French Special Forces in Congo [Archive]

hood

06-07-2003, 08:44 AM

http://graphics.alacritude.com/s/ewrap01/getdoc_api.cgi?querydocid=74486504@urn:bigchalk:US;Lib&dtype=1~1~0~0&dinst=0~0&picture=yes

http://graphics.alacritude.com/s/ewrap01/getdoc_api.cgi?querydocid=74486375@urn:bigchalk:US;Lib&dtype=1~1~0~0&dinst=0~0&picture=yes

http://graphics.alacritude.com/s/ewrap01/getdoc_api.cgi?querydocid=74486153@urn:bigchalk:US;Lib&dtype=1~1~0~0&dinst=0~0&picture=yes

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030607/capt.sge.qwg30.070603122542.photo00.default-384x247.jpg

Nicole, a young rebel soldier (R) watch as the Special French Forces arrive in Bunia, the main town in the strife-torn Ituri region in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (news - web sites). The Special French Forces arrived to secure the airport to prepare for the arrival of international peacekeeping troops, french military headquarters said here.

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030606/i/1054903463.3221487741.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030606/i/1054903548.3959734399.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030606/i/1054900378.3825229900.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030606/capt.1054900061.congo_fighting_xkp115.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030606/capt.1054899534.congo_fighting_xkp112.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030606/capt.1054899525.congo_fighting_xkp111.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030606/capt.1054899747.congo_fighting_xkp110.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030606/capt.1054891148.congo_fighting_xkp103.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030606/capt.1054891007.congo_fighting_xkp104.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030606/capt.1054890240.congo_fighting_xkp101.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030606/i/1054930784.3624181879.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030520/capt.sge.liu11.200503230645.photo01.default-384x250.jpg

Gringo

06-07-2003, 09:50 AM

I'm not a fan of the French forces, but they are some great pics.

ROK Marine

06-07-2003, 09:59 AM

Yessir.....Le Armee de Terre. The difference between the Yanks and the French is that they're there to make peace, not war.

btw, love those spec-ops FAMAS with sights....

Crispies

06-07-2003, 10:18 AM

From witch unit are these soldiers 1°rpima, CAP 10, Commando de marine ???

ivandebono

06-07-2003, 12:28 PM

No details of units have been given, but the P4 vehicles with wire-cutter welded to the front have been used by 1er RPIMa in the past.

Some further details:
The French part of the operation is codenamed "Operation Mamba". A logistic base for the peacekeeping force (which is to number around 1400) has been established in Entebbe, Uganda. France will contribute about 700 troops to the mission, and the force will be under the overall command of a french general acting under UN and European Union mandate. The EU operation has been named "Operation Artemis". This mission will be the first one for the EU outside European territory, and without NATO support. The UK is expected to contribute around 300 troops, Germany will provide medical and logistic support, and other countries such as Italy and Belgium are also expected to participate.

This seems to set the pattern for EU military operations in future. And political response time wasn't too bad, either...

FuturePara

06-07-2003, 01:33 PM

Look at the size of that pack!

hood

06-07-2003, 01:49 PM

Anything can happen fast when you don't ask for permission.

deathsharp

06-07-2003, 02:08 PM

someone know why french soldiers have some M4s?
it disturbs me oO

do the fr special forces have the right to choose their weapon freely?

ivandebono

06-07-2003, 02:12 PM

Ahem, Hood, this mission was actually sanctioned by the UN, so the EU did ask permission...

Shadow

06-07-2003, 03:38 PM

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2003/WORLD/africa/06/07/congo/vert.soldiers.saturday.ap.jpg

Doggonit55

06-07-2003, 06:14 PM

someone know why french soldiers have some M4s?
it disturbs me oO

do the fr special forces have the right to choose their weapon freely?

Please think, do the Army SF have a selection of weapons they can choose from? Yes! Maybe the French SF can also choose between the FAMAS, M4, and others.

Why do you hate the French so much? They are all good people.

I don't see why you Americans are so scared of French people.
Is it racist or something? :bash:

This guy look so bad, I think he could take on all those SF guys in Hood's Iraq post by himself:

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030606/capt.1054900061.congo_fighting_xkp115.jpg

HEY ACOG and flashlight on FAMAS!
Rebel: I am so bad I think I will kill you and your wife and your children! French SF: Oh yeah, bitch? I think I could take your gun and shove up where the sun don't shine, then pull the trigger and empty the mag before your loser friends could even wake up from their drug induced sleep.
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030606/i/1054903463.3221487741.jpg

French SF: HANDS OF THE GUN BIATCH! before I put two in your head and one in your heart! Rebel: Me no touchy! Me no touchy!
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030606/capt.1054899525.congo_fighting_xkp111.jpg

Rebel: Not fair, he can shoot me if I want to shoot him, but I am not fast enough to shoot him before he shoots me! I am such a dumb rebel loser.
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030606/capt.1054899747.congo_fighting_xkp110.jpg
NOTE: ACOG again!

Doggonit55

06-07-2003, 06:18 PM

Just some thoughts, so please don't feel like I am attacking anyone here. So my apologies if anyone gets offended, that was not my intention. Just some thoughts...

The response time wasn't bad? Are you serious? The response time was more than three years and nearly 4 million civilians (not even counting combatants). The response time makes me sick to my stomach. And that goes for every response time in every genocide by every nation, including my own. The response time was pitiful. There are two fundamental failures of humanity here; the first is the genocide, the second is that no one cared about it for three years.

Have we learned a thing from watching the Holocaust, Rwanda, and literally dozens of other genocides that we knew about, increasingly so in this modern age, and did not a thing about?

And 1400 personnel? Does anyone here know how horribly inadequate that is for this situation? 1400 is not enough to secure one of the Congo's major cities, much less the entire nation. I am resisting the urge to just lash out and fill this post up with swear words, but I am trying to be respectful here. Taking a breath...calming down... Forget it, what are they thinking? When Somalia was moderately secured, how many men did it take? Over 20,000 US Marines! Somalia is a country of fewer people and less land, and it still wasn't secured in most of the country. Let's take a look at the numbers:

Democratic Republic of Congo
Area
total: 2,345,410 sq km
water: 77,810 sq km
land: 2,267,600 sq km

Population
55,225,478

Somalia
Area
total: 637,657 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km
land: 627,337 sq km

Population
7,753,310

Now I've never been a real good math student, but it the population of the Congo is nearly 8 times that of Somalia, with nearly four times the area. So what the heck are they thinking? If 20,000 Marines couldn't secure an area as(in much of the country) open and savannah/desert as Somalia, how are 1400 troops supposed to secure something that much larger, that is heavily rain forested. Some one, please, I obviously am having a thinker's block, because it would seem to me that the EU, and the rest of the world, doesn't honestly care at all about the Congo. They may want you to think they do, and oh I congratulate them on it, because they have actually convinced a lot of people that they do care and they have reacted quickly, but no. How crafty they are, how clever!

The EU is not only going to help much in the Congo, they are asking for a massacre. As fellow soldiers, I worry for them. My gosh, hasn't anyone learned anything from all the past wars and conflicts? I can see it now, a company goes out, probably in vehicles, on a patrol. One faction or another expects them, wipes out the company. Now will the EU get "Clinton syndrome" and pull out everyone like morons? Or will they finally care once they've lost people? Without several tens of thousands of more men, air support, and armored units (beyond those armored cars), this seems like a recipe for disaster. Well, it all could have been prevented had they acted earlier, before it became a full-scale war, but now, I don't want to think about it.

This is an illusion, folks, and a tragic one at that. The EU doesn't care. The US, while it certainly seems that a lot of the politicians don't care either, cannot intervene because the EU specified that this will be an EU operation. So what will happen? After a possible massacre, the US might be allowed to send substantial forces in. But probably not. The EU does not want the US there, and that may be a tragic decision. I sincerely hope that I am wrong, that the 1400 can do the job and that they all make it home fine, with people of the Congo better off too. Let's hope that I am wrong.

Just some thoughts...

Africa is such a hopeless dump that I think we should stop wasting money on it which only goes down the drain anyway, and place an embargo on the whole continent and not allow ANYTHING in OR OUT! If they try to cross by boat to Italy or Spain or elsewhere, gun those asses down. They are no good. They are filling the cities of Europe with unemployed criminals whose only experience is killing.

hood

06-07-2003, 06:24 PM

I find it funny that you question whether another user is racist, then you come back with posts like that. Incredible.

OzMan

06-07-2003, 06:39 PM

Yeah, good plan dumbass. That'll work. You know what, why don't we just nuke the whole place? That will make everyone happy! Think about it. :fork:

Shadow

06-08-2003, 03:25 AM

rofl rofl rofl
Nuke Iran
Nuke North Korea
Nuke Pakistan
Nuke Saudi Arabia
Nuke Syria
Nuke Jemen

And then it's quiet

KANJI

06-08-2003, 11:56 AM

Doggonit55

06-08-2003, 12:30 PM

i think he won't say

Oh yeah, bitch? I think I could take your gun and shove up where the sun don't shine, then pull the trigger and empty the mag before your loser friends could even wake up from their drug induced sleep.
coz in congo they speak frensh, he just have to say

A ouais, connard? Je peus prendre ton flingue et le vider le chargeur avant memes que tes collégues de merde ne se reveillent de leur someil de drogué :slap:
and is the rebel keeps on smiling he can say

BOOM BOOM BANG SHOOT THE BULLET IN YOUR HEAD
SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT BOOM HAHA
YOUR DEAD
in frensh it's gonna sound like this

BOOM BOOM BANG tire la balle dans ta tete
SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT BOOM HAHA
t'es mort
hum i think it sound pretty good :)
cya m8 >>> www.kanji.tk

I know, but most people on this board understand it better in English. But thanks a lot anyway!

BTW: To those who call me racist: Alright, I will Egypt to carry on noramlly, and perhaps South Africa if they get their act together. Morocco is alright I guess until the World Terrorism Tour 2003-2004 stops there. But mostly, Africa ia big drain into which money goes and nothing comes out of. There is nothing good there. Sure, a little oil on the Atlantic coast, and some gold and diamonds, but seriously, it is not worth wasting all that money when it doesn't do anything at all. Things have only gotten worse in the last decade, despite the amount of money given by nations and charities. There needs to be a limit.

KANJI

06-08-2003, 09:11 PM

so now u'll know how to say it in frensh :) if u go to congo...

lol :hug:

RoBBo

06-08-2003, 11:48 PM

why does something have to come out of africa to make it worth while?
isnt helping humanity enough?

hood

06-09-2003, 12:01 AM

your sig is twisted sister right?

stuntman

06-09-2003, 04:49 AM

to add to the thread about why the french special forces soldier is using a m type rather then a famas? To my opinion it has everything to do with wieght, a famas loaded with scope and 30round clip weights about 9-1/2 and a m-4 weights about 6 pounds fully loaded!

Crispies

06-09-2003, 05:22 AM

A ouais, connard? Je peus prendre ton flingue et le vider le chargeur avant memes que tes collégues de merde ne se reveillent de leur someil de drogué

Ah ouais, connard! Je peux prendre ton flingue et vider le chargeur avant même que tes collègues de merde ne se réveillent de leurs sommeil de drogués! ;)

In a Famas magazine there is 25 bullets, weight loaded approximatively 4.4 Kg.

hood

06-11-2003, 12:20 PM

Here's some more:

http://graphics.alacritude.com/s/ewrap01/getdoc_api.cgi?querydocid=74490878@urn:bigchalk:US;Lib&dtype=1~1~0~0&dinst=0~0&picture=yes

http://graphics.alacritude.com/s/ewrap01/getdoc_api.cgi?querydocid=74490879@urn:bigchalk:US;Lib&dtype=1~1~0~0&dinst=0~0&picture=yes

http://graphics.alacritude.com/s/ewrap01/getdoc_api.cgi?querydocid=74490881@urn:bigchalk:US;Lib&dtype=1~1~0~0&dinst=0~0&picture=yes

http://graphics.alacritude.com/s/ewrap01/getdoc_api.cgi?querydocid=74512665@urn:bigchalk:US;Lib&dtype=1~1~0~0&dinst=0~0&picture=yes

http://graphics.alacritude.com/s/ewrap01/getdoc_api.cgi?querydocid=74512660@urn:bigchalk:US;Lib&dtype=1~1~0~0&dinst=0~0&picture=yes

USAF G

06-11-2003, 12:51 PM

Trigger

06-11-2003, 01:06 PM

your sig is twisted sister right?
Nice catch Hood

Good photos

hood

06-11-2003, 01:07 PM

A good example of that happening is the question and answer sessions that George W. Bush did during his presidential campaign. He said that the US doesn't have the right to conduct nation building, and remove leaders from power that the US doesn't agree with. Now of course, look what happened. We said we weren't coming out of our house, and Al Qaeda just blew down our door. Isolationism doesn't work. It didn't work for China a hundred or more years ago, and it won't work for us now. As the communications breakthroughs keep happening, this world keeps getting smaller and smaller. The events in one country have a profound impact on the other countries of the world, even if they're indirect.

XASA

06-11-2003, 01:19 PM

Has anyone else notice how Doggonit has tried to turn several threads into arguments? It seems as if he takes pleasure in provoking forum members with some of his ridiculous assertions and insults. Responding to his dimwitted insults only spurs him on to even more venomous posts, as I'm sure most of you have noticed by now. I'm a great believer in freedom of speech, so I don't want to even suggest he doesn't have the right to say what he does, but I do believe one way to deal with his ignorance and lack of manners is to ignore him. Don't make his problem yours :lol:

USAF G

06-11-2003, 01:25 PM

Good point XASA, however, I wouldn't want the younger, or older, members of this board to think that there aren't opposing viewpoints out there. I hope that we can all learn from some of the comments here, even the ingnorant ones, to appreciate the bigger picture. That's why I am trying to respond with reason and not a bunch of *****. Cheers.

G

XASA

06-11-2003, 01:49 PM

I read you five-by-five USAF G. I wonder, though, if some of the more virulent posts are the same person using different user names; i.e., doggonit=woodland- :P

Trigger

06-11-2003, 02:18 PM

I do believe one way to deal with his ignorance and lack of manners is to ignore him.
You trying to put me on unemployment? :D

XASA

06-11-2003, 02:41 PM

I do believe one way to deal with his ignorance and lack of manners is to ignore him.
You trying to put me on unemployment? :D

Not at all Trigger! Stay on the job :P

papabear

06-11-2003, 05:54 PM

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030611/capt.1055347957.congo_fighting_xkp105.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030611/i/1055343918.3422593094.jpg

papabear

06-11-2003, 05:59 PM

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030611/capt.1055338188.congo_fighting_xkp101.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030611/capt.1055339418.congo_fighting_xkp102.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030611/capt.1055339208.congo_fighting_xkp103.jpg

A French soldier and a Hema mIlitia fighter look at each other, Wednesday, June 11, 2003, on the outskirts of Bunia, Congo. The 1,400-strong international force, half of which will be French, will not be deployed outside Bunia, and their mandate does not include disarming the tribal militias. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)

USAF G

06-11-2003, 06:13 PM

Nice pictures, Papabear. :)

papabear

06-11-2003, 06:27 PM

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030610/capt.1055255254.congo_fighting_xkp107.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030611/i/1055341581.3422576708.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030611/capt.1055339902.congo_fighting_xkp106.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030610/i/1055256940.3825320011.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030610/capt.1055255241.congo_fighting_xkp104.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030610/capt.1055255152.congo_fighting_xkp109.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030609/capt.1055170301.congo_fighting_xkp102.jpg

papabear

06-11-2003, 06:30 PM

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030607/capt.1055002496.congo_fighting_xkp111.jpg

French soldiers take up positions outside the UN compound, Saturday, June 7, 2003 in Bunia Congo as fighters from the Union of Congolese Patriots take up positions a few hundred meters away. Hundreds of Lendu fighters using assault rifles, heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades launched dawn raids on positions held by the Union of Congolese Patriots, or UPC, a Hema faction that currently controls Bunia.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030607/capt.1055002494.congo_fighting_xkp110.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030607/capt.1055002489.congo_fighting_xkp109.jpg

DE_Six

06-11-2003, 06:37 PM

I really wonder what units these guys belong to. 1er RPIMa being a tier-1 COS unit, they are usually very secretive and their structure and missions are similar to those of the SAS (on which they're based, just like Delta), so I don't think they would be out on patrol in front of the cameras. Maybe they'd more likely provide VIP protection or a rapid-deployment reaction force (in case the sh*t hits the fan, like a hostage situation). There is little pictures of them available, these would be a first.

Congo has a sea coast, so Commandos de marine aren't out of the question, but which Commando? I'd say Jaubert or Trepel, since they are the two prime direct action Commandos since the recent reform of the COFUSCO, or maybe Montfort, the long-range assignments unit.

GCP are likely to be there if any airborne unit from 11e DP is deployed and CPA 10 are always deployed when air assets are used, for combat control and such.

RAIDS readers, watch the next issue for the mot de la fin on this crisis.

stuntman

06-12-2003, 02:31 AM

Are US soldiers the only ones who wear body armor? I noticed only one soldier with body armor!

Doggonit55

06-12-2003, 12:19 PM

Are US soldiers the only ones who wear body armor? I noticed only one soldier with body armor!

Wow, some people think body armor is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Ok, let me make it short:

Body armor is heavy and uncomfortable. The US troops who have the Interceptor body armor is the lightest heavyweight body armor available today. However, for body armor to be effective against anything more than pistol rounds, you need to have armor plates. Those weigh even more. US troop sare strictly ordered to wear them at all times, with good reason. I bet you have seen the pics of US SF not wearing them, more often than not. That is because body armor is hot and heavy, and for it to be really effective, you need to add even heavier armor plates. Also, if someone wants to shoot you, they can always just hit your legs, head, arms, under the armpit (which can go through and into the heart, lungs, etc. nasty stuff), so many people who are confident enough (or maybe foolish enough IMHO) that they will shoot first before being shot at, choose to not wear body armor, because they see the disadvantages as being greater than the advantages. The French SF, as they are in Africa, decided that body armor wouldn't be all that usefull for them, so they passed on the armor. The guy who did take his vest decided that the chance of the vest saving him counts more than the extra weight and heat that comes with it, so he wore his. What are you going to do, they are adults after all...

If I were there, I would definately wear armor, maybe not the plates, but at least the soft armor. Soft armor isn't that bad really, esp. with the new semi-breathable models that can also be washed (yeah, they do stink after a while). However, those models are soft armor only and don't have a plate carrier. Oh well.... better than nothing, I guess.

Cheers,

D55

Doggonit55

06-12-2003, 12:23 PM

Doggonit55,

Your ignorant assertations about the value of the African people aside, if the US, and the rest of the first world, adopt a policy of isolationism, how long do you think it will take before the worlds problems get so bad that they come crashing across our borders? Of course, by then the sheer weight of all that suffering humanity will overwhelm our infrastructure and take us down as well. Just look at what the reunificatin did to the German economy, and that was small time compared to what I am talking about.

Nuke everyone? the sheer immorality of that suggestion aside, what do you think nuclear countries like India and China would do if we started dropping nukes on countries we don't like. If we don't help countries deal with their own problems, and manage their own resourses, I gaurentee you that they are going to come to us. Why? Eventually we will be the only ones with resourses left.

Think about it. We have a moral imperitive to help those less fortunite than ourselves, but we also need to be aware of our connection to the rest of the peoples of the world, and to our responsibility in regard to that connection. Otherwise, doom on us.

G

Hey, I NEVER SAID NUKE EVERYONE. Get your facts straight, wise guy!!! :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash:

If for a good three decades, we have been pouring billions upon billions into various African nations, and yet they do not improve, but worsen in fact, what the hell can you do? It is money poured down the drain that people, such as Phillipinos, Thais, and others could use a lot more, and produce results. I would rather help Chileans (which I do), because they actually produce results and don't just get worse as they get more money. Hey, maybe it's the governments fault, who cares, I am not willing to pour more money into that dump. It is useless....

Try again, insult me, and NO, I never said nuke them all, you idiot. That was someone else. Thanks,

D55

Doggonit55

06-12-2003, 12:29 PM

rofl rofl rofl
Nuke Iran
Nuke North Korea
Nuke Pakistan
Nuke Saudi Arabia
Nuke Syria
Nuke Jemen

And then it's quiet

See, you fool? I didn't say this. Someone else did. Take that. Check your facts before insulting people.

I see that you are a liberal globocrat, that's good.

But guess what? Most people prefer to retain their own culture and don't want to be "diverse" etc.

USAF G

06-12-2003, 12:30 PM

Yea OK, you got me. Someone else said nuke them all. :oops: You just said, to sink their boats if they try to make Europe. That's a lot better, and more humane, since you won't have all that nasty fall out. :roll:

It's nice that your replys show you to be a reasonable person. I think that's really gonna get public opinion on your side when you run for office on the "Let Africa and Africans die" platform. I'm sure you'll do swimmingly. :cantbeli:

XASA

06-12-2003, 02:04 PM

Doggonit, some of your posts are informative and well thought out; however, it seems like you've managed to alienate almost everyone on this forum in less than a week with your vituperative and abusive language. A remarkable achievment :P

From your posts, I get the feeling your father left the best part of you on the sheets the night you were conceived. So, being from the shallow end of the gene pool, you use forums such as this to make you feel like a whole man. Nothing wrong with that but it's starting to become a bit boring and repetitive. In the past, I'd just ignore your idiotic remarks, but you're polluting an otherwise great forum with your unprovoked rants. If it's not asking too much, hurry and grow up!

I eagerly await your response :lol:

papabear

06-12-2003, 06:19 PM

http://wwwi.*******.com/images/2003-06-12T154108Z_01_BUN4D_RTRIDSP_2_CONGO-DEMOCRATIC-FORCE.jpg

papabear

06-12-2003, 06:23 PM

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030612/capt.1055434587.congo_fighting_xkp104.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030612/i/1055419699.2483453993.jpg

Trigger

06-12-2003, 06:34 PM

Thanks Papabear, great pix....unfortunately, now I have the theme from 'The Smurfs' in my head. :D

hood

06-12-2003, 07:57 PM

haha

UN infantry: Commander, do we have peace yet?
UN Commander: No.
UN infantry: Commander, do we have peace yet?
UN Commander: No..
UN infantry: Commander, do we have peace yet?
UN Commander: No!
UN infantry: Commander, do we have peace yet?
UN Commander: NO!
UN infantry: Commander, do we have peace yet?
UN Commander: NOO!!!
UN infantry: Commander, do we have peace yet?
UN Commander: NOOO!!!!

Duke

06-12-2003, 08:17 PM

Yes, these pics are very...SMURFELICIOUS.

papabear

06-13-2003, 11:21 AM

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030613/i/1055514937.2952962156.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030613/capt.1055513585.congo_fighting_xkp102.jpg

1RHP pics?
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030613/i/1055509179.3355476037.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030613/i/1055508447.3221250116.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030613/i/1055507834.2684772384.jpg

hood

06-13-2003, 11:56 AM

Is that some kind of a rocket on the end of the barrel? They look like fins.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030613/capt.1055513585.congo_fighting_xkp102.jpg

XASA

06-13-2003, 12:19 PM

It's a rifle grenade, model unknown. Some still prefer rifle grenades to the now ubiquitous grenade launcher. They no longer require a special crimped bullet to fire and can be utilized with standard issue ammunition. The bullet is fired through a channel in the grenade and the resulting gas launches it. Range is usually less than a M203, about 200 to 250 meters.

Trigger

06-13-2003, 12:39 PM

That's a good pic. Doesn't it look kind of skinny for a grenade? I'm not disputing, just wondering.

XASA

06-13-2003, 01:01 PM

That's a good pic. Doesn't it look kind of skinny for a grenade? I'm not disputing, just wondering.

They come in all shapes and sizes and are no longer the bulbous ones used in WWII and Korea. I'm not familar with the many different models available-- there are dozens on the market-- so I wouldn't even attempt a positive identification but it's definitely a rifle grenade. Despite its diminutive size, it still probably packs more punch than the new 20mm grenade under development for the OICW.

Duke

06-13-2003, 03:23 PM

Hood, the French Army uses the Giat 40, this might be it.
xasa, numerous countries produce "bulbous" rifle grenades, typically they are HEAT or frag.

Doggonit55

06-13-2003, 03:37 PM

http://wwwi.*******.com/images/2003-06-12T154108Z_01_BUN4D_RTRIDSP_2_CONGO-DEMOCRATIC-FORCE.jpg

That can't be a SIG!

stuntman

06-13-2003, 03:54 PM

Yeah its a sigg notice the clear mag!

kutter

06-14-2003, 01:22 AM

The guy on the right is carrying a SIG550 (nice cap by the way :) ), the guy on the left a MINIMI.

papabear

06-14-2003, 06:11 PM

http://wwwi.*******.com/images/2003-06-14T151044Z_01_BUN22D_RTRIDSP_2_CONGO.jpg

French special forces shout during a reconnaissance mission south of the town of Bunia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo June 14, 2003. French troops sent to stop tribal fighting in the Congolese town of Bunia opened fire for the first time and made a show of force after encountering gunfire on Saturday, witnesses said. Attackers hidden in long grass fired machine guns as a French patrol rolled beyond the outskirts of the town, focus of clashes between rival ethnic militias that have killed hundreds in the past month. *******/Jacky Naegelen

papabear

06-14-2003, 06:13 PM

http://wwwi.*******.com/images/2003-06-14T120937Z_01_BUN08D_RTRIDSP_2_CONGO-DEMOCRATIC-BUNIA.jpg
http://wwwi.*******.com/images/2003-06-14T115155Z_01_BUN06D_RTRIDSP_2_CONGO-DEMOCRATIC-BUNIA.jpg

French soldiers take up positions on the outskirts of Bunia, as rival militias clashed on the outskirts of the town, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, June 14, 2003. The French troops were sent to stop tribal fighting in the Congolese town for the first time and were attacked by a group of militiamen on Saturday, witnesses said. *******/Antony Njuguna

papabear

06-14-2003, 06:26 PM

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030614/capt.sge.tcs33.140603194312.photo01.default-400x260.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030614/capt.sge.tcs33.140603194312.photo00.default-390x261.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030614/capt.sge.tcm43.140603184449.photo01.default-384x255.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030614/capt.sge.tcm43.140603184449.photo00.default-384x250.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030614/i/1055605106.3623968841.jpg

LJK

06-14-2003, 06:28 PM

Those are very nice pics! woot

papabear

06-14-2003, 06:28 PM

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030614/i/1055601565.2349252642.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030614/capt.1055601526.congo_xkp101.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030614/capt.1055601671.congo_xkp102.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030614/capt.1055601594.congo_xkp103.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030614/capt.1055601745.congo_xkp104.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030614/capt.1055601739.congo_xkp105.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030614/capt.1055601810.congo_xkp106.jpg

papabear

06-14-2003, 06:30 PM

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030614/capt.1055601604.congo_xkp108.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030614/i/1055600373.3959513153.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030614/i/1055600536.3758202957.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030614/i/1055591006.3221250114.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030614/i/1055590214.2282127397.jpg

hood

06-14-2003, 08:09 PM

I think the French realized the usefulness of the US embedded reporter idea. :)

stuntman

06-15-2003, 04:15 AM

Im not a fan of french politics or policies, but I always been a fan of there army! I dont know as much as most here, but they look pretty professional and bad ass to me! Im even willing to bet they (French military) if aloud would fight along side US,UK, Aussi forces with out a thought about it!http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Orion/6278/papop-1.jpg

stuntman

06-15-2003, 04:38 AM

http://guns.connect.fi/gow/gapapop.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Orion/6278/papop-1.jpg
http://www.acordacidadao.hpg.ig.com.br/Fuzil%20Papop_03.JPG :lol:

Mortimer

06-15-2003, 05:55 AM

the FAMAS looks to be such a un-ergonomic rifle...
anyone ever used one?

Trident-za

06-16-2003, 05:06 PM

I don't know what "news" gets reported in YOUR local papers, but here are some extracts from the best local paper in South Africa. The article is entitled Congo death camp defies French force

"The militiamen controlling the town of Bunia in the DRC are carrying out nightly massacres, excecuting civilains and burying them in mass graves, despite the presence of the a French-led EU combat force"

"...Around 9pm every evening drunken Hema militiamen, high on drugs, pour out of their base in the hills to inflict terror on Bunia's suburbs"...

To paraphrase the rest, the local milita are embarking on a campaign of genocide, killing hundreds and thousands while the "military force" looks on. Apparently, the French opened fire for the first time this weekend, as they were on the receiving end of some enemy fire.

My question is simple: if the military forces are only going to respond to direct fire, and not worry about any other atrocities going on, then what was the point of sending them in the first place? Clearly, the "combat force" is not there to protect the civlians, so what is their purpose?

I know that the military forces are "tied down" by political orders, but what exactly was the point of this whole charade? (They DO look very good in the photo's, though, don't they? :))

To respond to some of the earlier posts about Africa and why the west should care: the west is only here because the DRC has untold billions in diamonds - THAT is what the whole "civil" war is about in the first place. And, I might add, various western countries and a whole bunch of African countries (including South Africa, Zimbabwe and a few european countries that I won't name) have been covertly involved in this war for years, purely because of the diamonds.

Where this is all going, I'm not sure. But if the combat force is going to behave like this, they may as well go home and stop wasting tax-payer's money.

Trident-za

06-16-2003, 05:11 PM

Another additional thought: the French SF are clearly superior in terms of tactics/training/equipment. But, the DRC is also one of the few remaing places on earth where cannabalism is alive and well. The "militia" have truly lost touch with the rest of the human race - in terms of pure bloodthirstness and desire for violence, they are simply the best in the world. In addition to this, they have a tendency to use "child" soldiers.... entire companies of 7-10 year soldiers are not unknown... surely not a threat to the combat force, except that they are all completely screwed out of their brains on drugs, and drink blood/eat body parts on a regular basis. Not exactly a CNN type of conflict this.... Imagine CNN showing a video clip of the French slaughtering a bunch of cannabal 9 year old children..... the political consqeunces would mean the French would "lose" this war fast.

stuntman

06-16-2003, 10:16 PM

I think that the French don't have enough forces there, and if they decide to run large operations the war will eventually turn on the western diamond hungry soldiers (french,british or who evers there)! So the french must play it real smart or they would be on the defencive all the time. There playing it smart, there not like us(Americans) they actually care a little more about world opinion then we do! They have to there economy depends on it!

Guttorm

06-17-2003, 06:40 AM

Got any pic's of the FAMAS with the 203 on?

Smintjes

06-17-2003, 09:03 AM

http://world.guns.ru/assault/famas_g2_all.jpg[/img]

Tiger

06-17-2003, 09:15 AM

http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/1000/1068.htm

He219

06-17-2003, 11:09 AM

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=352441

Trigger

06-17-2003, 12:09 PM

Great pix again Papabear!

There playing it smart, there not like us(Americans) they actually care a little more about world opinion then we do!
you gotta be kidding me. :roll:

papabear

06-17-2003, 12:31 PM

http://wwwi.*******.com/images/2003-06-17T125926Z_01_BUN08D_RTRIDSP_2_CONGO-DEMOCRATIC-BUNIA.jpg

http://wwwi.*******.com/images/2003-06-17T120132Z_01_BUN02D_RTRIDSP_2_CONGO.jpg

http://wwwi.*******.com/images/2003-06-17T120044Z_01_BUN05D_RTRIDSP_2_CONGO.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030616/capt.sge.tqs94.160603220432.photo00.default-390x261.jpg

papabear

06-17-2003, 12:33 PM

Since someone brought up the fact that many soldiers are just children:

This is not cool; they are not to be envied--this is supposed to be proof of how f***** up things are over there.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/nm/20030616/mdf299379.jpg

Child soldiers wait for instructions in an ethnic Hema militia camp near Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo (news - web sites), June 16, 2003. French soldiers sent to stop tribal fighting in Bunia killed two militiamen who attacked them on Monday as the United Nations (news - web sites) warned that the situation in the Congolese town was worsening despite the troops' arrival. It was the first time the troops had killed any militiamen since they started arriving in Bunia on June 6 as part of an international force to protect civilians from fighting between ethnic Hema and Lendu militias. The fighting has killed an estimated 500 civilians in the past month. (Antony Njuguna/*******)

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030616/i/1055760507.3355476033.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030615/i/1055680896.3489742927.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030615/i/1055680825.3892404291.jpg

Guttorm

06-17-2003, 12:40 PM

I've read several articles on child soldiers...
They get erously fu**** up by that SH**...

Awful.

Trigger

06-17-2003, 12:40 PM

How sad. What a waste. :(

Did you catch the American Flag bandanna on the second to last pic?

"....inside every African child cannibal crack-head soldier, is an American struggling to get out..."

Trident-za

06-17-2003, 01:33 PM

This is not cool; they are not to be envied--this is supposed to be proof of how f***** up things are over there.

Absolutely, couldn't agree more. This is why I posted on this topic at all... I have been waiting, for years, for someone to actually come and help sort this rubbish out and was frustrated to see that so far, the military presence seems to be little more than a photo op. Agreed, it's early days, and those French guys are completely outnumbered. I really hope the western world doesn't give up on this.....

The US thought Saddam Hussein was/is evil? Well, he's like a boy scout compared to a good few thousand maniacs running various parts of Africa.

He219

06-27-2003, 11:01 AM

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=361418

A French soldier looks through a large telescopic across a street as he mans a checkpoint on the way to Bunia airport, Friday, June 27, 2003. The U.N. Security Council decided May 30 to send the International force to Bunia in a bid to stem tribal fighting that has killed more than 500 people in and around the town since the beginning of May. The French-led force, which will have up to 1,500 troops, is to be deployed in the town until September 1. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=361416

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=360852

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=361413

A French soldier patrols a street of Bunia, Friday, June 27, 2003. The U.N. Security Council decided May 30 to send the International force to Bunia in a bid to stem tribal fighting that has killed more than 500 people in and around the town since the beginning of May. The French-led force, which will have up to 1,500 troops, is to be deployed in the town until September 1. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=361414

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=361435

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=361436

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=361434