsened it. The opposition wants dialogue with Bozizé, that's all."
source
By Alex Duval Smith
Published: 15 December 2006
France yesterday defended recent fighter jet raids on towns bordering Sudan's Darfur region by claiming the aggressive action was aimed at preventing regional chaos.
In the past two weeks, with minimal publicity, Mirage F1 jets have attacked and scattered a rebellion in north-eastern Central African Republic (CAR). But reports from the ground say the operation has had a devastating impact on civilians.
A French Defence Ministry spokesman said the action - which included regular Mirage sorties in neighbouring Chad where tens of thousands of refugees from Darfur are living - was in line with international calls to stabilise the region.
He claimed that without action there was a danger of a "Somalisation" of the region."We want to ensure that the Darfur crisis does not take on a further dimension. The region is crucial if we want to put a peace force in Darfur," he said.
After opposition from the Sudanese President Omar El Beshir, plans to send 20,000 United Nations peacekeepers to Darfur have been axed. Mr Beshir will only accept a beefed-up African Union force with UN logistical support.
The French operations in CAR have been centred on repelling rebels which the government claims are - like the Darfur militias - backed by the Sudanese regime. Others say the rebels of the Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement (UFDR) are disgruntled allies of CAR President François Bozizé who helped him come to power in a 2003 coup and are dissatisfied with his ruling of the country along ethnic lines. Both the rebels and Sudan deny they have any links.
In early November, the UFDR took the north-eastern town of Birao, which has a population of 30,000 people, as well as Ouadda-Djalle and Sam Ouandja.
President Bozizé asked for French help and Paris added 100 troops to the 200 already stationed in the country. These, including paratroopers, are on the ground with the CAR army and with Fomuc - soldiers brought in from regional allies Chad and Gabon.
According to the UFDR, the raids over several days at the start of December included an attack on Birao with six Mirage F1 fighters and four helicopter gunships. It claims the attack forced thousands of civilians to flee towards Darfur and southern Chad.
A French armed forces spokesman yesterday refused to give details of whether bombs, missiles or machinegun-fire had been used by the jets.
Humanitarian groups have not yet succeeded in reaching Birao but in phone calls to residents they have heard reports of executions and rapes by the CAR army.
The rebellion, according to the CAR army, was finally crushed on Monday with the capture of Ouadda-Djalle. However, there are fears that the rebels, who have scattered, will relaunch their offensive.
Nganatouwa Goungaye Wanfiyo, president of the Central African Human Rights League, said France's intervention on the side of the CAR army had been out of all proportion and may have increased the risk of a Darfur-style ethnic conflict. "They have just delayed the problem and worsened it. The opposition wants dialogue with Bozizé, that's all."
France yesterday defended recent fighter jet raids on towns bordering Sudan's Darfur region by claiming the aggressive action was aimed at preventing regional chaos.
In the past two weeks, with minimal publicity, Mirage F1 jets have attacked and scattered a rebellion in north-eastern Central African Republic (CAR). But reports from the ground say the operation has had a devastating impact on civilians.
A French Defence Ministry spokesman said the action - which included regular Mirage sorties in neighbouring Chad where tens of thousands of refugees from Darfur are living - was in line with international calls to stabilise the region.
He claimed that without action there was a danger of a "Somalisation" of the region."We want to ensure that the Darfur crisis does not take on a further dimension. The region is crucial if we want to put a peace force in Darfur," he said.
After opposition from the Sudanese President Omar El Beshir, plans to send 20,000 United Nations peacekeepers to Darfur have been axed. Mr Beshir will only accept a beefed-up African Union force with UN logistical support.
The French operations in CAR have been centred on repelling rebels which the government claims are - like the Darfur militias - backed by the Sudanese regime. Others say the rebels of the Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement (UFDR) are disgruntled allies of CAR President François Bozizé who helped him come to power in a 2003 coup and are dissatisfied with his ruling of the country along ethnic lines. Both the rebels and Sudan deny they have any links.
In early November, the UFDR took the north-eastern town of Birao, which has a population of 30,000 people, as well as Ouadda-Djalle and Sam Ouandja.
President Bozizé asked for French help and Paris added 100 troops to the 200 already stationed in the country. These, including paratroopers, are on the ground with the CAR army and with Fomuc - soldiers brought in from regional allies Chad and Gabon.
According to the UFDR, the raids over several days at the start of December included an attack on Birao with six Mirage F1 fighters and four helicopter gunships. It claims the attack forced thousands of civilians to flee towards Darfur and southern Chad.
A French armed forces spokesman yesterday refused to give details of whether bombs, missiles or machinegun-fire had been used by the jets.
Humanitarian groups have not yet succeeded in reaching Birao but in phone calls to residents they have heard reports of executions and rapes by the CAR army.
The rebellion, according to the CAR army, was finally crushed on Monday with the capture of Ouadda-Djalle. However, there are fears that the rebels, who have scattered, will relaunch their offensive.
Nganatouwa Goungaye Wanfiyo, president of the Central African Human Rights League, said France's intervention on the side of the CAR army had been out of all proportion and may have increased the risk of a Darfur-style ethnic conflict. "They have just delayed the problem and worsened it. The opposition wants dialogue with Bozizé, that's all."
Never ever thought anyone ever would say "look out, the French are attacking".
2Cdo @ Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:30 pm
I sure hope they got the blessing of the UN! 
No outcry from the lunatic left about pre-emptive strikes, if this was the US doing the bombing there would be a gigantic, left-wingnut shitstorm!
BartSimpson @ Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:34 pm
Do they have an exit strategy?
BartSimpson @ Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:34 pm
2Cdo 2Cdo:
I sure hope they got the blessing of the UN! No outcry from the lunatic left about pre-emptive strikes, if this was the US doing the bombing there would be a gigantic, left-wingnut shitstorm!
No outcry from the lunatic left about pre-emptive strikes, if this was the US doing the bombing there would be a gigantic, left-wingnut shitstorm! You bet. But see, it's okay when the lefties go to war without UN permission.
xerxes @ Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:55 pm
2Cdo 2Cdo:
I sure hope they got the blessing of the UN! No outcry from the lunatic left about pre-emptive strikes, if this was the US doing the bombing there would be a gigantic, left-wingnut shitstorm!
No outcry from the lunatic left about pre-emptive strikes, if this was the US doing the bombing there would be a gigantic, left-wingnut shitstorm! Well, speaking as a dirty lefty, if the US were to start bombing the shit out of the Sudanese in Darfur (or in the areas around Darfur as the French are in this case) I would be pleased as punch becuase it's been quite obvious that the UN doesn't give damn and is perfectly willing to let scores of people die when it is easily preventable.
ridenrain @ Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:03 pm
I think everyone agrees that something definitely needs to be done, and the UN definitely isn't doing it, but the French are the worst when it comes to saying one thing and doing the other. I'm wondering why there was no press on this.
xerxes @ Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:08 pm
Most likely because most people would go:
"Where the hell is Chad?"
"That's a country?!"
Elvis @ Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:42 pm
Boff the french are more present than most would like to think in Africa. They mostly use there foreign legion to do the dirty work no one want to do publicly. And of course it's all done covertly. The use of mirage to strike a target is quite surprising because it leave to many witness. Maybe the french will have a more angage aproche in the near futur toward Darfour and Ethiopia and Somalia.
RUEZ @ Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:56 pm
Avro Avro:
Oh dear the Cons are having a meltdown still trying to justify the disaster in Iraq for no reason at all..... 
If any of you are trying to compare Iraq to what the French did you need your head examined.
There is a big difference between preventing chaos and creating it.
P.S. hey riden, it's a big conspiracy....oogy boogy woogy.
Just like when the U.S. media rolled over and let Bush invade Iraq for nothing.
Now go and eat thoses freedom fires.
Have a good one dummies.
Get your head out of your ass retard. Why don't you take another "vacation" Bin Avro.
If any of you are trying to compare Iraq to what the French did you need your head examined.
There is a big difference between preventing chaos and creating it.
P.S. hey riden, it's a big conspiracy....oogy boogy woogy.
Just like when the U.S. media rolled over and let Bush invade Iraq for nothing.
Now go and eat thoses freedom fires.
Have a good one dummies.
Scrappy @ Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:39 pm
So a Socialist Goberment bombs the shite out of Darfar, not a mere peep from the US haters. Remember Rawanda, the French had Generals on the ground while this slaughter took place, what where is the outrage from the peaceniks? None of course, they save all their rage for the US. Google China and the Sudan, now read a few articles on how China is funding this genocide in Darfar and Somalia. Yep it's all about China and Oil people. Of course the peaceniks, the socialist and the tree huggers can't blame the US for these crimes so therefore the death, rape, slaughter and genocide of "Moderate Somalian Muslims" don't count. These peaceful Muslims are being forced to be slaves to the Sudanese Government or DIE, and lo and behold there is the French bombing the innocents without an UN mandate. Hello where's the outrage Socialist? So to recap world events, Saudia Arabia is funding the nut bars in Irag (Sunni), so is Iran (Shi'ite). China is funding the Islamic Nutbars in the Sudan to wipe out Moderate Somalians in the Horn of Africa. Confused yet it's called oil, lots of the stuff but the Somalies don't wanna do business with China ergo the Sudan is trying to take over this "Country" by killing off all males and raping women to wipe out the African Muslim (they don't pray fives times a day and refuse to strap bombs on their children-imagine that Arabs) thus the China a communist goberment has joined forces with Extreme Islam to get OIL, of course the Socialist (like France) don't want to see their idols in the news.
Avro, you really are an asshole. Read Global news before you put your hands to a keyboard, everything you post is tripe, urine and shit. You don't give a damn about the innocent women and children that get raped daily by Extremist all you care about is your hatred towards the US. Get over it or buy some depends to piss in, because you really are dumber than an sack of hammers. You make Mike Holmes look bad because you are male.
ShepherdsDog @ Fri Dec 15, 2006 7:52 pm
xerxes xerxes:
Most likely because most people would go:
"Where the hell is Chad?"
"That's a country?!"
"Where the hell is Chad?"
"That's a country?!"
I think it's south of Biif and a little east of Miffy. Chaaaah!!!
Thematic-Device @ Fri Dec 15, 2006 8:54 pm
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
Do they have an exit strategy?
If its airstrikes, theres not much to exit. An airwar is inherently standoffish.