France to Begin Afghanistan Withdrawal in July: President

[easyand2]

TULLE, France — French President Francois Hollande on June 9 said France will begin its pullout from Afghanistan next month and complete it by Dec. 31, after four French troops were killed on the eve of key elections.

http://www.defensenews.com/article/2...text|FRONTPAGE

[Ghostrider_NL]

TULLE, France — French President Francois Hollande on June 9 said France will begin its pullout from Afghanistan next month and complete it by Dec. 31, after four French troops were killed on the eve of key elections.

http://www.defensenews.com/article/2...text|FRONTPAGE

aawwwwwwwwwwwwhhhh

[MeiJoa]

Four soldiers killed during election clearly shows the security situation has improved to a point that withdrawal is justified...

[Nyusu]

Four soldiers killed during election clearly shows the security situation has improved to a point that withdrawal is justified...

Actually they show that staying longer will only cost more lives. Security situation in 2014 would be the same, but more people would be dead. So why stay until then?

[TG211]

Are you guys saying the pull out has been decided after the death of 4 ? It was a campaign promise.

[Ghostrider_NL]

Are you guys saying the pull out has been decided after the death of 4 ? It was a campaign promise.

didn't sarkozy already ended combat operations due to the death of 4 french soldiers??? i can even remember something about that the pull-out was already decided before the elections, could be wrong though.

[Atlantic Friend]

IIRC, Sarkozy stopped joint operations with the ANA after the ANA soldier shot French soldiers doing PT at the base they shared. That's when Hollande got vocal about ending the deployment of troops in 2012 if he was elected. But given the logistical nightmare that is the re-deployment to France of the armored vehicles currently stationed in Afghanistan, you can be pretty certain there will still be French soldiers over there throughout 2013.

[Nansouty]

Agreeing with AF on this one. Hollande is merely making a political statement, which implies that no matter what, the French mission in Afghanistan has come to an end and will be fully terminated at the end of 2013. Furthermore, it's returning to the pre Sarkozy stance, and curtailing our soldiers' involvement in combat and COIN missions in favor of an advisers role to the ANA.

[Al-Bundy]

I hope the rest of the ISAF countries follow.

[Ghostrider_NL]

Agreeing with AF on this one. Hollande is merely making a political statement, which implies that no matter what, the French mission in Afghanistan has come to an end and will be fully terminated at the end of 2013. Furthermore, it's returning to the pre Sarkozy stance, and curtailing our soldiers' involvement in combat and COIN missions in favor of an advisers role to the ANA.

you french made the commitment to stay until 2014. Both your former president as well as the Minister of defence stated earlier this year that France will remain in afghanistan until 2014 and that other country's and i quote ''should take responsibility's as well'', And now your backing-out? well that's just great and to be honest i wouldn't have expect any less of the french. A great signal to the rest of the country's, when one of the biggest participants decides to back-out. Not only that but it jeopardises the reputation of your country and makes the sacrifices of those men who gave there life meaningless, and that is something that cannot be forgiven.

[ArcDeus]

you french made the commitment to stay until 2014. Both your former president as well as the Minister of defence stated earlier this year that France will remain in afghanistan until 2014 and that other country's and i quote ''should take responsibility's as well'', And now your backing-out? well that's just great and to be honest i wouldn't have expect any less of the french. A great signal to the rest of the country's, when one of the biggest participants decides to back-out. Not only that but it jeopardises the reputation of your country and makes the sacrifices of those men who gave there life meaningless, and that is something that cannot be forgiven.

You make my day sir ! Thx for the laugh !

[Nyusu]

you french made the commitment to stay until 2014. Both your former president as well as the Minister of defence stated earlier this year that France will remain in afghanistan until 2014 and that other country's and i quote ''should take responsibility's as well'', And now your backing-out? well that's just great and to be honest i wouldn't have expect any less of the french. A great signal to the rest of the country's, when one of the biggest participants decides to back-out. Not only that but it jeopardises the reputation of your country and makes the sacrifices of those men who gave there life meaningless, and that is something that cannot be forgiven.

This coming from Netherlands? Really? You are the last to talk about this. 2010 anyone?

[Ghostrider_NL]

there is a big difference between finishing a mission and pulling out early from a mission. Yes we left early but we made a promise to stay until 2010 and we did. Same goes for canada who kept there end of the bargain and stayed until 2011 as promised. the frenh however re pulling out earlier then promises. that's a huge difference.

[Nyusu]

there is a big difference between finishing a mission and pulling out early from a mission. Yes we left early but we made a promise to stay until 2010 and we did. Same goes for canada who kept there end of the bargain and stayed until 2011 as promised. the frenh however re pulling out earlier then promises. that's a huge difference.

Finishing the mission would take another 50 years. So pulling out in 2012 or 2014 doesnt really matters.