France Pulls Out the Big Stick

Between nuclear deals with UAE and building a new base in the Persian Gulf, not to mention a bit more attitude behind the rhetoric of their new president, there has been a wind of change coming from France. That is why when we observed a French flagged ship get taken hostage by Somalia pirates, we knew this time might be different. This is another sign things ARE different.

Elite French troops were headed to East Africa to bolster efforts to free captives of a yacht held by pirates off Somalia, a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Monday.

A team of the GIGN, a commando force that conducts anti-terrorist and hostage rescue operations, was being sent to Djibouti to "reinforce" negotiation teams in place, spokeswoman Pascale Andreani said in an online briefing.

Even if France does nothing, just the movement of troops has given everyone something to think about, and sent a message clear enough everyone gets the message. Little known fact... they make action figures of the GIGN similar to how they do Navy SEALs, but I know from first hand experience a certain French aid agency used to give out GIGN action figures out to children in Africa. Reputation and all, otherwise called info-war. Imagine the headlines if they gave GI Joe action figures away in Africa today...

A cooperative effort here between France other coalition partners may be developing. The article goes on to emphasize the desire for the peaceful return for hostages, which of coarse is the primary goal. What is noteworthy is this the first time a ransom could be paid, a ship is released, and the pirates get to sleep uneasy after the fact wondering if retribution is coming.

We don't know what is going on, but this looks like the first time we are seeing a nation ready to use military force against the pirates of Somalia as part of the total calculus. That in itself is something to observe.

Regardless the message being sent is clear to Somalia pirates, don't mess with France.