As we have seen over recent days, the pressure on French President Nicolas Sarkozy to come out in favor the Obama surge is rapidly increasing – particularly after his proclamation to the French people that he “wouldn’t send another man to Kabul.”
Offering a glimpse of the French political terrain, Olivier Picard writes for France’s Les Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace in part:
“One way or another, France will have to choose between two positions: the one it gave to America or the one that it gave to the French. … Nicolas Sarkozy knows he can’t risk directly-provoking public opinion on such a major issue. A strong majority of French are clearly opposed to sending new troops to Afghanistan. So, 1,500 men … that would be enormous. It would be unacceptable for a country traumatized by losses, albeit limited, that it judges to have been in vain. Carried away by his temperament and emotion, the President took an enormous risk the day he promised that France wouldn’t send another man to Kabul. It was a politically-popular declaration hurled at the problem of a spontaneous revolt. A time bomb. … In the context of war, one pays dearly for such imprudence.”
By Olivier Picard
Translated By Juliet Fox
December 4, 3009
France – Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace – Home Page (French)
One way or another, France will have to choose between two positions: the one it gave to America or the one that it gave to the French. Even if the diplomatic code allows Nicolas Sarkozy to find an honorable way out that keeps up appearances, the president of the republic is in a tight spot. Here he is, back against the wall, forced to make a decision and headed for a wrenching choice like those that came before him, Jacques Chirac and Dominique de Villepin, when they were confronted with the Iraqi dilemma.
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