Posted on 03/22/2008 1:58:21 AM PDT by Republicain
LONDON (AFP) - President Nicolas Sarkozy will tell British Prime Minister Gordon Brown during a state visit next week that he plans to send an extra 1,000 French soldiers to Afghanistan, the Times reported Saturday.
One anonymous senior minister told the paper that Britain's Ministry of Defence is working on the assumption that Sarkozy will reveal a deployment of "slightly more than 1,000 troops to the eastern region" to fight the Taliban.
Sarkozy wants to underline his commitment to NATO during the visit but a formal announcement may not be made until a NATO summit in Bucharest next month, the paper said.
The United States has strongly and consistently urged other NATO countries to bolster their troop contributions in Afghanistan, charging that some nations are not pulling their weight.
And Paris has already suggested that it might respond by increasing its current 1,600-strong deployment to the NATO-led force.
Sarkozy said in August last year that he wanted to renew the NATO military alliance, prompting some experts to speculate he could end the French boycott of NATO's integrated military command started by president Charles de Gaulle in 1966.
Anonymous French diplomatic sources quoted by the Times said that no final decision had been made and the paper added Sarkozy was still considering whether he wanted the troops to go to the south or the east of Afghanistan.
Sarkozy is visiting Britain for a two-day state visit from Wednesday next week.
On the day of his arrival, he will make a speech to both houses of parliament, a rare honour for a foreign leader.
Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy will be the guests of Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle outside London on Wednesday night at a banquet in his honour.
The president will have talks with Brown at Downing Street on Thursday, ahead of a summit at Arsenal football club's Emirates stadium in north London, while their respective wives are expected to lunch together the same day.
It will be the first full-scale state visit by a French president in 12 years.
I’m glad I’m not the Taliban.
Thanks France.
In other news today, the Pentagon announced it will be sending 1000 female American combat troops to Afghanistan,
one to stand behind each Frenchman to see that they do not run away.
Ah be nice. They’re on our side.
Thank you France. I’m starting to like Sarko. Western democracies have to stand together against the future tide that is coming if we wish to survive with our way of life.A growing communist china military power,a resurgent russia bolstered by petrol wealth,and of coarse islamofacism are the main threats. To coin the American phrase “United we stand divied we fall” is so true about this 21st century.
“one to stand behind each Frenchman to see that they do not run away.”
Ah, it’s always nice to see respect shown to troops who ARE in Afghanistan and have been there since 2001.
Heck, you don’t want the 1,000 soldiers ? Fine by me, the world has enough hot spots to deploy them where they might even get a little more respect and appreciation...
Yeah, I have to say that these comments are really not appreciated anymore. Sarko is moving things in the right direction (even if their troops are going to be positioned in "safe" areas).
LLS
Thank you, Mr. Sarkozy.
I know that this is not a popular move amongst your countrymen.
> We want them... appreciate them and will honor them. They are our brothers in this World War against islamo-facism.
If France sends their French Foreign Legion troops then the Taliban is in really serious trouble. Here’s hoping!
Great news! The VanDoos (22me) will have someone to talk to...
I’m with you!
LLS
Sarkozy to pledge 1,000 more French troops for Afghanistan: report....
b. HUSSEIN/the piaps/piglosi et al stated to the lib/dem msm ~ the US has lost all allies, support & respect of the world.....
Sarkozy* oops
In any event, either case would provide one more nation that is deployed without the caveats that are keeping them in the relatively inactive north.
In any event, don't confuse their politicians with their soldiers.
Don't make the mistake of judging the French soldiers based on their politicians and celebrities.
I certainly don't want to be judged based on Reid, Pelosi or Hollyweird!
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