Posted on 08/03/2005 10:56:52 AM PDT by F14 Pilot
BISHKEK, Aug 3 (Reuters) - France has deployed fighter jets in Tajikistan as part of international efforts to boost security during a September parliamentary election in next-door Afghanistan, a French military official said on Wednesday.
"Six Mirage fighters have been deployed in (the Tajik capital) Dushanbe," Major Frederic Lemoine, deputy French military attache to Central Asian neighbour Kyrgyzstan, told reporters at U.S.-led air base Ganci near the capital Bishkek.
Shortly after he spoke, two large-body C-135 FR refuelling planes landed at Ganci.
"These refuelling jets are due to support the Mirage fighters in Tajikistan," he said, adding that the operation was part of measures taken in line with a U.N. Security Council decision aimed to bolster security during the Afghan election.
Lemoine told Reuters later that the Mirage jets would fly on their first combat missions this Saturday.
Afghanistan's presidential elections last October passed off largely without incident. But the country is now suffering its worst bout of insurgent violence since 2001 and protecting thousands of parliamentary candidates is seen as posing a tougher security challenge.
Last month ex-Soviet Central Asian states, Russia and China urged the United States and its allies to say when they close regional air bases provided for temporary use after the start of U.S.-led military operation in Afghanistan in 2001.
Kyrgyzstan has since softened its tone, but Uzbekistan, under barrage of Western criticism over indiscriminate use of force against civilians during an uprising in May, has given Washington six months to leave air base on its territory.
Much US aid going to Uzbekistan?
There's an Air France plane in Toronto they can move quickly....
All militaries need combat time, the French get that at low risk but it's still to the overall good.
Time for Paris subway riders to start worrying.
How are six fighter jets going to "improve security" in Afghanistan? By providing moving targets for shoulder-fired SAM missiles? I doubt they'll be actually carrying out combat operations or recon missions, as they aren't integrated enough into the American C4I systems.
Q. Why do French soldiers wear steel toed boots?
A. So when they drop their weapons and surrender they won't break their toes.
Q : Why does Nike like the French Army?
A : Because, in war time, they are the biggest buyers of running shoes.
Q : How many gears in a French tank?
A: Six: five reverse and one forward, in case they are attacked from behind.
Q : What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up?
A : The army.
Q : How can you identify a French war veteran?
A : He's the one with sunburned armpits.
Q: Why does Paris plant trees on both sides of the street?
A : So the invading army can walk in the shade on both sides
Q : How do you stop a French tank?
A : Shoot the guy pushing it.
Q :What do you call a French fighter coming to the rescue of American and British soldiers in the desert?
A : A mirage
Q : Why does the new French navy use glass-bottomed boats?
A : To see the old French navy
Q: How many Frenchman does it take to guard Paris?
A: Nobody knows, its never been tried before
Just as in Enduring Freedom 2001 the French combat jets have been dropping bombs on the bad guys heads. They have also been providing first class recon just as in Enduring Freedom 2001.
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