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At Loggerheads Over Afghanistan, the Euro … and So Much More: Les Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace, France

“It’s an astounding projection: according to NATO, it may take three years to bring home from Afghanistan - a country without railway lines - the 122,000 tanks, 70,000-odd vehicles (carrier, armored, artillery …) and 140,000 troops of the International Security Assistance Force. That is, provided the departure of a convoy every seven minutes, weather permitting, every day, along roads that are either hazardous or impossible.”

By Jean-Claude Kiefer

Translated by Kate Townsend

May 19, 2012

France - Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace - Original Article (French)

It’s an astounding projection: according to NATO, it may take three years to bring home from Afghanistan - a country without railway lines - the 122,000 tanks, 70,000-odd vehicles (carrier, armored, artillery …) and 140,000 troops of the International Security Assistance Force. That is, provided the departure of a convoy every seven minutes, weather permitting, every day, along roads that are either hazardous or impossible, and on the condition that Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - not to mention Russia - allow unrestricted passage (which is costly in any case), via rail or cargo aircraft …

It is on this logistical brain-teaser that the planned date of withdrawal depends. With the funds to pursue the venture and billions more to be granted to Afghanistan yet to be secured, this dilemma fuels the debate at the NATO summit, along with another challenge: the early withdrawal of French combat troops by the end of the year, as promised by President Hollande during the campaign. In fact, it will be a subdued withdrawal, because it will leave troops there to maintain and protect equipment before its long journey home, totaling around 1,600 tanks, more than 1,000 armored vehicles, artillery systems and a dozen helicopters.

The problem is also political. In the field, the Americans and ISAF can do without the French. The great fear is to see other states imitate France and weakening just a bit more the “European” part of NATO, which is already spread too thin by American demands, especially when it comes to projects like the much-contested “missile defense shield” …

Posted by Worldmeets.US

Certainly, François Hollande will offer to compensate for the French withdrawal. And it’s a safe bet that our partners know it. So it seems we can exclude the possibility that in diplomatic language, Paris is singing a false note [i.e.: expressing a policy that in fact it is willing to break].

SEE ALSO ON THIS:

The Frontier Post, Pakistan: Pakistan Must Prepare for Afghan Civil War

Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany: ‘Lost Nation’ of Germany is NATO’s Biggest Problem

Die Zeit, Germany: Price of NATO Survival: Diminished Sovereignty

Frontier Post, Pakistan: American ‘Grandees’ Should Pay Pakistan and be Grateful

Gazeta Wyborcza, Polish: President Kwasniewski Admits He Allowed CIA Prisons

The Nation, Pakistan: Pakistanis will React Badly to Reopening NATO Routes

Le Monde, France: Pakistan and America: Preparing for a Timely ‘Divorce’

Frontier Post, Pakistan: Whistleblower Unravels America’s Afghan ‘Hoax’

The Nation, Pakistan: Apologies Won't 'Wash Away' NATO's Crimes in Pakistan
La Jornada, Mexico: Senators and U.S. Drones: What Else are They Hiding?
The Nation, Pakistan: Downing American Drones: Iran Shows Pakistan the Way
The Nation, Pakistan: Time for Pakistan to Down America's 'Bionic Dragons'
The Nation, Pakistan: Cost of Friendship with America is Far Too High
The Nation, Pakistan: For NATO Supply to Resume, U.S. Must Admit to Guilt
The Daily Jang, Pakistan: Is Washington Behind Pakistan's 'Memogate'?
The Frontier Post, Pakistan: U.S. Withdrawal Plans 'Spell Doom' for Pakistan

But this facade of informal understanding doesn’t disguise the dispute between France and Germany. German Foreign Minister Westerwelle has sharply criticized the French decision, and Angela Merkel has called for NATO to line up: “entering together demands leaving together.” These are words that Francois Hollande will likely echo during G8 discussions on Eurobonds for the pooling of debt in the eurozone - an idea that Germany rejects. Paris and Berlin are living in a house divided. We will see what happens Wednesday at the European summit.