"Enough Death" France Leaves Afghanistan

[zenwalk]

The coalition of the "willing" ends in a whimper.

France took a major step toward winding down its activities in the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan Dec. 8 with a ceremony for 153 returning combat soldiers — part of President François Hollande’s pledge to bring the nation’s fighting troops home by the end of 2013. Though the arrival of a final contingent of combat soldiers in France in the next few days will fully close that chapter, Saturday’s moving commemoration by French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian thanking the nation’s military for the Afghan effort was designed to emphasize that France’s combat role has already drawn to an end.

http://world.time.com/2012/12/08/cer...ors_picks=true

[demopublican]

Bush and Powell's wars have been a huge drain on the world's economy and have cost far too many lives.

[Omaha Beach]

Bush and Powell's wars have been a huge drain on the world's economy and have cost far too many lives.

Ah Bush has not been President for four years. Obama has not only continued the US presence there but drastically increased troop numbers. How long does he, have to be President before Afghanistan becomes, his war?

[demopublican]

Ah Bush has not been President for four years. Obama has not only continued the US presence there but drastically increased troop numbers. How long does he, have to be President before Afghanistan becomes, his war?

Until he starts the war.

[ms maggie]

Ah Bush has not been President for four years. Obama has not only continued the US presence there but drastically increased troop numbers. How long does he, have to be President before Afghanistan becomes, his war?

It's far more difficult to end a war than to start one. That said, he has has enough time to end it and it does belong to him now.

[AttackPlanR]

Now if we could just follow the French's lead.

Taliban government gone? Check
Osamma bin Laden gone? Check.

Though I suppose we'll be out of there just like were out of Germany, Japan, Korea and Iraq.

[Omaha Beach]

Now if we could just follow the French's lead.

Taliban government gone? Check
Osamma bin Laden gone? Check.

Though I suppose we'll be out of there just like were out of Germany, Japan, Korea and Iraq.

Somehow I dont think the people of West Germany were upset that the American and, British hung around after the, war to keep the Red Army out of West Germany. Ditto the South Koreans, with a million man north korean army just over the horizon.

[AttackPlanR]

By all indications the Afghans want us out. So, what's keeping us there?

The same thing keeping us in Germay and Japan, that's what.

[slapshot]

By all indications the Afghans want us out. So, what's keeping us there?

The same thing keeping us in Germay and Japan, that's what.

I'm not sure how one accurately gauges the public's true sentiment, when to voice public support for the US, means almost certain death.

But the same argument that was used in every war since WWIi, is used here -If we withdraw too soon, then all these US lives will have been in vein. Once we leave, a military vacuum will exist, and guess who will take control....again?

I, for one, would never comit US troops to the ME....ever again. It's a cesspool of centuries old hatred, and we should stay out of it. Anybody watch Showtime's Homelad? Excellent show. There was a recent scene between a terrorist and a CIA agent...the terrorist said to the CIA agent - "We (meaning Muslims in that part of the world) were prepared to "sacrifice our still unborn" to ridding the ME of Western influences.....can we say the same? Does the West have that level of commitment?"Get the F out, and stay out. Let them have their desert.

[BlandFood]

Bush and Powell's wars have been a huge drain on the world's economy and have cost far too many lives.

MORE have been lost under Bobo then Bush..... it's all the anti American pos war now. One reason Id like it to be law that in order to be POTUS he must have served in the military. We have to go back to Bobo's idiot grandfather that named Stanley before we see someone on his side that served. There is no patriotism or loyalty IMHO.

[BlandFood]

By all indications the Afghans want us out. So, what's keeping us there?

The same thing keeping us in Germay and Japan, that's what.

Quality nookie in Afghanistan?

[Omaha Beach]

By all indications the Afghans want us out. So, what's keeping us there?

The same thing keeping us in Germay and Japan, that's what.

If the Germans, and Japanese really wanted us out all they have to do is say so like the French did. US servicemen stationed there bring in a whole lot of money to their economies.

[Joy in Mudville]

MORE have been lost under Bobo then Bush..... it's all the anti American pos war now. One reason Id like it to be law that in order to be POTUS he must have served in the military. We have to go back to Bobo's idiot grandfather that named Stanley before we see someone on his side that served. There is no patriotism or loyalty IMHO.

US deaths in Iraq

Bush =4,222
Obama = 264

US deaths in Afghanistan
Bush= 630
Obama = 1,535

By the way, Hitler served in the infantry.

[flyboy56]

153 soldiers? France never really arrived in Afghanistan. And the courts probably gave those 153 a choice. Prison or Afghanistan.

[flyboy56]

By all indications the Afghans want us out. So, what's keeping us there?

The same thing keeping us in Germay and Japan, that's what.

According to Ambassador Kael Weston, a guy who preferred to bunk with the low grade enlisted rather than with the Generals, understood the need for a smaller foot print in Afghanistan. He disagreed with Patraeus' decision for a troop surge, and Obama's decision to pull out completely. He believes no more than 10,000 troops would be the best solution. When asked just how long will the coalition stay in Afghanistan? Kael wrote in a cable. "The size of our ongoing troops commitment seemed to matter less in their minds than US led coalition stamina, the extent to which our side of the partnership will endure."

It seems we didn't learn the first time in the 1980's after we supported the rebels against Russia. When we leave again in 2014, we will again leave another vacuum.

[bmore_ken]

It's far more difficult to end a war than to start one. That said, he has has enough time to end it and it does belong to him now.

Not it isn't. Google Desert Storm and see how a real president ends a war when the mission is accomplished

[flyboy56]

Not it isn't. Google Desert Storm and see how a real president ends a war when the mission is accomplished

But if we had destroyed Iraq's army during the first gulf war, when they were open and exposed while heading back to Baghdad we would not have had a Desert Storm sequel. Unfortunately Bush Sr. ended it to quickly. Knowing when to end a war is the difficult part.

[Byng]

153 soldiers? France never really arrived in Afghanistan. And the courts probably gave those 153 a choice. Prison or Afghanistan.

France have been in Afghanistan for a decade or more with around 4000 troops. All they are actually pulling out before Christmas is their front-line fighting troops because in the two areas they were controlling they have handed over to the Afghan troops they had responsibility for training. Around 1500 will remain in 2013 to dismantle French equipment and move French equipment out of the country plus I think about 500 French military will remain for duties at Kabul airport.

France, a country I don't have the highest regard for, because of their jumping in and out of NATO at will and at times getting their own protection for free do have exceptional fighting forces and have done an outstanding job in Afghanistan under very difficult circumstances. And their military are hardly deserving of some of the derision and flack they are receiving in some European media for the decision to pull out before 2014. These are political decisions by France and not military decisions.

[flyboy56]

France have been in Afghanistan for a decade or more with around 4000 troops. All they are actually pulling out before Christmas is their front-line fighting troops because in the two areas they were controlling they have handed over to the Afghan troops they had responsibility for training. Around 1500 will remain in 2013 to dismantle French equipment and move French equipment out of the country plus I think about 500 French military will remain for duties at Kabul airport.

France, a country I don't have the highest regard for, because of their jumping in and out of NATO at will and at times getting their own protection for free do have exceptional fighting forces and have done an outstanding job in Afghanistan under very difficult circumstances. And their military are hardly deserving of some of the derision and flack they are receiving in some European media for the decision to pull out before 2014. These are political decisions by France and not military decisions.

I agree with you Byng regarding France. I was just being flippant with my post.
.

[Seadog]

MORE have been lost under Bobo then Bush..... ...

Originally Posted by Joy in Mudville
"US deaths in Afghanistan
Bush= 630
Obama = 1,535"


Originally Posted by Grindelwald
"Ah yes, those pesky facts getting in the way of the moron's hypocritical agenda. Lovely way to start the morning. "

Looks to me that JinM's post backs up what BlandFood said about troop losses in Afghanistan. Kind of hard to follow Grindelwald's logic.