February 11, 2008
Pave: Subject To Change Redux
Le jour 272 de Sarko
The surprise headline.
FRANCE MULLS INCREASED AFGHAN ROLE
PARIS February 8, 2008 (AFP)
The hem-haw.
FRENCH OFFER HOPE, BUT NO PROMISES
PARIS February 9, 2008 (Globe and Mail) - Canada's demand for a more muscular European military commitment in Afghanistan comes at a time when France, at least, is preoccupied elsewhere.... If French troops were sent to reinforce the Canadians in southern Afghanistan they would be part of a multinational operation directed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Defence Minister Hervé Morin offered hope but no promises at a NATO meeting in Lithuania this week.
... Dominique Orsini, a retired French colonel and executive director of the Center for Research and Education on Strategy and Technology in Virginia:
Conceptually, French political leaders may want to help. But it's a question of balancing the available resources.
The denial.
FRANCE DENIES DECISION TO REINFORCE
DEPLOYMENT IN AFGHANISTAN
PARIS February 11, 2008 (KUNA) - France denied here on Monday any firm decision to reinforce its military deployment in Afghanistan, saying that discussions on this were ongoing with its partners in the NATO alliance. ... French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani:Concerning the sending of eventual reinforcements, no decision has been taken. We deny any information that gives credence to the contrary.
To follow the French commitment to waging war-from-the-rear in Afghanistan, see our earlier posts, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
PFFT (What is this?): Yes, which is to say, Maybe, which is to say, No 2½ | Rayonnement français 0
Posted by Damian at February 11, 2008 06:45 PMWow...you really spend a lot of time disliking France! Kind of curious how much time you spend on this every day. Do you ever think that it's sort of a Cold War compulsion...that is, you have to have an enemy? Easier than examining onse's own country? Just a thought. I like your writing, though...nice, and your wit is dry. Vive la compagnie! -Meg
Ah, Meg Pauly,
When we write on America we are parochial. (You can search this site under the rubric "NYC Letter" for examples.) When we write about France we are continuing the Cold War. There seems to be nothing we can write about without stigma. Surely you do not scold Charles Bremner, The Times Paris correspondent, for writing only on his assigned beat and not his country of origin?
For the record, we do not dislike France. We write many nice things about Frenchies and France (here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, to link but a few). We do, however, dislike many French ideas and practices such as speech laws, self-dealing as moral posturing, and stylish anti-Americanism, to name but three peeves.
So we mock that which we don’t like about France, her franchouilles and her pocket intellectuals. When we write about America – which we will again soon, this being an election year – we will also mock that which we don’t fancy. We are fair-minded about mock.
Thank you for dropping by.
Regards,
DGB
