Nicolas Sarkozy’s ‘Neither-Nor’ on Afghanistan: Le Monde, France
Dec 5th, 2009 | 5 responses
According to diplomatic correspondent Natalie Nougayrede of France’s Le Monde newspaper, President Barack Obama isn’t the only NATO leader going through contortions over Afghanistan.
And in the case of President Nicolas Sarkozy of France there is a paradox: “after exhibiting the most spectacular gestures toward the United States at the end of the Bush era, he seemed to lose enthusiasm after the arrival of Mr. Obama.”
For Le Monde, Natalie Nougayrede goes on to write in part:
“Neither a retreat nor a reinforcement of French troops. Without fanfare for the past month, such has been the position assumed by Nicolas Sarkozy, despite American requests from their close ally.
“Afghanistan has ultimately placed the first president of the Fifth Republic never to have had a personal experience of war – Mr. Sarkozy – in a difficult position. Whereas Mr. Obama revealed his strategy of troop reinforcement at West Point on December 1, France, by its refusal to commit more troops to battle, appears a reticent and dubious ally. Is the ‘neither-nor’ of the French tenable while Paris officially applauds the American ‘surge’?
“In 2008, the increase of the French contingent was appreciated by Mr. Bush, who could then move a thousand American soldiers to the south to reinforce the Canadians who were threatening to leave. Against the backdrop of Franco-American ‘reconciliation,’ it was thought that Paris had preserved the unity of the coalition, according to the principal, “we entered together and we’ll leave together.” Mr. Sarkozy is now looking for the right moment to get out. At a far lower expense.”
By Natalie Nougayrède
Translated By Lisa Cabral
December 3, 20009
France – Le Monde – Original Article (French)
Neither a retreat nor a reinforcement of French troops. Without fanfare for the past month, such has been the position assumed by Nicolas Sarkozy, despite American requests from their close ally. In May aboard the presidential aircraft en route to the emirate of Abu Dhabi where he would inaugurate a military base to face down Iran, Mr. Sarkozy decided the debate, having been counseled about a restrained defense. At the time we reported that according to a source in the Élysée Palace [French White House], there could be a few adjustments but the effort on the ground would remain “in effect, constant during 2009.”
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5 Responses to “Nicolas Sarkozy’s ‘Neither-Nor’ on Afghanistan: Le Monde, France”
–[--such has been the position assumed by Nicolas Sarkozy, despite American requests from their close ally]–
Its the second person that is offensive. “requests from THEIR close ally….not “OUR” close ally. After all the American blood on French soil in defense of France.
However we were late in coming for WWI, arriving several years after the war started, participating only a few months in total, and, after the Germans were well worn down.
The Nazis stormed France before we could react in WWII, but we didn’t even declare war on the Nazis until two years later and then only after we had been attacked by Japan.
Hmmm, maybe the French have reason not to be such a close ally after all. Contrary to what our boob-tubes have been telling us for decades now.
Not only that but we have to remember that Prescott Bush was trading with the nazis during our engagement with them. Ostensibly he threatened or bribed his way out of prosecution back then for treason…a longstanding tradition with that family..
Which brings me back to a point I made before. The rest of “our” allies in the world aren't necessarily warm and fuzzy towards us. We are, or rather we were before Precott's son and grandson collaborated to trash our world standing by naziesque atrocities, a strong nation who was good to stay on terms with for trade value.
As long as we stand by the Bush credo, look for less and less support worldwide. I said it before. For the nominal expense of trying Bush and Cheney in world court for war crimes, we would gain so very very much back in the sense of actual allegiance vs professed allegiance in just enough measure to keep trade lines open with us.
That's what's going on with France. I like the french. They're really good at using the nuance of slapping you in the face with a silk glove sleeved around a lead pipe. I get the message. I wonder if our leaders do?..lol..
For what it's worth, you can count me in on supporting some investigation and cleanup. Corruption tends to grow to the point where people get disgusted and riot, if it's not handled early. It's been festering too long already.
As compared, I would consider prosecution of Dubya if the French would prosecute for war crimes committed in Algeria and for using Algeria as a nuclear weapons testing ground.
hmmm interesting point. However, France is not the only country looking for justice in the criminals we are harboring. That is our area of primary concern. We cannot and will not recover economically and strategically until we right the wrongs in a very visible way. There has been just too much damage and the crimes so very blatant. Cheney's cheeky and visible promotion of them have a slap-you-in-the-face-and-piss-on-you flavor that we cannot expect the world to go about its business without restitution at least in the form of an equal and opposite slap-you-in-the-face-and-piss-on-you.
Cheney and Bush. They brought it on themselves. I say, bring it on.