Good question. North Africa was mostly a French domain during colonial times. They still are paternalistic over that region and have many residents in France from there. So the French pushed for action in Lybia and the weak follower that is Obama went along.
Accurate about the French. They certainly cannot be depended on to fight.
obastard wanted what’s happening in Libya to happen, IMO. He just didn’t want to appear to lead it because of domestic political concerns. But now he’s the de facto leader of it.
The french moved into north africa to subdue the Berbers and the associated Barbary Pirates who were essentially the purveyors of slaves to the entire muslim world. They would crash entire towns on the coasts of Italy to Iceland and take the entire town as slaves to be sold into the muslim world. Especially blonde/blues as they fetched the highest prices at auction.