Could We See Uk Troops Being Dragged Into This Latest African Conflict?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25313817

/// Following a request from France, the US announced on Monday it would help fly African Union peacekeeping troops into the CAR. ///

/// Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered US forces "to begin transporting forces from Burundi to the Central African Republic," his spokesman said. ///

/// UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that as many as 9,000 peacekeepers would be required in the CAR, and he hoped they would eventually become a United Nations operation. ///

[ToraToraTora]

well history is full of cases of bailing out the frogs but in this case they should just pull out of this sh1t hole and let them kill each other. No way anyone else should go there, surprised the Frogs did to be fair. Better they kill each other than those sent to try an establish some sort of order.

[LazyGun]

I don't think so. Cameron has already ruled out troop support, although there is an open offer to provide logistical support, such as air transport etc. I doubt even an escalation of circumstances over there will see british troops being used.

Interesting to note that, yet again, a bloody conflict has erupted that has polarised around religion - christians vs muslim.

[naomi24]

I sincerely hope not.

[emmie]

i also sincerely hope not.

[jake-the-peg]

Well there are currently 8 UN peace keeping operations in Africa and we're not involved in any of them I don't think

http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/operations/current.shtml

Generally there are a few US troops in most, France in quite a few

So I don't see what's special about this one that we'd suddenly start getting involved in UN peacekeeping operations

[Gromit]

No.

These conflicts tend to interest the ex colonial powers. So France is involved in several peace keeping operations in Africa because they once ruled those areas. You wouldn't expect the French to have involved themselves in the Falklands, so don't expect the British to get involved in CAR.

[ChillDoubt]

You wouldn't expect the French to have involved themselves in the Falklands, so don't expect the British to get involved in CAR.
----------------------
Those aboard HMS Sheffield and the Atlantic Conveyor might testify otherwise:

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17256975

Those that say we wouldn't get involved should do so with caution.
These matters can escalate quickly and with focus deemed to be shifting from the Middle East to North and Central Africa in respect of Islamic terrorism and fundamentalism I most certainly would not rule it out just yet.

[Gromit]

Chilledout,

The Agentines had plenty of British arms and ammunition in their armoury which they used against us. That was business not politics.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// These conflicts tend to interest the ex colonial powers. ///

Makes one wonder how different our country would have been if our forefathers had never had the urge to explore and colonise.

Not only our country, but what about Africa, what would that have been like, hanging on to all those rich resources that we are told the colonists pillaged and plundered, would they now be the super powers and we a real third world country?

I can't see it somehow.

[LazyGun]

Well we can never know, can we AoG, unless you have a handy time machine and the ability to change the course of history.

Why do you doubt it though?

[anotheoldgit]

LazyGun:-)

Why do you ask me why I doubt it have I said I that I do? I was just asking a question and isn't that what this site is all about?

[jake-the-peg]

I think you may have an image of precolonial Africans as a bunch of savages running around in grass skirts - forgive me if I'm wrong but it was a popular perception given in schools many years ago and still lives on with some of our older members.

Africa is a big place and in some places civilisations were primitive but in others there was amazing sophistication and power.

Ethiopia is a particular example, Benin is also interesting - Europeans first refused to accepththat the brozes made there were created by them because the skill employed was too fine. Then there's Zimbabwe the citadel of Great Zimbabwe was built up to the 14th Century and was very much the same sort of thing that we were putting up at the time

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Great-Zimbabwe-2.jpg

What made us a Superpower first and them a 3rd world nation was industrialisation

If you want a remarkable and unique example of this look at Japan

When Japan first saw Western Industrial power they grabbed it, everything they could get everything they could do

At the start the British shelled Japan which was basically run by Samurai - one of the boys at that shelling was the commander of the Naval force defeated the Russians in 1905 - that's how fast they modernised.

They also had the advantage of never really suffering colonisation

[LazyGun]

@AoG "Not only our country, but what about Africa, what would that have been like, hanging on to all those rich resources that we are told the colonists pillaged and plundered, would they now be the super powers and we a real third world country?

I can't see it somehow"

That there is your words from your post. The meaning seems clear enough to me; It seems quite clear to me that you are saying that had Africa not been carved up by the various colonial superpowers of the day, you doubt they would have developed as a global superpower. (" I can't see it somehow)

So I was just asking you why you thought that way. It is not a trick question :)

[Peter Pedant]

No I dont...

Dans ce dossier africain longtemps éclipsé par le Mali, Paris est en première ligne compte tenu des liens historiques avec son ex-colonie et de sa présence militaire sur place, mais désire impliquer l'Afrique et l'ONU pour tenter de régler une situation explosive à tous égards. Pays parmi les plus pauvres du monde et en crise depuis des années, la République centrafricaine s'est enfoncée dans la violence et le chaos.


Those evil froggies are trying to drag in Africa and UN

[Hypognosis]

(Babelfish.com transliteration - done in 3 portions as there is a word limit)

This African folder long overshadowed by Mali, Paris is first line given its former colony historical ties and its military presence on-site, but wishes to involve Africa and the United Nations to try to resolve an explosive situation in all respects. Of the poorest countries of the world and in crisis for years, the Central African Republic sank into violence and chaos.

@AOG re OP

I don't think we will see UK troops getting involved. We were promised open debate in the Commons, at the very minimum and, ideally, wider public debate, before any further involvement in wars overseas.

Or is that just wishful thinking, on my part?

[Wharton]

Roll on September 2014 and then we'll all get peace, in Scotland anyway.