Sarkozy backtracks on Afghanistan pullback
Sat Jan 28, 2012 2:29AM
Ramin Mazaheri, Press TV, Paris
After a soldier in the Afghan army opened fire on a French military base, President Nicolas Sarkozy suspended all operations in Afghanistan and threatened to withdraw his nation's forces by the end of this year. But after a talk with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai in Paris the threat has proven to be hollow, as Sarkozy announced he will enforce NATO's original timetable.
Military advisors will stay through 2014, but for how long will Sarkozy’s commitment have any authority? He’s trailing Francois Hollande by a 60 to 40 margin, and the Socialist candidate has made a 2012 withdrawal a campaign promise. Sarkozy’s image will take a hit as many say he changed his stance after strong pressure from the United States.
The decision to remain in Afghanistan will not be domestically popular, as a new poll revealed 84 percent of France wants their troops to return this year.
Sarkozy changed the French mission and drastically raised troop levels, making our participation much more militaristic. We need to go from a military presence back to a civil presence and dedicate our funds not for war but for reconstruction.
Sarkozy also announced that in March France will hand over control of Kapisa province in the east to the Afghan army.
Sarkozy's quick reversal on Afghanistan is a microcosm of his presidency. Many feel that for Sarkozy boldness is everything, and this impulsiveness betrays a lack of long-term thinking. With the election in April it's an episode that French voters won't have long to forget.
