France to withdraw 200 special forces from Afghanistan

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-12-17-afghanistan-france_x.htm

PARIS (AP) — France is to withdraw 200 members of its special forces from eastern Afghanistan within weeks, Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said Sunday.

"There is a general reorganization of our (troops)," she said during a visit to Afghanistan. The minister's remarks were aired on France-Info radio.

Among planned changes is a "withdrawal of special forces from Jalalabad in the coming weeks," she said. snip

The newspaper suggested the worsening security situation in Afghanistan was a possible reason for the decision to pull the special troops out. Nine elite troops have been killed in combat.

[MOB]

1. France is in a difficult spot

France has a very large and very pissed off Algerian Muslim population. The scars from the labor-related protests from 2005 haven't scarred. I think that's heavily influenced French foreign policy before and after the invasion.

True, though, that France has all but disappeared from the global stage at the level of the superpowers. French24 should solve all that (sarcasm)

[NNN0LHI]

2. Maybe they just realize they look like fools trying to smoke Osama out of his cave?

That is a possibility.

Don

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. What, no jabs at the French's personal hygiene? I'm disappointed. -nt

[Sparkly]

3. AFP article on this

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061217/wl_sthasia_afp/afghanistanunrestfrancewithdraw

Contrary to the rightwing meme that France is weak somehow (because they were smart enough to oppose BushCo's invasion of Iraq), they've been in the lead in Afghanistan. With the US bogged down in Iraq, this is another boon for the Taliban.

The proposed French withdrawal comes when ISAF commanders facing unexpectedly strong Taliban resistance have been demanding more troops for the south of Afghanistan where the militants are most active.

The minister also announced that French instructors will be involved in the training of the Afghan army's special forces, "because we believe it is important that the Afghan army is able to enter battles with their own forces."

Anybody think that's going to work?

[Mass]

5. They still will have 2000 troops in Afghanistan, and is half of ISAF force in Kabul.

[MOB]

6. No one is even talking

about the famine in Afghanistan, partially caused by increased heroine production to "stablize" Afghanistan

[treestar]

7. Those cowards

:sarcasm: