Pave: Afghan Window Dressing IX

Le jour 164 de Sarko

It is up to the other big countries to act [in Afghanistan]. ... France has the capablities. It is not enough for them just to sit around near the airport.

Senior British defense official
September 20, 2006 (Mirror)

There was a given moment for helping Mr. Karzai.

Sarko,
then France's weasel-in-waiting,
outlining France's policy of
60-second deployment in Afghanistan
PARIS April 26, 2007 (Reuters)

Is it time to leave Afghanistan? No.

Hamid Karzai,
president of Afghanistan,
making it simple for weasels
October 25, 2007 (op. cit.)

DO NOT LEAVE AFGHANISTAN,
KARZAI URGES NATO AS HE VISITS BROWN
LONDON October 25, 2007 (Guardian)

BROWN CALLS ON U.K. ALLIES TO DO MORE IN AFGHANISTAN

October 25 (Bloomberg) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on Britain's partners in NATO to bolster the war effort against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, adding pressure on France and Germany to do more fighting.

... The appeal highlights tensions within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization over the mission in Afghanistan, where British, Canadian, American and Dutch troops have sustained the bulk of the casualties while taking on the Taliban. ...

Away From Danger

With German forces contained to the calmer north of the country and French troops stationed in Kabul, the U.S., Britain, France, Canada and the Netherlands have sustained the most casualties while battling in southern Afghanistan. U.S. soldiers have sustained the heaviest losses, with 440 deaths since 2001.

Canada's loss of 70 soldiers out of a force of 3,000 ranks it as the highest casualty rate per head and puts the country on par with Britain, which has lost the same number of troops with a contingent more than double that size [7,700]. The Netherlands, having lost 10 soldiers of 1,700, is considering cutting its presence.

France contributes 1,000 soldiers, including special forces to the mission, though the force is mainly confined to the Afghan capital of Kabul. ... France yesterday promised to send 50 trainers to work alongside Dutch forces, putting French troops in southern Afghanistan for the first time.

Yes. It's a bit much to think France capable of matching the contribution of a military powerhouse like the Netherlands.

And even were France to scrape together a modest brigade, Pave regulars know that France does not field combat soldiers. She deploys peacekeepers. [Short pause.] Do not mistake us. When these peaceable Frenchies are armed, no throng of unarmed civilians is their match.

WHERE ARE OUR ALLIES IN AFGHANISTAN?

October 25, 2007 (Telegraph) - The main reason for this lack of progress [in reconstruction of the Afghan state] is the continuing failure of many Nato states to provide sufficient numbers of combat troops.

As Robert Gates, the American Defence Secretary, remarked recently, the alliance has more than two million soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen at its disposal, but only a fraction of that number is available to participate in the most important mission in Nato's history because of the national caveats that the governments of many member states have imposed on their forces deploying to areas where they might be in danger of suffering casualties.

Why beg the French to do what they neither do well nor do with much heart (and this)? Best leave them to novelty catering or doing up fancy dress burkas.

PFFT (What is this?): More bother than they are worth 3½ | Rayonnement français 0