French soldiers in Afghanistan: it's time to go back, says the French PS
(BRUSSELS2) After hesitating for a long time, the Socialist Party has just taken a very clear step on the French commitment in Afghanistan, believing that the time for withdrawal has come. "The Socialist Party believes that France must revise its policy in Afghanistan. The military presence of France is no longer justified in this country." thus writes Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, Secretary of the International of the Party. And to argue from recent facts "The political, military and security situation continues to deteriorate in Afghanistan. A French soldier was killed today and nine other soldiers were injured. This brings the number of our dead soldiers in Afghanistan to around fifty to date. Eight NATO soldiers were killed this weekend in attacks sometimes committed by members of the Afghan armed forces. (...) Politically, nothing demonstrates the Kabul government's will and ability to effectively fight corruption and ensure the safety of the population. He is also engaged in negotiations with the Taliban against whom NATO forces have been at war for more than ten years.
A subject for the next presidential
The PS has therefore taken its time to express itself. Certain personalities of the PS were critical for a long time on this engagement in Afghanistan which lasts for ten years, such Paul Quilès, former Minister of Defense of F. Mitterrand (1985-1986) who demanded, a year ago already, the withdrawal of the French contingent. He also told us how exasperated he was by the lack of debate in Europe, in France (read: Paul Quilès: we must open the debate in Europe on the presence in Afghanistan). It is now done, at least for France.
One year before the presidential elections, the withdrawal from Afghanistan will enter, willingly or by force, into the electoral campaign. And all the parties will have to position themselves on a subject which is not very popular. The coalition forces have, in fact, planned to initiate a phase of military withdrawal which would begin after the summer of 2011 and end by 2014. But the timetable is still very vague (read: Afghan forces will take over from NATO in seven areas).
An ideological divide European
We can underline that we are slowly moving towards an ideological fracture in Europe. The Socialist Party French indeed joins several of its European counterparts (Dutch, Czech, Belgian, Finnish, German...) who have already taken a stand or very openly question the continuity of the presence in Afghanistan. Even in the United Kingdom, the debate thickens. Labor is beginning, quite timidly however, to publicly question the need to move on to another phase. "It's the end of the game" thus proclaims, in the New York Times, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Miliband. It's necessary "negotiate with the Taliban", the UN must "appoint a mediator (Muslim) for this purpose". We must move from a military phase by NATO to a political phase under UN control. Otherwise the final date for withdrawal, 2014, risks "to be illusory".
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