Gordon Brown as Uncle Sam … [The Times, U.K.]
Le Figaro, France
NATO's
Afghanistan Mission:
'France is
Ready to Do More'
"The Atlantic Alliance will
not withstand a failure of its first mission beyond Europe's borders. … Our
special forces are very popular with the Americans. They are preparing to
reenter service against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and the sending of reinforcements
to more sensitive areas is under consideration."
By Pierre Rousselin
Translated By James Jacobson
February 11, 2008
France
- Le Figaro - Original Article (French)
In Afghanistan,
NATO is in big trouble. On the ground it's very difficult to resist the return of
the Taliban and staff headquarters is at pains to find countries willing to
volunteer combat troops. The Atlantic Alliance will not withstand a failure of
its first mission beyond Europe's borders.
France, which is
participating in the common effort, can contribute to ameliorating the
situation. It has the means and the political will - and in any case, certainly
more than most of its European allies.
Because we intend
to carry more weight in the decisions of the Atlantic Alliance and to revive
European defense, Afghanistan will be an initial test for us.
Americans,
English and Canadians are deployed in the south and east, where the fighting is
most deadly. They have appealed to their European allies, who have taken up
positions in the North of the country where there is less danger, to send
reinforcements in the south. No countries have volunteered.
The situation
speaks volumes about the crisis in NATO. It lacks resources and it lacks
political courage. If every capital can limit the geographical commitments of
its troops because it fears the public reaction, it becomes impossible to
comprehend how this comprises a cohesive military alliance. On the battlefield,
operations must be conducted under extreme conditions, which is why the
systematic use of these restrictions on the use of troops is a mechanism that
NATO authorities must one day reconsider. WORLDMEETS.US
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(Top)
A French Rafeale fighter and (below) French Mirages, now in action in the
skies of Afghanistan.
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In the mean time,
France, which has the mission of securing Kabul, is ready to do more. Since
last September, our Air Force has carried out ground-support missions out of
Kandahar, where the Rafale [fighter jets] will join with the Mirages [also
fighter jets], which are already in action. Our special forces, which were
committed between 2003 and January 2007, are very popular with the Americans.
They are preparing to reenter service against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and the
sending of reinforcements to more sensitive areas is under consideration.
Because we have
committee the lives of our soldiers, the decisions we have to take are very
serious. For these decisions to have a real impact, they need to be made with
maximum coherence, so that they may be understood by the French public as well
as by our allies.
The main message
is that the battle for Afghanistan merits being waged without recoiling. At
stake is our security as Europeans; if this far-away country becomes a
sanctuary for al-Qaeda again, terrorism will not be late in striking us
directly. WORLDMEETS.US
To be truly
useful, the commitment of France should serve as an example and bring about the
engagement of our partners. Europe cannot make its voice heard and defend its
interests in an uncertain world unless it is capable of deploying a few
thousand troops in combat situations.
It is in
Afghanistan that we must awaken this awareness and put European defense and the
Atlantic Alliance back on track.
SEE ALSO:
Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany
Gates' Words
'Discredit'
NATO's Afghan Mission
http://worldmeets.us/frankfurterrundschau000024.shtml
NRC Handelsblad,
The Netherlands
Robert
Gates: A
Very
'Candid' Speaker …
http://worldmeets.us/nrchandelsblad000084.shtml
CLICK HERE FOR FRENCH
VERSION
[WORLDMEETS.US Posted February 13, 10:50pm]
