Are the Germans and French ruining NATO by not helping enough in Afghanistan?

Question

The French, Germans and others are in Afghanistan but they won't fight. They stay in the safe areas while the brave troops from the U.S., Britain, Canada and the Netherlands fight to stop the Taliban from enslaving the Afghan people. Do you think that NATO can survive this inaction by so many of its member states?

Read this story in today's New York Times and see what's happening to the people in Taliban controlled villages:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/world/asia/12afghan.html?hp

Those who think the French and Germans are doing enough should read the comments of U.S. Gates today. He is an expert. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/11/AR2007121102428.html?hpid=topnews

Answer 1

Firstly Yes they should be helping more.

However the hands of the German government are tied, they rely on the support of liberal and Green left-wing nuts to stay in Government and as such the Green's have demanded that German troops only stay in Afghanistan in a non-combative role.

The French are just being French and to top it all France is NOT a member of the military side of NATO (though they do want to re-join)

Answer 2

Inaction? They're peacekeeping. There's nothing inactive about peacekeeping - you're effectively denying masses of land to the enemy while simultaneously putting your troops in the targeting line - and no, it's not safe over there. Not to mention the immense cost of peacekeeping, or the idea of leaving gaps in homeland security while you send units from organisations intended for national defence all the way overseas.

Germany is forbidden from waging wars overseas - for them to be deploying as many police and troops as they are is a blessing..

Never mind the air support rendered by France, their elite commandos working in hostile territory or even their civil-support actions - French soldiers were busy patrolling, destroying land mines and providing support to regional communities... but never mind safety, security and better living standards for villagers, the Taliban might somehow rout Canadian, British, American and Dutch troops involved in combat operations!

NATO ought to make you their chief military adviser! You're clearly quite knowledgeable on the topic of peacekeeping and fighting unconventional enemies.

Answer 3

Another Troll rant against the French & Germans,

why do you not post cases of when and where the Germans and French refuse to fight??

". . .inaction by so many of its member states. . . .??

There are currently 26 Countries in N.A.T.O.

Germany and France = 2.

Why don't you list the countries that have quit on missions in

Afghanistan and Iraq because their governments puled them out as well???

Answer 4

I question the entire involvement of NATO in Afghanistan primarily because of the meaning of the acronym: North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Since when was Afghanistan relocated to the North Atlantic?

The fraudulent use of this well-armed pseudo-military behemoth to be dispatched worldwide to insure the interests of the member nations is outrageous.

Nevertheless, the mission if allegedly "peace-keeping" as opposed to "military supremacy" must be concerned with policing not aggression.

Answer 5

It must be hard for a country when they know their independance is owed to French military support...

But to the question, yes... and should we be surprised, organizations like that have never worked, and probably never will.... not for a long while

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French people speak French because they're in France, even during the German occupation they kept their native language. America however, would've been obliterated by the British during their little rebellion were it not for the French.
Also, ww2 was won due a combined effort, don't start that egotistic american bullsh!t.

(My gran was married to a canadian)

Answer 6

u cant expect a same response from countries like france as it was during 2nd world war.lot and lot of changes has taken place.france is considered as a moderate country and people of france believe in love and peace rather than war.whereas germany is a country which has seem the consequences of the war.likewise germans are not interested in plunging into a war especially when they are not the chief target of talibans.

Answer 7

,Get the U S out of NATO Get the U N out of the US We don't need them nor want them Can the B/S the French Navy come in late and that was it You Brits were running to your ships and they stopped you Y'all had the American Indian,Germans and still got your behinds handed to you In both wars so can it,after your butt kicking twice when y'all invaded Mexico in 1861 we told y'all too get out you Brits know what was good for you,so you and Spain did leave France made the mistake and with our help the Mexicans handed them their backsides We yanks have a RIGHT too an ego you do not,My G/father said to say hey to your G/mother Does she still like Hersey bars? Is that why y'all have awful teeth?I'll bet the farm that I could wave to 'gran' from the American side as most live within 50 miles of us ,must really want too be close too us

Answer 8

What a shock

The french wont fight

Never thought I'd see the day

France speaks french still because of the US.

If it wasnt for us germany would be a little bigger than it is now.