‘The French attacked and seized our country in the middle of the 19th century. The invasion was bloody and cruel.’ Ken Burns & Lynn Novick, The Vietnam War I: Deja Vu (1858 - 1961) Bao Ninh, North Vietnamese army, BBC 2017
In contrast to Britain, France tried to reassert control over its empire – most notably it attempted to return to normal in Indo-China. The land today as Vietnam. No sooner had France found peace in Europe it embarked on a war against the Viet Minh, the national liberation army of Vietnam led by Ho Chi Minh. This was to be a long and painful experience for the French that would eventually cost them 90,000 lives, and the Vietnamese people millions. World War II: The Complete History: The Presence of History, Discovery 2000
People are coming out of the closet on the word Empire. Charles Krauthammer, columnist & commentator
10 years ago the US Empire honed its sights more intently in a profitable region of the world: Africa … Its unimaginable treasure of minerals and raw materials. Abby Martin & The Empire Files: Empires Feed on Congo’s Treasure, Abby Martin online 2016
Congo: 80 million people … It’s considered the richest country in the world. ibid.
Cobalt: Among Congolese who literally risk their lives working in Cobalt mines – tens of thousands are children working twelve hours a day for a dollar. ibid.
Africa has endured over five centuries of oppression and theft by European empires. ibid.
Every other empire has made exactly the same absurd claims as we have. Noam Chomsky, interview Chris Hedges, The Chris Hedges Show, Youtube 30.07, 2022