[Aurel]

Isbao,

Although I have not followed the Congo situation as closely as the Iraqi one, my feeling is that it is exactely the same thing. You are right, France is defending its self-interrest, and trying to maintain its sphere of inluence, which has historically been in Africa.
The US is creating for itself a new sphere of influence, which is the middle east. The great difference is that no american wants to admit it, and they are using this stupid excuse of the war against terror to take control of the region, and hiding behind great generous pretexts like freeing the iraqui people. Typical anglo-saxon hypocrisy. In the end, it is just about power and money. France is not much better, but at least does not invent pretexts to justify its actions.

Aurel