French say that this war should be won. But don't count on us to help

[Frank]

No extra troops to Afghanistan, says Sarkozy France will not send "a single soldier more" to fight the bloody conflict in Afghanistan though troops already deployed as part of the NATO-led coalition will remain there, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told a newspaper on Thursday.
By FRANCE 24 (text)
France will not send any more troops to Afghanistan, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in an interview with a French newspaper on Thursday.

"Is it necessary to stay in Afghanistan? I say 'yes'. And to stay to win ... But France will not send a single soldier more," Sarkozy told Le Figaro.

Sarkozy said he wants instead to see more home-grown Afghan troops fight the Taliban guerrillas.

"They will be the most effective in winning this war because it is their country. But we need to pay them more to avoid desertions that benefit the Taliban," said the French president.

France currently has 3,000 troops in the NATO-led coalition battling the Taliban and training Afghan security forces. So far, 36 French soldiers have been killed since 2001.

Sarkozy's comment came just after a call by NATO’s commander to send more troops to the restive southern region of Afghanistan.

“To really complete the ‘shape, clear, hold, build,’ we need at least two additional brigades of coalition forces, somewhere between 10,000 or 15,000 troops,” Major General Mart de Kruif, NATO’s commander in the region, told AFP in an interview on Thursday.

In order to clear other areas in the south, such as the Helmand province, “we absolutely need additional forces,” reiterated de Kruif.

Britain said on Wednesday it would send an additional 500 soldiers to Afghanistan, while President Barack Obama is mulling a request to send tens of thousands more US troops to the bloody conflict.
http://www.france24.com/en/20091015-france-president-nicolas-sarkoz...

The agree with Obama that war in Afganistan is worth fighting and winning. However, the French will not help, they will keep their troops home. The 3,000 there can stay but they will send no more. France is part of NATO, this is a NATO lead war they need to do their share. They are crying that they have lost 36 trrops in 8 years. We have lost 28 this month. THey need to step up to the plate.

[Frank]

Elaine, yes I was in the Air Force that does not mean that I did not come into contact with solides or marines while in Vietnam. Your article is hog-wash the military did not collapse did it? It is people like you that never support the military until they are need like in New Orleans after the hurricane or some other disater. I say yet again you were not over there so you have no first hand knowledge, all you have is what some cowards and darft doegers worte. You still have not read the boo by Frances Fizgerald. So until you do I will respond no more to your anti Vietnam tripe. Oh, you are alwasy getting on peoples case for not staying on topic. If you svroll up to the top you will see that is thread is about Afganistan not Vietnam. No one was threatened with being drafted not one single person. You were given a number and when your number was drawn you went. At that time you cou could apply for a weaver. READ THE BOOK then start a new thread on Vietnam if you like. Or get back out in the street and protest the current war or is this one OK because there is a Liberal in the White House? And don't bother to tell me that LBJ was a dem. I know what he was I servered under him.

[Frank]

Elaine, your man is finly going to tell his plan. According to reports, up to 30,000 more trrops, the generals asked fo 40. He expects NATO to come up with the rest. Fat chance of that. The French said no more troops, as did the Germans, The Spainards have pulled out, the Italians have puuled out, the poles a couple of hundred, the Brits said they could send 500 more. So where does he think these troops are coming from. Beside that he will according to reports give the enemy a pull out date. He is worse then LBJ whne it comes to a war time president. He has already told the Taliban when he will stop , if he don't want to fight to win, then don't send any more bring those that are there home and let the Taliban have the place.

[Elaine Friedland]

Frank,

I will not discuss anymore in this forum the issue of Vietnam, but you promoted this deviation when you blamed the Democratic Party for the North Vietnamese conquest of South Vietnam.

[Frank]

We can but not under Afganistan and then after you have read the book. Never say never.

[Frank]

Elaine check the voting on the war funding bill at the time and you will see that it was the Democratic lead congress that voted against funding the war anylonger. JUst like now if they had the guts to do it they would not fund it but since it is Obamas war now they will even though they are not for it. No, then when the funding was with drawn the troops had to be withdrawn. The arvin counld not fight their wayout of a wet paper bag with the bottom already torn loose. The U.S. armed force did not loose not one battle on the field. LBJ tried to direct combat down to the squad level from the white house. Anyway check out the votes for the time.

[Elaine Friedland]

Frank,

You are now deviating from the topic.

[Frank]

I was referring to your comment. There was a bunch that had no reply to so I had to add that where I could. But we are done with that we need to stick to Afgaistan. If it were a GOP White House the dems would do the same thing but they wont this time. Althought there seems to be a bunch of yellow bellies that don't want to send more troops. They would rather have the head cut off or throat cut by the peace loving Mulism then kill them over there.

[Elaine Friedland]

Frank,

Since the Vietnam issue is only between the two of us, please keep your comments in private email messages.

[Elaine Friedland]

The latest news is that NATO will send 7000 troops to Afghanistan.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125992554118976499.html

[Frank]

Yes that is a good sign Elaine. However, and there is always a however, the proof will be in the pudding. Talk is cheap for the so called NATO allies. Which ones are going to supply troops? Some are talking about pulling out. Lets wait until the troops land and are deployed around the country before we applaud NATO.