The Cocoa industry is controlled vertically by French interests.
The food industry is France’s largest industrial sector (ahead of the car industry and
the chemical industry, according to turnover). Chocolate and Confectionery constitute 5.7% of the food industry.
The Chocolate and confectionery industry has a yearly turnover of EU 7.08 Billion (~US$9.2 Billion w/ approx exchange rate 11/20/04) in the year of 2001.
http://www.tradepartners.gov.uk/files/french_food.pdf
Follow the money.
"Follow the money."
Sounds about right. The french support the islamists and get to keep their cocoa at the same time. Although my heart breaks for Africa there is no way I can see the US saving it from islam.
This situation is not about chocolate. France is in the Ivory Coast because the French government wants to assert itself as a world power, and Africa is the only place in the world where France actually is a power. I stated early on in this thread that I am holding judgement on this tape until I see more evidence, but I do wonder why France is involved in an African civil war. At least we are not involved in this fiasco....yet. It wouldn't be the first time we had to bail the Frenchies out of a military engagement.