Clarification, George .. I think you meant me
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from JMM
I have a hard time seeing a "North Atlantic Union" - from a US perspective; but the Atlantic Rim countries do have common interests.
I also suggested an ATO as a futuristic possibility, where ATO could be Atlantic Treaty Organization (military) or Atlantic Trade Organization (economic), or both. However, in considering this futurism, I suggest re-viewing the video "Cowboys herding cats" for a perspective on what would be involved.
"Atlanticism" is supposedly Zarkozy's motive (see links in my prior post).
Since we (US) have a "more perfect union", I see no need for a "North Atlantic Union" - especially when the EU has not advanced to the point we were at under the Articles of Confederation.[*]
But, at all costs, avoid "Running with the Squirrels" - and never, never get into the cage with This Cat. :D
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[*] As to successful confederations, I can think of only two large-scale examples: the US and Canada. The Swiss also come to mind on a smaller scale.
Two French General Officer Appointments to NATO
Thought this thread could use an update on the French rejoining NATO. France apointed to two General officers to NATO. The first is an Air Force Pick and the Second is a Marine.
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Deux généraux français vont être nommés très prochainement à la tête de grands commandements de l’Alliance atlantique.
Le conseil des ministres a approuvé le 3 juin les candidatures suivantes.
Le général d’armée aérienne Stéphane Abrial, actuel chef d’état-major de l’armée de l’air (CEMAA ) prend le commandement d’ ACT , le commandement allié Transformation, à Norfolk (Etats-Unis) à compter du 10 septembre 2009. Il succède à ce poste au général américain James N. Mattis (Corps des Marines des Etats-Unis). La mission du ACT est de diriger, au niveau stratégique, la transformation des structures, des forces, des capacités et des doctrines militaires de l’OTAN pour améliorer l’efficacité militaire de l’Alliance. ACT constitue avec le commandement allié pour les opérations (ACO ), l’échelon le plus élevé de la structure de commandement militaire de l’OTAN .
Seconde nomination : le général de division Philippe Stoltz prend la tête du commandement des forces alliées basé à Lisbonne (Portugal) à compter du 20 Juillet 2009. Cette structure a autorité notamment sur la Force de réaction rapide de l’OTAN, la NRF (Nato Response Force). Le commandement de Lisbonne est un des 3 commandements qui dépendent de ACO.
Les nominations font l’objet d’un décret signé par le Président de la République, Nicolas Sarkozy. Décret publié au Journal officiel du 8 juin 2009. Elles interviennent près de trois mois après le retour de la France au sein du commandement militaire intégré de l’OTAN, les 3-4 avril 2009, à Strasbourg lors du Sommet de l’Alliance atlantique . Ces candidatures sont proposées et entérinées par Alliés dans le cadre des procédures de l'OTAN.
-Ministere De La Defence
General Abrail's Biography
General Stoltz Biography in English.
France declares war against al-Qaida
WTF?
http://apnews.myway.com//article/201...D9H7OGRG0.html
Quote:
Jul 27, 9:31 PM (ET)
By ELAINE GANLEY
PARIS (AP) - France has declared war on al-Qaida, and matched its fighting words with a first attack on a base camp of the terror network's North African branch, after the terror network killed a French aid worker it took hostage in April.
You have to admit the headline is a little surprising. Something's up.
Hey Lagrange, what say you ....
since you have experience in the African rescue business ?
Since the UN-NGO world is a small one, you may well have known the hostage. In any case, I extend my condolences and prayers.
I do have a French law of armed conflict question. That is: what are the legal requirements for France to engage in an armed conflict so as to bring the Geneva Conventions into play ?
For example here in US, a formal declaration of war is one way - not used since WWII. Another is pursuant to a UN chap 7 SC mandate (the only legal prop for the Korean War). Another (most common) is an Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF), as in the 2001 AUMF (OEF) and 2003 AUMF (OIF). Any of those results in the Laws of War (Laws of Armed Conflict) (International Humanitarian Law) being applicable to the conflict.
And, can France legally engage a non-state actor (AQ) in a formal armed conflict ?
I ask that question because, for the most part, the EU nations seem to approach AQ as terrorists subject to law enforcement (not law of war) standards. And, GWB's GWOT and the application of the Laws of War have been strongly criticized by a number of EU jurists.
Of course, LE standards allow force to be used in hostage rescues. So, in this particular case, the two legal standards may not be that different
Thus, does "guerre contre AQ" have any legal force under French law - or is it simply rhetoric ? RSVP.
Regards
Mike
Pointer to background reading
There is background to this issue on the Mali thread:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=9254 and another on the role of non-African powers in Africa: http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ad.php?t=10188
The EU Law Enforcement Approach
The strategy for the EU Fight against terrorism is laid out in 2005 The European Union Counter-Terrorism Strategy, in which pursuit is clearly viewed as a law enforcement function (not a military function, although military units may become involved in support):
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PURSUE
22. We will further strengthen and implement our commitments to disrupt terrorist activity and pursue terrorists across borders. Our objectives are to impede terrorists' planning, disrupt their networks and the activities of recruiters to terrorism, cut off terrorists’ funding and access to attack materials, and bring them to justice, while continuing to respect human rights and international law. .... (and so on)
This not to criticize the EU approach (in this thread), but simply to point out a difference in approach to the same problem.
The EU's LE approach is clearly expressed in the 2009 EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy - discussion paper:
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The EU CT Strategy
It has been the long-standing policy of the EU to treat Terrorism as crime, to be tackled within the framework of criminal law. This approach has many obvious advantages, not least the fact that it helps de-glamorise the terrorists. The "prisoners of war" in Guantanamo are a staple of Al Qaeda propaganda, convicted prisoners in European jails do not get a mention.
Terrorism is different to other forms of crime in that it is conducted in the hope of political gain, rather than financial gain. This explains the high political importance attached to the fight against terrorism, and consequent need for a political response. The fight against terrorism is one of the key areas in which, according to Eurobarometer surveys, European citizens see the need for a common European response.
However, concentrating on terrorism simply as a criminal phenomenon does have disadvantages. It tends to downplay the factors that motivate terrorism, and encourage a straightforward repressive approach. In the past, CT measures have often been considered only in great haste in reaction to major attacks. In these circumstances there is again an imperative to take visible repressive action.
The EU CT strategy was deliberately designed to remedy this defect by setting out a comprehensive approach, to be implemented steadily, and so providing a more solid and durable basis for long term success against terrorism. Indeed, the best way to overcome "CT fatigue" is to maintain a steady pace rather than try to sprint ahead too quickly and end up falling behind.
No movement can be observed here toward a Laws of War approach to AQ, as the US has done via the 2001 AUMF.
The latest ratification of the LE approach is found in 2010 Gilles de Kerchove speech to ICCT; but that speech also included rhetoric (and treaty provisions), which bring back memories of Camelot, Walt Rostow and the Kennedy-Johnson administrations' jump into Vietnam:
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The Lisbon Treaty, in Article 3 (5) TEU, states that:
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“In its relations with the wider world, the Union shall uphold and promote its values and interests and contribute to the protection of its citizens. It shall contribute to peace, security, the sustainable development of the Earth, solidarity and mutual respect among peoples, free and fair trade, eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights, in particular the rights of the child, as well as to the strict observance and the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter."
I am convinced that this new objective of the development of international law is a significant way in which the EU can act to strengthen the international framework on which sustainable counter terrorism must be based.
and:
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The EU has made a start in providing direct support for the counter-terrorism efforts of a number of key countries, in South Asia, the Sahel and Horn of Africa, through the “Instrument for Stability”. However, responding fully to these problems is a much broader challenge for the development community. There can be no security without development, but equally no development without security: security in which a farmer feels safe taking micro-credit to dig a tube well, without worrying that it will be destroyed by fighting, or even security to send his daughters to school.
Perhaps, the EU will make better choices in "development projects" today and tomorrow than we did in 1962-1965. Perhaps, the EU will take over as the World's policeman, nation builder and guardian of its "hearts and minds". If so, bring it on - the US can use some R & R.
Certainly EU Security & Defence is active enough and a precocious child in this stage of its development:
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The Council adopted a decision establishing the European External Action Service
On 26 July 2010 the General Affairs Council adopted the Decision establishing the European External Action Service (EEAS) and setting out its organisation and functioning.
"We can now move forward to build a modern, effective and distinctly European service for the 21st century," the EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, said. She added that for the EEAS to come into being on 1st January 2011 it was crucial to rapidly amend the EU Staff and Financial Regulations and agree an amending budget for 2010." ... [
pdf]
and the EU currently is engaged in some 20 missions on 3 continents.
One wonders how much concern there is in Europe about the Treaty of Lisbon and that the EU's role as a security player is rapidly expanding. It is, of course, their own business and they may have a better Camelot than we did.
Regards
Mike
Why France Will Finish Off Gaddafi
Why France Will Finish Off Gaddafi
Entry Excerpt:
Let’s make something clear, the civil war in Libya will not end in a stalemate. The French will likely intervene with ground forces and topple the Gaddafi regime, and they will probably do it within a month. It is quite possible that they will do so with Italian help. President Obama has fervently wished for America to be just one of the boys; in the end, this may be a case of wishing for something so much that you get it. America has abrogated the role of global marshal that it assumed after World War II. Every posse needs a Marshal to lead it. The French will likely pick up the tin star they found lying in the street of the global village.
Click through for the rest of "Why France Will Finish Off Gaddafi".
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Retreat, discontent, and misunderstanding: France in Afghanistan
Retreat, discontent, and misunderstanding: France in Afghanistan
Entry Excerpt:
Retreat, discontent, and misunderstanding: France in Afghanistan
by Stéphane Taillat, a SWC Member
Foreign Policy
BLUF. The last two days have been murderous for the French contingent in Afghanistan; four paratroopers were killed in a suicide attack in the Surobi district, while a Special Forces soldier was killed during operations in the Alasay Valley, in the province of Kapisa.
The timing of these incidents was hardly accidental: The goal was to strike France and its army during the commemoration of the national and military holiday that is the "14 Juillet" known as Bastille Day in the Anglophone world. But these deaths also illustrate the growing engagement of French units in Afghanistan in more intense kinetic operations. The reconquest of Kapisa, a particularly sensitive region situated on a strategic axis and marked by 30 years of war, has been a particularly costly and difficult task, one that has required French forces to put into practice their tactical knowledge and understanding of "contre-insurrection" or what Americans call COIN.
Much more at Foreign Policy
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New boots, Chinooks please: French lessons for the US Army
A fascinating RAND study of France's Operation Serval in Mali and whether the US Army's expeditionary approach can learn lessons. There are some important caveats, notably reliance on French official sources as this campaign had virtually no media presence then and after:http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR770.html
The title comes from learning the French Army's boots failed in the heat amidst the rocky terrain and the one things they missed from Afghanistan. There are many other lessons, for this armchair observer the ability to move overland without major logistic problems.
There is a regional thread on Mali, a good part covers the French role:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=9254
Note the paper does not cover the "what next" question in the campaign, although it does comment on the difficulties Mali faces.
Added July 2016. There is a new commentary on the French action and the cited RAND report:http://ndupress.ndu.edu/JFQ/Joint-Fo...rmy-in-africa/
Where did it mention needing more/new Chinooks?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
B.Smitty
davidbfpo,
Where did it mention needing more/new Chinooks?
The SGTIAs are reminiscent of Marine Enhanced Company Operations/Distributed Operations, only with armored vehicles and task organization.
The quote is in a footnote (No.57) on pg.42 / 58 and it says:
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One French officer who commanded units in Serval, when asked by the author what American resources he wished he had had in Mali, answered "CH-47's".
France - the Saharan policeman
Thomas Fessy, the intrepid BBC World Service (French) reporter, once again gets to places few do, even if with the French Foreign Legion. A short film clip on patrolling near the Libya-Niger border in the "grey zone" and accompanying longer text:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-31939287
All part of France's 3k strong regional Operation Barkhane, which started in August last year (previous posts in the Mali thread).
He concludes:
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The former colonial power, France, today stands as the Saharan policeman and has made it its mission to break the shifting allegiances between extremist groups. But with Boko Haram to the south and an expanding Islamic State to the north, the regional outlook is not too promising.
The last French outpost has some history:
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This advanced base is taking shape right next to an old fort that the French army built out of dry mud in 1931 to defend themselves against the Italians, first, and then the British.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...896_niger4.jpg
Frogs of War: Explaining the French
New boots, Chinooks please: French lessons for the US Army
British Chinooks to arrive in the Sahel for the French Army
It has taken awhile and the report is subject to official confirmation (not that it was a story given by officials of course):
Quote:
Britain will send military helicopters to join a French campaign against Islamist extremists in Africa as London and Paris move to deepen cross-Channel defence ties, the Prime Minister is expected to announce later this week. RAF Chinooks have been offered to transport French troops in discussions...
Link:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018...paign-against/
There was a stand alone thread New boots, Chinooks please: French lessons for the US Army, which started in 2014 after Operation Serval in Mali and it has 34k views. It has now been merged into this thread.
British Chinooks to the Sahel for the French Army
Update: officially announced it will be three Chinooks.