Did anybody wonder about why French are fighting with us in Afghanistan but not in Iraq?

Question

The fact is that i can see all kind of criticism because they have the worst army - but still some complain that they didn't come to get killed in Iraq with us

Please be logical!
We don't need their help if they are so bad - or some got angry because they didn't like the reason for which we invaded iraq

- Afghanistan, 1,800 French troops make France the second largest partner of the United States in Afghanistan after Germany. French contributions include troops deployed through the International Security and Assistance Force (950, 10.5% of ISAF), training of the Afghan national army, Operation Enduring Freedom on the ground (special forces), at sea (2 frigates, 1 tanker, and 1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft), and in the air (2 transport aircraft, 3 reconnaissance jet fighters and 1 tanker);

UN source http://www.un.int/france/documents_anglais/041022_armee_facts_sheet.htm

Answer 1

They are with us because the War in Afghanstan was/is justified unlike the pre-emptive War on Iraq, who had nothing to do with 9/11, was not a haven for terrorist until the US made it so, and was ruled by a man who could control his country. Right or wrong, Saddam Hussein did control his country, and kept muslim extremist out of power. The US taking him down open a void that was filled by the very extremists it was saying Saddam Hussein was. We created the conditions in present day Iraq. It is because of this situation that the French Army will not particpate in Iraq but will participate in Afghanistan.

Answer 2

Geronimo your figures conflict with those I have heard, apparently the figure for french troops in Afgnstn is actually 800, you also seem to think that america then germany then france have the most troops in Afgnstn, have you heard of a rather small insignificant little country called The united Kingdom who actually have over 3000 troops there, maybe the americans now take it for granted that Britain is the 51st state so they dont count us as allies just extra american troops.

Of course there is valid arguments about the validity of the two areas, I was fully for the demise of the despotic and evil taliban, also I thought the iraq scenario should maybe have been sorted during the first gulf war, the allies should probably have gone all the way, taken saddam out of power then got the hell out, let them sort it out then if they brought in a regime like the taliban then the un would have had to follow the plan they used for afgnstn as well, NATO to my mind is failing just as its former incarnation failed, many countries wont help with the dirty work and it can be seen why for so many hundred years Britain did not want to be associated with the dishonourable way these countries work.(I am not so foolish as to believe the US and UK are altruistic,)of course both these countries have done dirty work, and a lot of the iraq thing is money led for and against.

The French are particularly self serving, they basically hate the world because with the help of britain and the superior military skills of germany they were stopped from developing a true empire, they invented the common market so that they could finally control europe and boy do they cream off it, think of all the international bodies, football, olympics, farming committees many of the leading figures are french and there are rumours of frauds rife in all these bodies, backs scratched palms greased etc. The catch in this is that if the US did not police the world with or without UN mandate and rely on the support of the UK no body else would be powerful or willing enoughto do it they were all gladenough to accept american help during and after ww2 and then once they were independent they criticise the US policies.

Answer 3

No, The french government was not in bed with the Taliban they had nothing to hide. The first missiles fired at our American troops during the war with Iraq were French made sold to Saddam and let's not forget the oil for weapons debacle within the UN. The French have a history of deciding when to fight , fought ww1 and not in ww2 even though only 30,000 German troops rolled in and occupied France for the duration, and most the the french resistance were communists. Read a little about the French and you will understand they are not making a noble stand in Afghanistan, just another what is best for the French and screw the rest.

Answer 4

Simply because there was a UN resolution and not for Iraq.

About the economical interests, why did the French fought in the first Golf War then ? Simply there was a UN resolution.

And talking about economy, have a look who is now participating. A lot of people say that the US used the war to have access to the oil !

By the way Hans Blix (UN investigator is not Belgian but Swedish. And the reason he did not find anything is because there was nothing to find. The US didn't find no more than he.

Answer 5

Okay, the war in Afghanistan is NATO driven... France returned to NATO, and is therefor OBLIGATED to send troops.

The war in IRAQ is a result of UN Sactions and the French didn't want to get involved because of their OWN self interests...

The French national oil company was purchasing Iraqi oil illegally through the Syrian pipeline.

The French also had extensive business and militarly contracts with Saddam's government in Iraq:

1) Iraq used a mix of French, Russian, and US weapons. And the French & Russians were making BILLIONS illegally rearming Iraq.

2) A French & German consortium was contracted to build several nuclear power plants (not suitable for weapons production) for Iraq which would have poured BILLIONS of additional dollars into the French economy.

It was all about business, plain and simple.

Answer 6

The French national oil company was purchasing Iraqi oil illegally through the Syrian pipeline. France also had extensive business dealing with Iraq. A French/German consortium was set to build several nuclear power plants in Iraq to the tune of several billion dollars each. But they had to wait for the UN sanctions to be lifted or eased. The Un weapons inspectors were not going to find anything because there were told not to. The four countries that led the opposition were France, Germany, Russia and Belgium. Hans Blix the head UN weapons inpector was from Belgium. Russia sold Saddam his arms and I've explained the French/German angle.

It was all about business, plain and simple.

They support us in the NATO effort in Afghanistan because they had nothing to lose.

Answer 7

To free Afghanistan from the Taliban was justified by the United Nations and Nato.

The war on Iraq was not.

And we do need help in the mountains of Afghanistand, but we need to start a transition with the Iraqi Army and start a last campaign on eliminating selective terrorist targets, and say good-bye! The courts today said Saddam was not a dictator!

Answer 8

As much as people would like to think it is for moral reasons that the French did not join in the war with Iraq; history shows that nations rarely do anything for moral reasons.

Prior to the invasion in Iraq, France had signed several economically important deals with Iraq. Not the least of these was a major oil deal. The invasion of Iraq effectively nullified those deals.

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/2003/0121incdeal.htm

Answer 9

The French Foreign Legion is the best in the World, after the S.A.S.

Iraq was always off the occupation list 4 France.
The Iraq war 4 us ( in the UK ) is/was illegal.
& most countries respected the UN statement & have also refused 2 send troops.
It would kinda make them hypocrites, wouldn't it?
B thankful that they're helping in Afghanistan another 1 of Bushs " victories ".
Yes I'm being sarcastic.
Victory 4 who GW?
U & UR mates.

Answer 10

Afghanistan is acknowledged by all to be a training ground for terrorists, but Iraq apparently had little or nothing to do with terrorism, so France made a logical decision to help out where they could actually make a difference and accomplish something.