Posted on 10/16/2009 7:02:34 AM PDT by xzins
UPI) -- President Nicolas Sarkozy of France says he wants to see victory in Afghanistan but has no plans to send more French troops to that country.
Speaking to the Le Figaro newspaper, the French leader said he believes there should be a build-up of more Afghan troops, CNN reported.
As for staying on in Afghanistan, Sarkozy told the newspaper: "I answer yes -- and stay to win.
"But France will not send one more soldier," he added. "My belief is that more Afghan soldiers are needed. It is them who will be the most efficient to win this war because it is their country."
About 3,070 French troops, part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, are in Afghanistan.
Britain announced plans this week to send an additional 500 soldiers, raising its Afghan troop strength to 9,500. The United States, which will have 68,000 troops in the country by year's end, is considering another troop surge there.
France, running from a fight? Say it isn’t so!
Yet another FAIL for “smart diplomacy.”
What do you expect them to do. Obama can’t be trusted. Expect to see more of this.
This guy doesn't like Obomba and paid close attention to how our one-time Eastern European allies were treated by the scum who would be president!
Now why aren’t I more worried about this?
A minimalist approach:
minimal help
minimal hope
minimal friend
Would you send troops? I wouldn’t. Not with Obama wanting to make “peace” with the Taliban.
back in the burkha again for Afghanistan?
“Would you send troops? I wouldn’t. Not with Obama wanting to make “peace” with the Taliban.”
Here’s what I don’t understand; everyone’s reaction to France is “I wouldn’t send troops either” yet we aren’t calling for immediate withdrawal of our own guys. WTF?
“The French leadership has exhibited far more ‘testicular fortitude’ as of late....”
...I’ve noticed that myself...maybe the French are coming out of their long leftist slumber...I used to like them and want to again...I miss Maggie Thatcher’s spirit of toughness in Britan too.
He's just following Obama’s lead really...
Afghanistan is a NATO operation. France is not part of NATO. They have troops there as a courtesy and as such I have a lot more tolerance for their decisions.
But if Obama was to make a strong stand and make it clear that the Taliban would be defeated once and for all and the Afghani people would have the support needed to build a democratic society, I have no doubt that Sarkozy would take a chance on Freedom and continue to support the cause.
As it is, he is doing what he thinks is best for France.
Our troops cannot be expected to fight with their hands tied behind their backs. Some of the new RoE’s would have them on suicide missions. I’d rather withdraw them than have them ordered not to return fire when attacked.
Obama though, he’s likely to have the Taliban become a “political” force and then withdraw. Leaving it worse than it was before we sent troops.
Oh man what are we going to do? All the “sissy Frenchmen” jokes will be worthless.
I think the sensible French are getting sick and tired of runaway cradle-to-grave welfare entitlement syndrome.
Wrong. As is the rest of your analysis
This is news?
This probably marks the end of coalitions with the west.... as obama veers and takes us into marxism and its allies. Maybe Chavez will be the leader of the next coalition?
France Rejoined NATO as a full member in April this year and had rejoined the Military committee in 1995 after withdrawing in 1966.
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