French forces to leave Afghanistan in2012

[Stras]

All French combat troops will pull out of Afghanistan by the end of the year, France's new president said in Kabul Friday, but some trainers will remain to help Afghanistan's nascent security forces.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/05...#ixzz1w2XCxuzj

and so it goes....

Auf wieder bye-bye

[PRB]

I'm shocked! Shocked!

[Ret10Echo]

So this is news.....why?

[Geenie]

The US wants out as well, no? At this point it seems everyone wants out.

[scooter]

The difference is that the US

1) Has large numbers of troops in Afghanistan, and they are actually fighting.

2) Plans on leaving a sizable contingent of US SOF for a Long, Long time.

[MtnGoat]

Stras... Who gives a rats ass, not like they were in a location that mattered. Not like they provided a thing to the war effort. Well outside if the WEARHOUSE.. Thx for that base.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Geenie

The US wants out as well, no? At this point it seems everyone wants out.

The US doesn't want out without freedom for the indig.

At some point, leftist educators have succeeded in indoctrinating that desire away from the hearts and minds of many of our Countrymen.

Communism has come a long way since they warned us they'd take over the Nation without firing a shot.

Originally Posted by Dusty

The US doesn't want out without freedom for the indig.

At some point, leftist educators have succeeded in indoctrinating that desire away from the hearts and minds of many of our Countrymen.

Communism has come a long way since they warned us they'd take over the Nation without firing a shot.

I think Donald Rumsfeld explained it best, and this is paraphrased, and from some years ago...we will train them, and leave, and invariably someone will mess up along the way and we will have to come back...

[Geenie]

Originally Posted by Dusty

The US doesn't want out without freedom for the indig.

I won't argue with a QP on freeing the oppressed. I was not aware that freeing the indigenous population was one of our objectives in Afghanistan. Unfortunately I'd been under the impression that that is one of those things that got added to the list later on for PR purposes. Guess I'm just jaded..

In any case, the current administration does not seem to be willing to commit the resources necessary to make sure that Afghanistan becomes a stable state. However, to be fair, I'm not certain all the resources in the world could accomplish that feat.

On a sidenote, I believe 83 French soldiers have been KIA thus far in Afghanistan.

[Team Sergeant]

Yeah but my guess would be that the French soldiers might actually be needed in France when the European Union collapses..........

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Geenie

IIn any case, the current administration does not seem to be willing to commit the resources necessary to make sure that Afghanistan becomes a stable state. However, to be fair, I'm not certain all the resources in the world could accomplish that feat.

Define "stable" in this case.

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

Yeah but my guess would be that the French soldiers might actually be needed in France when the European Union collapses..........

TS,I think your right,they'll be needing them at home just for that purpose .......... It's also an excellent opportunity for the Muslims(30% of their population so far)to make their move if it does go down......... They can't count on their cops if you recall they kept retreating and finally ran away......

Big Teddy

[Airbornelawyer]

Just a few months ago, the (by European standards) conservative French government reiterated its commitment to keep its troops in Afghanistan. Then there was an election, and the Socialist candidate won. Do you suppose elections matter?

The new Socialist government proposes tax increases on the wealthy and increased government spending for a new round of quasi-Keynesian stimulus, rather than any cuts in government which are derided as "austerity" (as if forcing French taxpayers to make more sacrifices so those living off the government can keep going on their merry way is anti-austerity). Yet somehow, defense spending is the one type of government spending left-wing governments don't like, except when the spending is on politically connected defense industries, and then politicians on all sides of the aisle are in favor. In France, this is made worse because the government is a major equity owner of much of French defense industry. So if you are going to cut defense, it's not Dassault and EADS that will take the big hit, but current operations and personnel budgets.

Absent the specifically French touches like the major government ownership stakes in defense contractors, does any of this sound familiar?

[Utah Bob]

Originally Posted by PRB

I'm shocked! Shocked!

Sacre bleu!!

[Utah Bob]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Define "stable" in this case.

A "stable Afghanistan" is pretty much an oxymoron.