Viral Picture of French Soldier Causes Uproar

[DiscoBerry]

I think the photo is eerie and kind of awesome.  But is it seriously that big of a deal?   

French military commanders reacted furiously to the photo. According to RTL, army spokesman Col. Thierry Burkhard called the soldier's behavior "unacceptable" and stressed that the image was "not representative of France’s action in Mali."

SlateAfrique reported that the French military had opened an investigation into the incident and was determined to discover the identity of the soldier.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/22/french-soldier-skeleton-mask_n_2526510.html

[mellenORL]

It's just continuing the ancient tradition of war paint or war masks, armor visor helmets, etc. Balaclavas and kerchiefs with fierce imagery is part of assault troops' weaponry - intimidate the enemy.

[Material Defender]

I think it's because they are a peace-keeping/assistance mission, so it appears unseemingly to a degree.

[Art Vandelay]

I think it's because they are a peace-keeping/assistance mission, so it appears unseemingly to a degree.

Especially so seeing as Mali is a former colony (of some European, if not the French).

[ThunderWulf]

I do admit the photo is pretty cool, but yeah, if they're on a peacekeeping mission, that may be a little much.

[Dakota Bob]

That would make a badass metal album cover. As a representative photo of a peacekeeping mission, not so cool.

[Meshakhad]

Yeah, that isn't the right image for what they're doing. Still, they should save it for propaganda purposes.

[rookie]

It's been my experience that peacekeeping is just as bloody and dangerous as war fighting. That said, I'm not sure what the French rules are as far as uniform modifications. I do know Americans weren't allowed to do that, wear unauthorized things with the uniform.

[Distind]

Without the wrap over his face that'd look like a damn recruiting poster. With it, metal album.

[Material Defender]

It's been my experience that peacekeeping is just as bloody and dangerous as war fighting. That said, I'm not sure what the French rules are as far as uniform modifications. I do know Americans weren't allowed to do that, wear unauthorized things with the uniform.

Not saying it isn't bloody and dangerous, but there's a certain image out of combat someone has to carry since their here at the discretion of the Malian Government. If it's upsetting to them, it's probably not good.

[rookie]

I never said it wasn't bad.

[Scotsgit]

There's a paintball team I know used to wear masks like that.  They were also crap at the game and used to look really daft sitting in the waiting area in those masks covered in paint.

[SimSim]

I think it's because they are a peace-keeping/assistance mission, so it appears unseemingly to a degree.

Especially so seeing as Mali is a former colony (of some European, if not the French).

It was a French colony.

[davedan]

Mali was a french colony but I thought it was less a peace-keeping mission and more a mission to prop up the 'legitimate' Mali government and fuck Al-Quaeda in North Mali 's shit right the fuck up.

[mellenORL]

Mali was a french colony but I thought it was less a peace-keeping mission and more a mission to prop up the 'legitimate' Mali government and fuck Al-Quaeda in North Mali 's shit right the fuck up.

Bingo, and remember, paratroopers and light armored divisions are by definition frontline combat troops, not really intended to act as military police in re civil unrest. Intimidating extremists is part of the job of "peacekeeping" when those enemies are bent on fomenting violent civil war. Remembering that Mogadishu-like escalation is always possible, wearing a scary face mask while on the lookout for enemy is not innappropriate in this case, imo.