France to commit 80 more troops to NATO forces in Afghanistan, far below expectations

myp · Feb 5, 2010

France announced today that it would contribute 80 troops to NATO forces in Afghanistan. The news came as a disappoint to some countries, namely the US, which expected around 1000. France was expected to contribute more in light of troop removals from Kosovo, but French President Nicholas Sarkozy is facing political pressure due to growing French casualties.

Full story here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100....html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond

Thoughts?

deanhills · Feb 5, 2010

myp said:
France announced today that it would contribute 80 troops to NATO forces in Afghanistan. The news came as a disappoint to some countries, namely the US, which expected around 1000. France was expected to contribute more in light of troop removals from Kosovo, but French President Nicholas Sarkozy is facing political pressure due to growing French casualties.

Full story here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100....html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond

Thoughts?

I'm confused. I thought they already had troops in Afghanistan, so does this then mean 80 additional troops?

myp · Feb 5, 2010

deanhills said:
I'm confused. I thought they already had troops in Afghanistan, so does this then mean 80 additional troops?

Yes, this was for additional troops committed to the NATO forces, which are under the control of U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

deanhills · Feb 5, 2010

myp said:
Yes, this was for additional troops committed to the NATO forces, which are under the control of U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

This is probably going to sound a little glib, but for me it is probably a bonus to have less than more French troops. Towards the end of 2008 when they had to take over a post that had been vacated by the Italians, they assumed that it was a harmless post, because the Italians did not have much along the lines of engagement in the area. What had happened, without the French knowledge is that the Italians had paid some of the Taliban lords to be at peace. So when they left, they forgot to tell the French, and the French did not do any of their homework properly. I believe the Americans warned the French, they did not listen, and quite a number of French soldiers died as a consequence. Think the war effort in Afghanistan would be better off without the French and the Italians. Given this major bloomer. Source

David · Feb 5, 2010

deanhills said:
This is probably going to sound a little glib, but for me it is probably a bonus to have less than more French troops. Towards the end of 2008 when they had to take over a post that had been vacated by the Italians, they assumed that it was a harmless post, because the Italians did not have much along the lines of engagement in the area. What had happened, without the French knowledge is that the Italians had paid some of the Taliban lords to be at peace. So when they left, they forgot to tell the French, and the French did not do any of their homework properly. I believe the Americans warned the French, they did not listen, and quite a number of French soldiers died as a consequence. Think the war effort in Afghanistan would be better off without the French and the Italians. Given this major bloomer. Source

What do you expect from the French?

GOP · Feb 5, 2010

David said:
What do you expect from the French?

My thoughts exactly! I don't really see the use of them in NATO at all.

deanhills · Feb 5, 2010

David said:
What do you expect from the French?

Their best contribution would be no contribution. Alll they do is to distract other people who are better prepared especially as far as safety and security is concerned. Ditto Italians.

GOP · Feb 5, 2010

deanhills said:
Their best contribution would be no contribution. Alll they do is to distract other people who are better prepared especially as far as safety and security is concerned. Ditto Italians.

I am actually rather found of the Italians. Silvio Berlusconi for some reason fascinates me. But I think Italians just wants to live their own lives on their boot!

But the French on the other hand, I view them as arrogant to both the United States and Britain.

David · Feb 5, 2010

GOP said:
I am actually rather found of the Italians. Silvio Berlusconi for some reason fascinates me. But I think Italians just wants to live their own lives on their boot!

But the French on the other hand, I view them as arrogant to both the United States and Britain.

We should of let the Germans keep them after the war.

GOP · Feb 5, 2010

Haha, well I am sure Europe wouldn't really have been the same without an independent France either.

David · Feb 5, 2010

GOP said:
Haha, well I am sure Europe wouldn't really have been the same without an independent France either.

And that'd be a bad thing how? They were the same country way back when anyway.

GOP · Feb 5, 2010

I'm a traditionalist so even though I don't especially like France, I see their existence as okay. I mean who else in Europe would only pronounce half of their words. Bordeaux as an example.

David · Feb 5, 2010

GOP said:
I'm a traditionalist so even though I don't especially like France, I see it their existence as okay. I mean who else in Europe would only pronounce half of their words. Bordeaux as an example.

Stupid vikings...

Had they not trashed the Holy Roman Empire, it would never have split in 2 and France wouldn't exist.

GOP · Feb 5, 2010

David said:
Stupid vikings... Had they not trashed the Holy Roman Empire, it would never have split in 2 and France wouldn't exist.

Is there a reason for this hatred?

Dirk · Feb 5, 2010

David said:
We should of let the Germans keep them after the war.

No thanks.

David · Feb 5, 2010

Dirk said:
No thanks.

But you could have turned them into good Germans!

DodgeFB · Feb 6, 2010

deanhills said:
Their best contribution would be no contribution. Alll they do is to distract other people who are better prepared especially as far as safety and security is concerned. Ditto Italians.

Better not talk bad about France. Some people take it very personal. Even if they are not French.

David · Feb 6, 2010

DodgeFB said:
Better not talk bad about France. Some people take it very personal. Even if they are not French.

The French are scum. I have no problem saying it.

DodgeFB · Feb 6, 2010

David said:
The French are scum. I have no problem saying it.

I had a member here hound me for days because I said I did not like France. Just wanted a heartbeat by heartbeat thought process as to why? :unsure:

Very tiresome.

Dirk · Feb 6, 2010

DodgeFB said:
Better not talk bad about France. Some people take it very personal. Even if they are not French.

They're still Europeans.

I very much enjoyed my time in France. The land is beautiful, the people were lovely and the food was delicious. The coffee's quite something, too, if you take it traditionally.

David said:
The French are scum. I have no problem saying it.

...Why?