Posted on 02/08/2008 9:03:57 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
February 9, 2008
Nicolas Sarkozy offers French troops to join Canadians in fighting the Taleban in Kandahar
Michael Evans, Defence Editor
President Sarkozy rode to the rescue of beleaguered Nato forces in southern Afghanistan yesterday when he offered to deploy French troops alongside Canadians in Kandahar.
The French leader has been the most forthcoming of Nato leaders in answering the urgent call to help the troops fighting Taleban insurgents.
After Canada’s repeated warnings that it would pull its 2,500 troops out of Kandahar if no other alliance member came to support them, France has been the only country to hint at sending reinforcements.
French and Canadian officials are discussing the logistics of operating a combined force. A delegation was sent to Paris from Ottawa yesterday.
The move by the French was being seen as further evidence of President Sarkozy’s willingness to draw closer to the alliance, with the possibility of France rejoining Nato’s integrated military stucture, from which President de Gaulle withdrew in 1967.
Canada wants 1,000 extra soldiers to fight in Kandahar, but the indications so far are that Paris has a smaller-sized force in mind. A French diplomatic source said that decisions would not be made public until the Nato summit in Bucharest in April.
If France meets only a proportion of the required 1,000 extra troops, another Nato country will have to make an offer to ensure that Canada keeps its 2,500 soldiers in Kandahar. Canada has asked Poland to deploy troops but at the Nato defence ministers’ informal meeting in Vilnius yesterday, Bogdan Klich, the Polish minister, said there were no plans to send its 1,200 soldiers, based in eastern Afghanistan, to the south because of the increased risks. “This province doesn’t meet our baseline criteria, which hinge on reducing the risks to our contingent,” he told a Polish newspaper. However, Poland confirmed it would raise its troop numbers in Afghanistan to 1,600 later this year. Norway said it planned to send another 200 troops to add to its present 500.
British diplomatic sources said there were no obvious candidates yet for the appointment of UN special envoy to Afghanistan, after President Karzai’s rejection of Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon.
He was born in Paris if I am not mistaken. His father was Hungarian. Perhaps his mother was French.
I thought some Foreign Legion troops were already in
Afghanistan. If not, send ‘em..
http://www.legion-recrute.com/en/
I wouldn't go too far on Sarkozy's credentials....
John Kerry's marching orders cancelled by a French president.
This should make him very popular with the Muslim population in France.
The “youts” will probably riot and burn cars tomorrow.
This IS France we’re talking about, oui?
LOL. Yeah. Hard to believe!
Vive la France ping! It would seem that Sarko understands to whom the French owe their freedom.
“They finally elect a conservative and we nominate.......”
Yes, painfully ironic, isn’t it? America may end up standing by with a diaper load of crap while Israel and France save the free world.
I meant to say French Catholic with Greek Jewish roots.
Legionnairès code of honour
Article 1
Legionnaire,
you are a volunteer,
serving France with
honour and fidelity .
Article 2
Each legionnaire is your brother in arms whatever his nationality, his race or his religion might be. You show to him the same close solidarity that links the members the same family.
Article 3
You respect your traditions and your superiors. Discipline and friendship are your strengths. Courage and honesty are your virtues.
Article 4
You are proud of being a legionnaire. You are always well mannered and smart. Your behaviour is of the best. You are always modest and your quarters are always clean and tidy.
Article 5
You are an elite soldier
who is rigorous with himself.
You consider your weapon as your most precious possession.
You constantly maintain your physical fitness.
Article 6
Your mission is sacred. It is carried out until the end, in respect of the law, the customs of war International Conventions, if needs be, at the risk of your own life.
Article 7
In combat you act without passion or hatred. You respect vanquished enemies. You never surrender
your dead,
your wounded,
or your weapons.
Shows you the difference that one man can make.
According to the website, the Legion is deployed in Afghanistan. Given their experience in the Arab world they probably have a lot of know-how to contribute in terms of dealing with the locals.
Maybe he should start by sending troops to Paris. You know, for practice.
If they send, say, merely the 1er RPIMa para, then fear might work - tho this unit is also one tough bunch of paras......
In either case, the dead muzzies will be stacked like cordwood - as is always the case when local talent runs up against well trained military professionals who know what they are about.
“Shows you the difference that one man can make.”
Paris in flames probably had much more to do with it...
I also think the potential for embarassment may have been a factor. Turning your back on a small county that kicked the @$$es of an army ten times its size in order to liberate you has got to hurt...
Looks as if the French have finaly elected a good man.
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