French troops in Libanon in 1860 ...and 2006

On August 30, 1860, the French army landed in Lebanon to protect the Christian Maronites who were slaughtered by the Muslims ( 6,000 killed in Lebanon and 18,000 in Syria).

The French first minister of the time ( Mr. Thiers ) declared then to the National Assembly :

• « THE INTER-CONFESSIONNAL CONFLICT IN LEBANON WILL NOT BE SOLVED EVEN IN ONE CENTURY. »

Let’s hope that The French and Lebanese Governments of 2006 - and their Holly Sponsor in Rome - will remember that !