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Hello,

It could have been interesting, but the dates don't work: the decision to retaliate or not, and to what extent, needs to be taken at the very end of 1998. Operation Reset occurs some time in 2000. Now, it is likely that French factions are in this somehow in 2000: some to help, some to hinder, and some to take it for themselves......

Given the Legion Etrangier (sp?), and its influence on French identity, I can see how some few might be less than fully Francocentric. France has always welcomed those willing to prove themselves... And France is honestly one of the most extensive colonial empires still in existence.

Also remember: Many career soldiers, especially officers, are not pro-war, and are not hyper-patriots, either. Just folk doing a job that is both difficult and has little civilian application, in exchange for pay, medical care, and retirement. I've known a general officer who was of that mindset. My dad, a Major in the US Army, was of that mindset. A SCMSgt in the USAF, a friend's dad, was of that mindset - he was a nuclear munitions technician at one point. When you get hyper-patriots at the brigade level and up, then you have to start worrying about a coup d'etat.

Some units of the Légion Etrangère were part of the 1961 attempted coup against De Gaulle, which was foiled when De Gaulle spoke on the radio, denounced the now famous "quartet of retired generals", and was followed by the conscripts. The Légion is part of our national mythology but is too small to have any significant impact on our views of citizenship etc. Or, rather, it is fully in keeping with the "Birthright" view that anyone born in France has the potential to become French (it is a bit more complicated than just being born, but anyone growing up in France until they turn 18 can become French). All militaries have fanatics and/or hyper ambitious individuals who may try to impose their own agendas. There is a hyper-conservative current in the French right (the remains of the anti-Dreyfusard, radical catholic, antisemitic, pro-Monarchy, aristocracy) which has almost no impact on electoral politics (they'd score 5 % max), but are over-represented in some parts of the military. These would not be too keen on restoring the prior democratic order - but would also be fanatically opposed to the Soviet Union. Add to that some of the more fascistic types (which won't necessarily get along with the former), or aspiring strongmen, and you have potential baddies, possible internecine fighting ... and probably people inside the military who will try to oppose them.