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Look at France' history in Muslim countries.
It's bloody war in Algeria for example.
It's use of economic and her military to intervene in Africa and the near-east to protect her national interests.
France doesn't have a good track record in Africa.
Then there was the emergence of the far right National Front.
And so on.
Then you also have to look at France's actions in Indo-china post WW2 and the debacle of Dien Bien Phu.
A succinct summary of the real state of affairs from the late Robin Cook:
“Ironically, it is only because Iraq’s military forces are so weak that we can even contemplate its invasion. Some advocates of conflict claim that Saddam’s forces are so weak, so demoralised and so badly equipped that the war will be over in a few days.
“We cannot base our military strategy on the assumption that Saddam is weak and at the same time justify pre-emptive action on the claim that he is a threat.
“Iraq probably has no weapons of mass destruction in the commonly understood sense of the term—namely a credible device capable of being delivered against a strategic city target. It probably still has biological toxins and battlefield chemical munitions, but it has had them since the 1980s when US companies sold Saddam anthrax agents and the then British Government approved chemical and munitions factories.
“Why is it now so urgent that we should take military action to disarm a military capacity that has been there for 20 years, and which we helped to create? Why is it necessary to resort to war this week, while Saddam’s ambition to complete his weapons programme is blocked by the presence of UN inspectors?”
Oi! Sadomasochistic sex orgies are off-topic. You'll find yourself back in the Trash Can! I'm telling you!
Tell me about it JBR.
That girl just won't listen you know.
PS.
Pssstttt.
Forget about the Chilcot report.
Please tell me where the Sadomasochistic sex orgies are going on.
I want some!
Morti is leading me astray.
All our leaders, those that have taken us to war, are probably guilty of 'war crimes' if we are willing to dig deep enough.
Should they all be prosecuted?
Is it in our countries best interest to prosecute Bliar?
Does it open us up to further attacks by those that will use it to justify their bloodlust?
Some thing are just best left alone, imho.
Of course leaders make mistakes the generals in the battles of the some sent 40000 + men to certain death.
He was a leader but he was not infallible.
There were plenty who agreed why did'nt they press the doubtful questions at the time?