“Kabul Diary” by G. De Larouzière-Montlosier

(BRUSSELS2) This is the account of a Saint-Cyrien, chief of operations of the 1st regiment of skirmishers (heir to the regiments of Africa from which he kept the crescent that adorns their sky blue kepi), who commands the BatFra - the French battalion - deployed mainly around Kabul airport from September 2003 to January 2004. His account is cautious, as is the tradition of a soldier still active - he is currently a professor at the School of War after having served at the General Staff of NATO in Naples — more borrowing of personal memories. This book does not reveal big secrets and also does not drift on a political pamphlet. Which is nice. By small touches, he portrays the discovery of a difficult arid country, where the relationship with the population is not always easy, of what has become the daily life of thousands of French soldiers in overseas operations. Not without humor or irony... An interesting, endearing book, even if we sometimes remain a little unsatisfied with the complexity of the country, and of the mission, which we can imagine.

Afghan complexity. Admittedly, the situation he experienced - in 2003 - is different from the current one "we were then about 500 French people, there are now more than 3000). But we can't help making connections and drawing lessons for today. In particular on the complexity of this country which makes it attaching, little by little, to the author and therefore to the reader ; "inextricable complexity: geographical, historical, political, ethnic, linguistic, religious". The missions follow one another: security, patrol, show of force, medical consultation, search for caches of weapons, and reception of personalities of all kinds...
With visit to the key.

And "tourist" circuits for thrill seekers. We feel the irony pierce in the face of these successive visits (French or NATO senior officers, journalist politicians and even writers). The soldiers have therefore planned and marked out routes... Two generals, tomorrow. For the first, in the morning, the tourist circuit A, with presentation of living and armed soldiers who carry out a patrol in a real district of Kabul. For the second, the B Bis cultural route: three stops for photo shoots and the opportunity to chat with the VBL pilot. The refreshment at the end of the visit is offered”.

Very topical questions. Very cautiously, the author asks himself certain questions - which deserve to be publicly debated: "But don't we tend to dictate to the Afghans what to do? Isn't it up to them to say what they want to become? Perhaps their objectives are not exactly ours."  Then come some observations:Our presence cannot reduce traffic of all kinds crossing Kabul. Weapons, drugs, explosives, terrorists circulate. Arabs and Pakistanis come to resume service in these links where their influence once extended. Clues point to more troubled times. (...) If the government does not show itself able to overcome the feudal warlords, will the conditions for any stability be met? The current situation, if it continues, should favor the return of the taliabsn. In many villages, they still have good press. They imposed order, an order that is unacceptable by our Western standards." And one last question, the day after Christmas and the approach of the departure, which remains very current: “We are only passing through, we cannot claim to change this world to which we are too foreign. Have these months spent here revealed a bit of this country and its inhabitants to us? And how successful are our actions? A pittance, I fear. The time is approaching when it will be necessary to admit all pride. »

• (Editions Bleu Autour, G. De Larouzière-Montlosier, 202 pages, €15, May 2009)