French plan what French do best
The newly-elected French president, Francois Hollande, announced that he’ll keep his campaign promise to pull their troops out of Afghanistan by the end of the year leaving a small contingent of trainers to assist the Afghans according to the Associated Press. Yes, this is not a look of surprise on my face, since the French can’t be counted upon to support any NATO mission, but they’re the first to cry out for someone else to send their troops to war;
“We won’t have any more combat forces in Afghanistan after Dec. 31, 2012. I say specifically combat forces. We will still have a military force that will be dedicated to the training of Afghan army officers, that will also be present at the hospital, the airport and also will allow the Afghans to have a police force that is the most effective possible,” he explained during a function at the French Embassy.
Hollande insisted France is not abandoning Afghanistan. “No. This is a continuation, and there will be further engagement, but in a different form.”
Thanks, France.
Category: Terror War
Apparently “Taliban” is French for “Panzer” and you know how that item works on French Spines and Bladders.
I have to point out, that until their last election, the French were taking the lead. Sarkozy pressured the POTUS to support McChrystal, and upped the French COMBAT Forces.
Under the new Socialist President, Hollande, they are committing to the same plan as Obama, but making sure they’re first to get out of combat, (actually second, behind the Canadian politicians).
But it was America that was attacked on 9/11. And if we aren’t willing to fight our enemy, then I cannot hold it against our “friends” that they won’t either. Our President is leading the retreat.
“And if we aren’t willing to fight our enemy, then I cannot hold it against our “friends” that they won’t either. Our President is leading the retreat.”
This. If we already said we’re bailing no matter what, why should anybody else stick around?
I don’t blame the French one bit. There’s no reason for them to expend their lives and money against the Taliban.
France doesn’t have the resources to stay in Afghanistan indefinitely. The only country who does is the US. And that’s going to be a lonely place to be when we leave.
I don’t blame the French either. They don’t want to get left holding the bag; no one does. No one CAN. If we pick up our toys and go home, the game is OVER, as far as our allies are concerned.
Hey, for a socialist frog, that’s not too bad. At least he’s keeping a few advisers around… 😉
WOTN, my problem with that argument is it was but a few weeks ago muslim radicals were shooting up the french countryside? I seem to remember kids being killed. They don’t have a stake in this fight?
But when the French leave who will check IDs on the flightline?!
The only French fighting force that actually is any good at all is the Legion, and they aren’t really even French!
Lucky, that’s not true. They’re also extraordinarily good at causing hearing loss. Their Mirages were behind most of mine thanks to the misfortune of sleeping within fifty feet of the flightline.
This reminds me of a classified ad:
FOR SALE
One French infantry rifle. Has only been dropped once.