With the events of Haiti in recent days, I thought about all the trouble spots in the world which are, or were, under French control. It is an interesting list.
Of course, there was Indochina, which became Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. I think we?re all familiar with how that turned out. Lebanon and Syria are both part of what used to be the French Mandate after the Great War, and became independent after WWII. They, in turn, were combinations of former French colonies Lattaqui?, Alep, Hatay (Alexandretta), and the Sanjak of Damas and Jabel Druze (Souaida). France also held part of Yemen.
In Africa, they had colonies or mandates for Algeria, Ivory Coast, Congo, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad. Significant French interest in some of the more, shall we say “troublesome”, parts of the world.
In the Pacific and Indian oceans, France possessed Madagascar, and still has colonial possession of French Polynesia, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna Islands, and New Caledonia. Quite the empire, I would say.
French colonies have a history of being violent and corrupt places. Some would say they are no worse than other colonies have been. I disagree, but the important point is that they are still problem areas.
As we try to eliminate threats to the US, France attempts to stand in the way. Looking at the Rogues’ Gallery of French colonialism, I have to wonder whether there is a link. I can?t imagine why it would seem important to anyone in the US to seek French approval for what we need to do.