NATO members show how much they value the Alliance

[Kuciwalker]

People only really complained about Belgian troops in one country, IIRC.

[PLATO]

Hi Spiffor!

Are the French people really that confused between the differences between Iraq and Afghanistan? Do they see it as two parts of the same event?

Sarkozy gained a lot of points with me with the speech he gave over here. While I still believe that the French positions before the Iraq war contributed to the general problems we have had with that country, it was good to see them agree with us on Afghanistan. It is also good to see them sending more troops, although I dare say that if the US sent so few troops to overcome a foe that attacked France that you guys would be raising hell.

[Riesstiu IV]

Originally posted by BeBro
My, back then when we had troops around the world everyone was complaining. Now they're staying at home and it still isn't ok. Some people are never satisfied

That's because back in the day your soldiers where scary guys with pointy helmets and gray uniforms. Now your soldiers are fat and jolly guys so everybody wants them to visit.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

1. Is France making that argument? (No.)

Spiffor may be (it was defensive to take out the Taliban and AQ, but now its just offensive to be the occupier, etc).

Then his argument should be that France ought to pull out entirely - which would prove that the alliance is broken.

It's Spiffor... how do you know that's not his argument?

[Imran Siddiqui]

if the US sent so few troops to overcome a foe that attacked France

Do colonies count? Because we really didn't send all that much help in French Indo-China... well, until well after the French were thrown out.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

The argument can be made that by removing the Taliban and scattering AQ, measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security have been completed.

The Taliban are still very, very active militarily in the south part of Afghanistan. Hundreds of Canadians are dying fighting them.

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Asher



The Taliban are still very, very active militarily in the south part of Afghanistan.

Serious question: is that going to change as long as they have a safe haven and recruiting grounds in that other country nearby?

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

if the US sent so few troops to overcome a foe that attacked France

Do colonies count?

No. Did you actually read my post?

[Asher]

Originally posted by BeBro
Serious question: is that going to change as long as they have a safe haven and recruiting grounds in that other country nearby?

Yes, because they'll move to the safe haven nearby and leave Afghanistan.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
It's Spiffor... how do you know that's not his argument?

I'm not going to argue about this any more without his contribution, but notice that Spiffor was talking about the general population in France, and defending the size of the French contribution. Implicit in that is acceptance that France should be lending some support.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

if the US sent so few troops to overcome a foe that attacked France

Do colonies count?

No. Did you actually read my post?

He didn't say anything necessarily about treaty, as he brought up Iraq as well. I read it as merely how it'd look to the French people if the US didn't support France in a battle against someone who attacked it.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Isn't it embarrassing that Canada, a country half your size, is providing 75% more troops than you, and is actualy sending them into dangerous combat situations while most of yours sit safe in northern Afghanistan?

It's embarrassing that we have any troops there at all.

Disclaimer: for those who haven't noticed, I am an individual, who happens to be Communist, i.e my ideas are shared by a minority of the French. Please be kind enough not to confuse me with my country, and especially with its current government, thank you

[Kuciwalker]

So you don't think the war in Afghanistan was justified under Article 5?

[Winston]

Not that there's a contest, but I'm relatively at peace with the fact that my country, having now incurred 15 fatal casualties in Afghanistan, Helmand Province, tops the list of fatalities per capita, followed by Canada and the U.S.

We're doing our part. We did get the feeling that others in the alliance would too, not just sit around playing cards all day long in the Kabul shades.

[Verto]

Originally posted by Spiffor

It's embarrassing that we have any troops there at all.

Disclaimer: for those who haven't noticed, I am an individual, who happens to be Communist, i.e my ideas are bat-**** crazy and no one should pay me any attention

Fixed