France to withdraw special forces from Afghanistan

[maddezmom]

KABUL (AFP) - French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie announced that France would withdraw hundreds of its special forces from Afghanistan within the next few weeks.


"We'll pull our special forces out of Afghanistan in the coming weeks," Alliot-Marie told reporters during her visit to the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday.

She was referring to some 200 French special forces stationed in eastern Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, aimed at hunting down Taliban fighters in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

France has deployed a total of 2,000 troops in Afghanistan, with the remainder serving in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061217/wl_sthasia_afp/afghanistanunrestfrancewithdraw

[Erika]

1. So we are still "stay the course"

Serving as cannon fodder.

[AlecBGreen]

2. why?

nt

[KeepItReal]

3. Maybe they didn't like AP and John McCain saying they weren't fighting enough

Check this out from the Associated Press (AP):

"KABUL, Afghanistan - Sen. John McCain on Saturday urged the United States' reluctant NATO partners to allow their troops to engage in combat operations against the resurgent Taliban, especially in Afghanistan's rebellious south.
...
Afghan, U.S., Canadian, British and Dutch forces have done most of the fighting in Afghanistan over the past year, McCain said, at a time when ambushes, suicide bombings and other attacks have multiplied. Those nations have also borne the brunt of the casualties.

Several NATO countries with troops in Afghanistan — including Germany, France, Spain and Italy — restrict the use of their forces to relatively peaceful areas of the north.

That, McCain said, makes it "extremely difficult for our NATO commanders to call on them for assistance when needed in combat zones." "

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061216/ap_on_re_as/afghan_us

He wants more NATO forces in Afghanistan, but does not think the U.S. should send more troops there...even though the Taleban/Al Qaeda-types are making a comeback.

[Erika]

4. John McCain who?

He's lost any respect he ever had.

[KeepItReal]

5. Roger that.

Someone needs to send him the memo.

[WalcottNorfolk]

6. Another quagmire which has gone hopelessly wrong

[SpiralHawk]

7. Commader AWOL's "Coalition of the Coerced" Comes apart

I guess the coalition members dislike being led by an AWOL frat boy.

[Vidar]

8. Good for France.