Abu Muqawama: Post
Abu Muqawama retains its autonomy and the views and beliefs expressed within the blog do not reflect those of CNAS. Abu Muqawama retains the right to delete comments that include words that incite violence; are predatory, hateful, or intended to intimidate or harass; or degrade people on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. In summary, don't be a jerk.
Can NATO Fight This Kind of War?
August 21, 2008 | Posted by Kip - 7:30am | 16 Comments
Kip admires the French soldiers in Afghanistan. He worked on the ground with them at times and saw that they could be capable when allowed to do their job. And Kip mourned as he read about the deaths of 10 French soldiers killed in an ambush in Sarobi, just outside of Kabul.
Moreover, the decision of President Sarkozy to send more troops to Afghanistan despite domestic unease is admirable and a demonstration of his commitment toward rapprochement between France and the United States, not to mention his personal commitment to Afghanistan.
Alas, Kip is also certain that the French President's trip to Afghanistan in the wake of the deaths sends an entirely different message about French resolve than the speech he made in Kabul.
The French have lost a handful of deaths over the course of the fighting in Afghanistan. These deaths were a tragedy as all loss of life is a tragedy. But when the deaths of a handful of soldiers (and undoubtedly ten soldiers is a handful in the overall war) require the French President and his top ministers to travel to Afghanistan to reiterate the resolve of France, it not only seems to the Afghans and the Taliban that France and most other NATO Allies are teetering but also must make NATO warnings toward Russia (surely direct support to the Georgians would result in far more than 10 deaths) ring hollow.
Moreover, the decision of President Sarkozy to send more troops to Afghanistan despite domestic unease is admirable and a demonstration of his commitment toward rapprochement between France and the United States, not to mention his personal commitment to Afghanistan.
Alas, Kip is also certain that the French President's trip to Afghanistan in the wake of the deaths sends an entirely different message about French resolve than the speech he made in Kabul.
The French have lost a handful of deaths over the course of the fighting in Afghanistan. These deaths were a tragedy as all loss of life is a tragedy. But when the deaths of a handful of soldiers (and undoubtedly ten soldiers is a handful in the overall war) require the French President and his top ministers to travel to Afghanistan to reiterate the resolve of France, it not only seems to the Afghans and the Taliban that France and most other NATO Allies are teetering but also must make NATO warnings toward Russia (surely direct support to the Georgians would result in far more than 10 deaths) ring hollow.
Add your comment