France thinks its a great superpower.
it is all about the seat in UNO and the top 10 economy of the world, not so bad right?
But people don't think it is a superpower
when you ask politics or people here abotu superpower they will answer you: USA, China and Russia
About this oil, i guess it is normal CNT can choose who they want
And France was very active to help the Libya's people and CNT wanted to thank it. It is natural/logic.
There are many reasons spoken about why France did so much if you read the politics and media here:
1/ France supported Ben Ali and politicians had hard time to change their mind about these people
2/ France was coming back to normal relations with Kadhafi but it was very very unpopular in France
people were upset against Sarkozy when he allowed Gaddafi to come in France
3/ media spoke a lot about the massacres in Libya
4/ a few well known intellectuals asked an intervention to save the people
that's not always easy to support this or that. it has to take a decision .
remember how USA entered in the world war II . It could have never happened. But for good it happened.