Their Army’s have always been very professional. It is there political support that's shaky. France's Politicians surrender not the French Imperial guard or French Foreign Legion not their style.
Posted on 10/08/2001 5:51:16 AM PDT by l33t
PARIS, Oct 8 (AFP) -
France's commitment to the US-led attacks on Afghanistan prompted grumbling Monday within the ruling left-wing majority, with Green and Communist deputies urging the government to keep its distance from Washington.
The most vehement criticism came from Noel Mamere, a Green deputy and a likely candidate for next April's presidential elections, who said the strikes amounted to an "act of war" against the Afghan people.
"The military response launched by the Americans is an act of war against the Afghan people, a people who risk paying a high price for international terrorism," Mamere said.
"This riposte runs the risk of being disproportionate," he added. "George W. Bush is well and truly his father's son." Bush's father, former president George Bush ordered US-led attacks against Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War.
The Communist Party, another junior partner in the Socialist-led coalition, also urged caution on the government.
"France must not appear to be a simple appendix of the United States which makes decisions for the entire world," Communist deputy Jean-Pierre Brard said. He called for an emergency debate in the National Assembly on France's role in the conflict.
Meanwhile Socialist Party spokesman Vincent Peillon said parliament would be consulted in the coming days on French participation to the US-led strikes, thoguh he said it had not been decided whether to put a motion to the vote.
"We consider these strikes to be legitimate and we back them. It would be a grave error to consider that these strikes are aimed at the Afghan people," he said, referring to Mamere's comments which he described as "curious and confused".
Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine and Defense Minister Alain Richard were due to appear Tuesday before the assembly's defense and foreign affairs committees to outline France's involvement in the military operation.
The interior ministry announced Monday that French intelligence agents were already on the ground in Afghanistan working with the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.
"The US knows that we can join in the action with dozens of planes or boats and thousands of men, to participate in operations on terrorist targets in Afghanistan. It's a matter of days," Richard told Le Monde newspaper.
The strikes that began Sunday are in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States that killed nearly 5,500 people. Bin Laden has been accused of organizing the attacks.
President Jacques Chirac gave his full-hearted support for the US attack in a nationally televised address Sunday and said French forces would take part.
Followed by American pilots accidentally killed a lot of allies in Desert Storm.
The British were not hit by French Planes but by American.
It was friendly fire in the fog of war unless you have other ideas.
No they wouldn't....they would shake their fingers and say that the next time it happened, whoever did it would be in real trouble.
Close, but another part of the anatomy would be better example.
They're taking longer than usual. LOL.
The Green and Communist deputies, huh; So what else in new.
Just heard all of the terrorists toward France where the lefties will welcome them with open arms.
I would be curious what boycotting their products would produce. My husband and I visited Paris in 1986 when France allowed us to use their air space to bomb Libya and most U.S. tourists were avoiding France for fear of retaliation. There were zillions of Japanese visiting so I doubt if they missed us at all. As for boycotting their exports, I don't know that many people who are grabbing Chanel suits, Hermes scarves, LV satchels, and French wine to begin with.
And you believe the reasons for their loss would be what?
? What planet did you say you are from?
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