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Letter From Paris
Flanby’s War
Is François Hollande saving the world from Islamic extremists, or his presidency?
Behind his back they giggled and called him Flanby. He might have been popular with the French press, always good for a quick quip and a laugh, but for them as for most French, François Hollande was a lightweight, a Socialist Party apparatchik who had never held even a cabinet post. “Look at him,” sneered Ségolène Royal, his mistress of 30 years and mother of their four illegitimate children, after their separation in 2008. “He’s never done anything!”
Two years ago his most ambitious dream was to find a way to resolve his separation from her and live quietly with his new love, Valéry Trierweiller. In any case, the path to the French presidency was blocked by Dominique Strauss-Kahn, then head of the International Monetary Fund and leading all the polls to easily beat Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2012 presidential race. So he really didn’t mind the jokes about Flanby, a popular gelatinous dessert pudding.
Then in May 2011 Strauss-Kahn forced himself on a cleaning lady in a New York hotel and his French political prospects went down in flames. Hollande suddenly found himself the Socialist Party candidate against Sarkozy. Running as a self-effacing Monsieur Normal against the pushy, flamboyant Sarko, he eked out a victory and became, in effect, France’s Accidental President. But he was still hard to take seriously. French media delighted in Hollande bashing, picturing him as soft, compromising, and indecisive.
His poll numbers fell to a record low 35 percent for a new incumbent of the Elysée Palace as unemployment topped 10 percent and austerity programs started to bite. Even more painful for Hollande was that efforts to implement two of his emblematic, purely ideological campaign pledges met unexpected, embarrassing opposition. In response to his vow to impose a 75 percent income tax on revenues over $1.3 million, wealthy French businessmen and entertainers from Bernard Arnault, France’s richest man and chairman of the luxury group LVMH, to movie star Gérard Depardieu were leaving the country in droves. Worse, the supertax was struck down by the Conseil Constutionnel as violating tax burden equality. Then came the unexpectedly strong resistance by France’s usually silent majority, la France profonde, to his proposed law to permit homosexual marriage and adoption. In its hundreds of thousands it rose up and bellowed its refusal to see Christian family values vitiated.
It was just then that came the surprise—and surprising—decision to fly to the aid of poor, besieged Mali. (Interestingly, it was announced the very weekend of the huge Paris demonstration against homosexual marriage, neatly pre-empting most media attention.) Attacks by Islamic extremists in the north of the country had been going on for months, but suddenly Hollande found it extremely urgent. France had no choice but to defend Western Civilization.
The sudden lurch into war by an unpopular president was reminiscent of Nicolas Sarkozy’s decision in March 2011 to help Libyan rebels by bombing his former friend Muammar Gaddafi. His numbers in the 20s, he declared that “France has decided to play its part in history… It’s our duty.” It worked. As an admiring Sarkozy aide said, “He was on the ropes, and suddenly he has the whole world following his lead.” Diverting hostile public attention with a military escapade is the oldest trick in the books for faltering heads of state.
It might yet work for Hollande, and we can only hope it will work for Mali. But so far, few countries have felt sufficiently convinced of the threat to join France in any important way in this feat of arms.
Its European neighbors are all behind it. Way behind. Its great and good friend Germany, for example, sympathized with Mali’s predicament but quickly ruled out sending troop, though it did declare this week that it will repatriate all 374 tons of gold it had stored in Paris. The so-called European Union, which has long trumpeted the need for a defense dimension for its 27 members, promised to think hard about a military training mission in Mali. Oh, and it would also hold a meeting of its Foreign Affairs Council. Britain coughed up a military transport plane or two, tiny Belgium committed to two helicopters and two transports. Canada sent all of a C-17 transport with 35 personnel. NATO, always on the lookout for a new mission to justify its post-Cold War existence, said it had had no discussions about Mali and was not involved.
In other words, François Hollande launched this perilous, ill-defined operation without putting together an operational coalition, or even serious prior consultation with allies. As for support from the U.S., both the State and Defense departments confirmed that France had made a number of requests, including help with information sharing, airlift, and aerial refueling. But didn’t France, which has a large and active embassy in Washington, know that the U.S. has a policy of not aiding Mali because the present government seized power in a coup? As Peter Pham, director of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council, told the Financial Times, “The U.S. does not want to tell an ally to stand down, but by starting an operation they might not be able to finish, the French risk exacerbating the crisis.”
That leaves France with military support from the puny Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). There is supposed to be an African force of some 3,300 soldiers on the way. When they finally report for duty, they will have to be trained to work with Malian and French forces. (A senior French security official told the Washington Post that the African troops were far from ready; many had not even been selected by their governments.)
I will leave analysis of the African side of the operation to others, notably my AmSpec colleague Roger Kaplan. But whatever the military results at this point, it is working for Hollande. Fully 75 percent of those polled approved it. As one of his cabinet cheerleaders, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, described the decisive moment on primetime TV, “I saw him sign the order for the attack. And I can tell you, his hand didn’t shake.” Observers are comparing the impact on his image with that of Barack Obama’s raid on Osama bin Laden. “Finally president!” applauded one Paris newspaper. “Finished the hesitant and nonchalant François Hollande of the first months of his term.” Summed up one commentator, “It changes his image instantly.”
That could change again if France fails to attain its ambitious stated goals of stopping the rebel advance, rooting them out of their vast desert stronghold, stabilizing Mali, and restoring its territorial integrity. The Defense Ministry says it will deploy a total of 2,500 troops, a small number compared with the estimated 10,000 to 12,000 rebels facing them. Already the rebels are closer to Bamako, the capital where some 6,000 French expatriates live, than they were before the French attack. Public enthusiasm for the operation will likely moderate when the inevitable French casualties begin to be reported.
Concern is also rising over reprisals within France itself. Security has been tightened at airports, train stations, department stores, and other public venues, with 64 percent of French worried that the danger of terrorist attacks has increased. An Islamic rebel leader, Oumar Ould Hamaha, said on a French radio station that France “has fallen into a trap much more dangerous than Iraq, Afghanistan or Somalia.” It had “opened the gates of hell for all the French.”
As with all puddings, the proof of this one will be in the tasting.
About the Author
Joseph A. Harriss is The American Spectator’s Paris correspondent. His latest book, An American Spectator in Paris, was released this fall.
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TLP| 1.17.13 @ 7:36AM
I'm sorry. Was that supposed to be a story about the Flailings and Flappings of the Effeminate French Socialist President who's never done anything, in his life? Or, the American one?
The Left hates the Military. So, what gives?
Frenchy Fry hates the Military. He has to. I guarantee that's the first question on the Far Left out of your mind head up your ass Entrance Exam.
1) Do you hate the Military?
2) Do you hate Christians?
3) Is that hole between your Buttcheeks for:
A: Pushing things out.
B: Pushing things in.
C: Someplace to keep your Gerbil when you don't feel comfortable leaving him home while you go out shopping for things made out of Plastic and Rubber.
D: All of the above.
President Baby Daddy still Hates them, but he is skilled in the Leftist Jujitsu of Distraction. He will head fake his idiot Countrymen with Bread and Ciruses, and a buncha Dead Africans thrown in, for good measure. Like Chicago.
Meanwhile, back here, our Effete Man Child who would make of himself a King, focuses our Gaze upon The Children once more (both Dead and Alive) so that we might forget that we are careening hopelessly toward Economic Implosion, Civil Unrest, and Third World Status.
Anyone else think that The West is Doomed?
Jack in Wi| 1.17.13 @ 7:41AM
The wife's neice was entangled with a black chief from Mali named Mohamed. Thank heavens she now is entangled with an American black. At least she won't be in a harem in Timbuctu. Hollande seems to be like recent American presidents. He can't seem to mind his own business. He wants to remake the world after he remakes France. Perhaps he will push gay marriage in Mali? In my opinion he shouldn't.
TLP| 1.17.13 @ 9:15AM
And, the Plot thickens.
Wow. An African Black Chief from Mali named Mohamed? No wonder you're so happy that she now finds herself "entangled" with a Run a the Mill "Gimme yo Money fore I busts you up, B*tch" American one. And, especially now that it's so close to Kwanzaa.
It truly is a Festivus Miracle.
No wonder you're so screwed up in the head. You've got your Dashiki - that King Mohamed gave you - on too tight.
And, if you ever run into him, again?
Tell him I said: Unga Bunga Vaginaboob. (He'll know what it means)
Tina B| 1.17.13 @ 2:16PM
There you go again Timmy, you've got me laughing out loud again and only my German Shepherd to share it with. You da man!
TLP| 1.17.13 @ 2:36PM
I can't believe that you're the only one who commented on my comment.
That might be the Funniest Comment I ever made.
Contest tomorrow, at Monday's Story: The Noble Savage.
TLP| 1.17.13 @ 2:37PM
And, I am Da Man.
Joellen| 1.17.13 @ 4:49PM
Just read it and I too am laughing Tina - he really is da man!
Von Mises Jr| 1.17.13 @ 7:54AM
This is the other problem with socialism. When the economic problems wrack the nation, like Napoleon, Hitler and Stalin, socialist leaders resort to "War Socialism" as Hayek discussed in his book by the same name in order to pillage from their neighbors or to provide a distraction from the misery socialism every time and everywhere creates.
The author points out that the U.S. government refrained from this engagement since the rebels that had succeeded were not our horse in the race. But the reason seems contradictory since we supported the overthrow of the regimes in Iraq, Egypt, Libya and now Syria and Sudan without being attacked. Stirring up a bees nest unnecessarily among Islamist does not seem like a good idea as it got our Ambassador sodomized and murdered in Benghazi (that the low-information voter thinks is some Muslim guy) and now we have hostages in Algeria. Mises explained that free markets and free trade result in harmony and cooperation. Moreover, on moral grounds conservatives do not look to seek out wrongs to right with unprovoked war. The saga of socialism continues in the West.
Jacob McCandles| 1.17.13 @ 10:10AM
If you have an islamic nation, you are gonna have a dictator (person) or a dictator (Sharia). Why do we keep trying to create the first free islamic society? Freedom and islam cannot co-exist.
Von Mises Jr| 1.17.13 @ 11:14AM
It is also true with statism. I was reading Rousseau's "social Contract" last night and the first book mirrors the first book of John Locke's "Two Treatises of Government." They both mock Monarchy as absurd since Locke points out that the Prince may be a moron (perhaps like Prince Hal who was a brigand and petty thief along with the fictional character Falstaff) or justified only on the grounds of slavery as with Rousseau.
But Locke follows the Magna Charta and individual rights, where Rousseau creates the idea of "statism." But the "general Will" is an abstract and can only be enforced via slavery i.e. force.
So for all intents and purposes, I see that statism and Sharia are a distinction without a difference.
Jacob McCandles| 1.17.13 @ 1:59PM
Probably true, but with Sharia the women are enslaved to a greater degree than the men. I find it astounding that "feminist" groups get all bent out of shape about Augusta country club here in the US and seem to silently condone islamic suppression and abuse of women.
Joellen| 1.17.13 @ 5:59PM
I dont Jacob, for the feminist its really all about their sacred cow, abortion. Have you ever noticed, when Hillary goes to the third world countries, that all she ever promotes?
Glen H| 1.17.13 @ 8:11AM
I think I read this same article in Mother Jones when Bush sent troops into Afghanistan.
MelvinNC| 1.17.13 @ 8:35AM
Hang on people, we got something here we can work with. OK, Barrack was to confiscate firearms, you know the machine guns, rocket launchers, tanks, armored personal carriers, attack helicopters from members of the NRA.
François wants to forcibly go into Mali, to fight the rebels, and make gay marriage legal.
OK, now we mix the two. All the armaments that were confiscated from the NRA, we give them to the gay Malians. Then we tell the gay Malians that the Muslims won't let them get married to really piss them off, and then we turn loose all the gay pissed off Malians with the heavy armaments that was confiscated from the NRA and viola the Muzies get their butts kicked. Its a sure winner.
I wonder if we can get members of Code Pink to help out?
KennesawJack| 1.17.13 @ 9:06AM
Melvin, quite easily the most logical progression through this dilemma. Well done. Now, if I can just get my Abrams to start up (I haven't fired it in years), I'll drive it down to Savannah and put it on the next destroyer (confiscated from an NRA member who lives on Lake Michigan) bound for Mali. Getting that tank out of my front yard will probably plese the neighbors as well. I suspect, though, that once the ATF sees my tank they're proabably gonna want my rocket launcher and my chrome AK-47, modified to hold a 2,000 round clip, too. Bummer. Do we think they could use the 105 parked in front of the Legion Hall? We can probably get that puppy up and running in a day or so.
TLP| 1.17.13 @ 9:21AM
What were you reading? I didn't understand a word he said.
Now, if you really wanna be entertained by a Comment? Scroll back up to Jackass In Wi's comment from 7:41 am.
I'm still cracking up.
Reading his comment was like finding $1,000 on the ground.
KennesawJack| 1.17.13 @ 9:30AM
I know, I know. I wonder if his niece is related to Obamarx's momma.
Tina B| 1.17.13 @ 2:20PM
Or even his baby momma.
MelvinNC| 1.17.13 @ 1:30PM
K. your onto something get an old but street legal five ton, hook up that Iraqi howitzer that sits outside our VFW, has new rubber curosity of the Camp Lejeune Marines and tow it up to D.C. drive down Pennsylvania Ave. and do a U-turn right in front of the White House, and have the five done break down with the howitzer pointing towards the White House. Oh, most important, unfurl NRA banners off the sides of the truck.
Of course the howitzer has been de-miled. It's just a prop, kind of like the kids.
KennesawJack| 1.17.13 @ 5:01PM
I like it. I really do. You know, maybe we should have an NRA parade down Pennsylvania Ave. Everybody shows up with a weapon ( clips, bolts, etc. removed, just to keep it legal) and see how El Presidente likes looking at a couple of million folks who really do not like to be messed with.
pogybait| 1.17.13 @ 1:52PM
since we need the confiscation of all weapons, then the citizens of Alaska can no longer defend themselves in the wild, we need to allow the citizens of Alaska to purchase California with money that comes from oil revenues, then have them sell it to the Chinese as most are socialists anyway...wouldn't this be all in the name of fairness?
Mike W| 1.17.13 @ 9:02AM
Expect Obama to do conduct some foreign policy misadventure to gain support among conservatives that want to kick some tail. Those conservatives will be eating out of his hand and all will be forgiven. If Obama bombed Iran I bet he could do anything he wanted to do on the domestic side, ban guns, amnesty,whatever, with out "conservative" complaints.
KennesawJack| 1.17.13 @ 9:10AM
The only thing, and I do mean the ONLY thing, Obamarx could possibly do to get my support is to utter the two words I've longed to hear from him since January 20th, 2008, "I resign". Short of that, ain't nothing that Mussolini wanna-be can do to get my support.
TLP| 1.17.13 @ 9:22AM
Go back and read Jackass' Comment.
Happy Birthday!
KennesawJack| 1.17.13 @ 9:28AM
How did you know it's my Birthdahy? Seriously.
TLP| 1.17.13 @ 12:33PM
It's everybody who reads Jakasses' Column's Birthday.
KennesawJack| 1.17.13 @ 2:04PM
True, that, but it actually IS my Birthday and, after some of the nasty things I've seen posted about you lately (NONE, of which are true) I was genuinly touched (and don't get into the "exactly where were you touched" thing) by your Birthday wishes.
TLP| 1.17.13 @ 2:57PM
I did not know that it was your Birthday.
But, since I do, now?
Happy Birthday KJack.
Contest tomorrow at Monday's Story: The Noble Savage.
How's that for a Birthday Present?
What are you, like 90?
TLP| 1.17.13 @ 2:59PM
I don't care where you were touched.
What I wanna know is, WHO was touching you.
KennesawJack| 1.17.13 @ 4:32PM
I am reminded of Phil Graham's remark about Slick Willie's little tete a tete with Ms. Lewinski, "If I did something like that, the last words I'd hear were my wife saying "How do I reload this thing" so, that should tell you is the touchee and who is the toucher. 'Nuff said.
TLP| 1.17.13 @ 10:52PM
Was it Phil Gramm?
KennesawJack| 1.17.13 @ 4:29PM
Not yet. The first three numbers are 194.... and that's all you get outta me.
Pecos Pete| 1.17.13 @ 5:39PM
Happy Birthday KJ! Now, at the contest starting tomorrow don't expect to be treated nicely.
Dodd2| 1.17.13 @ 9:22AM
1. "but suddenly Hollande found it extremely urgent. France had no choice but to defend Western Civilization."
No, Hollande is defending French interest in Mali., France's former colony.
2. Foggy better not think he's dragging American into his war.
3. Mali is a mess because of the French induced fiasco in Libya
4. Wait and see what happens when there's violent blow back in the streets of Paris.
5. Why no criticism for Holland not seeking U.N. approval? Is it only america that must prostrate itself before that flighty organization on the East River?
TLP| 1.17.13 @ 9:28AM
No, it's not only America who has to prostrate itself before the UN. Unless it has a Republican President. And, then He must prostrate himself before the Nest of Vipers.
But, you were close.
Pecos Pete| 1.17.13 @ 10:19AM
And then there is Algeria. It borders Mali on the north. Yesterday approx 7 Americans were captured by Al-Qaida freedom warriors from Mali or somewhere in the peaceful regions of Islamic Ruled lands.
Now that King O was solved Gun Ownership and Mass Killings, the next crises, Which Can Not Go To Waste, could well be Algeria/Mali.
Of course, King O could declare Chicago/Illinois a Wasteland and STOP the killings in this Gun Free Zone by DHS Intervention
TLP| 1.17.13 @ 12:34PM
They're all dead.
Go to Drudge.
cicero| 1.17.13 @ 10:57AM
Let's take another look at the situation in Mali, and Hollande's reaction, as compared to the U.S. response to Afghanistan and Iraq. Mali is attacked by radical islamists. They come pouring down to take over the country, and use it as a base for further conquests or attacks. How do we know that these thugs are part of Al
Queda? Their fellow thugs capture 20 Eropeans and other Westerners in Algeria, and confirm it.
The French send in their special forces to help the Malian government forces, and they push back, hard, driving the thugs back north. The French do not then send in hundreds of thousands of troops, and spend billions rebuilding a country that was not built in the first place.
Maybe this is the way to fight the war on extreme islam. Block them from advancing, and kill as many of them as possible. Take the fun out of the game. Then go home, and wait for the next round. The West can pound them everytime, without setting up camp permanently.
While I am not a Hollande fan, he may have the right formula on this one. The fact that the U.S. is not backing him is no reason not to understand what he is doing.
RJ| 1.18.13 @ 2:24AM
I certainly hope that a military venture was not undertaken for domestic public relations. Anyone who does that is unworthy of public trust and I am sickened that the press treats matters of war as celebrity entertainment (e.g. the press fawning over Obama "killing" bin Laden in the White House situation room.) Too many people have to live in the real world for us to indulge their virtual fantasy world.