RAOUL SALAN

Algeria was not a French Colony but an actual province of France where an Algerian had the same citizenship and rights of a Parisian or any other Frenchmen. However the Algerian nationalists combined with the Islamic extremists wanted independence and had started a revolutionary movement primarily using terrorism. Some members of the French Parliament were liberals who thought the Algerians had a right to self-determination and favored a plebiscite; others saw Algeria as a drag on France and were in favor of having it independent. But the majority at that time saw Algeria as a part of France and opposed a change of status. Many in the army however were afraid that the politicians would "sell out" and their sacrifices would have been in vain. This is a common pattern where parts of nations want independence and the military is asked to put down any violence and terrorism. Eventually, the cost in casualties and money became so great that the government did change and allowed Algerian independence—just what the General and many soldiers had feared. In retrospect, the sacrifices were in vain.

Algeria was not a French Colony but an actual province of France where an Algerian had the same citizenship and rights of a Parisian or any other Frenchmen. However the Algerian nationalists combined with the Islamic extremists wanted independence and had started a revolutionary movement primarily using terrorism. Some members of the French Parliament were liberals who thought the Algerians had a right to self-determination and favored a plebiscite; others saw Algeria as a drag on France and were in favor of having it independent. But the majority at that time saw Algeria as a part of France and opposed a change of status. Many in the army however were afraid that the politicians would "sell out" and their sacrifices would have been in vain. This is a common pattern where parts of nations want independence and the military is asked to put down any violence and terrorism. Eventually, the cost in casualties and money became so great that the government did change and allowed Algerian independence—just what the General and many soldiers had feared. In retrospect, the sacrifices were in vain.