Why doesn't France commit La Legion Etrangere in Afghanistan?

[Foreign Fruitcake]

The French have been galvanized by recent events. Why don't they commit their most able force to Afghanistan? The modern day Foreign Legion enjoys a roll call of the worlds elite Special Forces. Why not deploy them?

[Tiwaz]

Would it be in French interests to do so?

Honestly...

What would France gain from doing so?

If they did it without first getting profound apologies from USA, they would look weak little poodles. They have their pride. USA has hugely insulted multitude of European nations. Odds of those nations fully committing to anything arranged by USA without first clear apology are unlikely.

So, what would France gain? What would they lose?

[Yorkshireman]

The FFL have served in Afghanistan, they'll just rotate like other units. The French have other regiments that are just as good.

[mrmouth]

If they did it without first getting profound apologies from USA, they would look weak little poodles. They have their pride. USA has hugely insulted multitude of European nations. Odds of those nations fully committing to anything arranged by USA without first clear apology are unlikely.

So, what would France gain? What would they lose?

Off-Topic.Noble Savage Your gonna rehash that was blown out of proportion months ago?

The legion has deployed to Afghanistan, as others have pointed out, and actually its fairly common knowledge.



This is a mission tailored to the foreign legion who has an officer corps fairly well versed in combating guerrilla tactics. Unfortunately they haven't really deployed the cream of the crop. The engineers were valuable to the mission at the time, but if the French actually do change the mission posture to a limited offensive role, they would be best to deploy the elite units in the 2nd parachute regiment.

[Fianóglach]

The real question is, why wouldn't you check if the FFL had been deployed to Afghanistan before making a total arse of yourself. The question is when will the French government let them and other French Army units do their job. While FRASEC is quiet, we could use the help in Helmand. most notably the French helicopters that chase sheep around all day, while we (British Soldiers) don't have enough choppers to bring us ammo and remove casualties.

[Tiwaz]

Your gonna rehash that was blown out of proportion months ago?

The legion has deployed to Afghanistan, as others have pointed out, and actually its fairly common knowledge.

Yes, and as I said... It appears to me that OP referred to FFL not being employed in combat operations.

So, how about you trying to explain why wasting resources and manpower like that would be in French interests?

Learn politics. You do not insult others like USA has and expect everything to be peachy few months later.

[Foreign Fruitcake]

Perhaps under an Obama Presidency, such attitudes might change.

[hellheaven1987]

Why don't they commit their most able force to Afghanistan?

Such as??

The modern day Foreign Legion enjoys a roll call of the worlds elite Special Forces.

Foreign Legion is not Special Force; it is more like a regular armed force with light armor and para support (para counts as low-tier Special Force in France).

If there are Special Force in FFL it belongs to small amount of special purpose units.

Why not deploy them?

Already did. Besides, Foreign Legion also deploy in Lebanon, several African countries (Ivory Coast and so), Balkan (ya, helping them to get rid of mine) and Brazil.

You don't expect a 5~6 regiments Foreign Legion to appear in every Peace Keeping right??

[Rapax]

How is this ethics, morals, religion and philosophy related?

[Osceola]

Such as??



Foreign Legion is not Special Force; it is more like a regular armed force with light armor and para support (para counts as low-tier Special Force in France).

If there are Special Force in FFL it belongs to small amount of special purpose units.

I think he means the members are mostly ex-spec ops, which I doubt to be honest. Spec ops get paid alot better then any Legionnaire.

Already did. Besides, Foreign Legion also deploy in Lebanon, several African countries (Ivory Coast and so), Balkan (ya, helping them to get rid of mine) and Brazil.

Kind of wrong. Dunno bout Lebanon, but their in Balkans, Chad, Djibouti, Cote D'Ivoire, and French Guyana. Not Brazil.

To answer the question, they been there, done that.

Because the foreign legion kills everybody, women, children, the elderly... Afghanistan is too much in the limelight, therefore it can't be sent there. It is much more at home in Africa, where nobody cares.

Source?

[Rapax]

Wikipedia actually has a nice little deployment list, current as of October 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_...nt_deployments

[Panzerbear]

Wikipedia actually has a nice little deployment list, current as of October 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_...nt_deployments

6,000 Russians. I cant believe me eyes!

[Phunkracy]

6,000 Russians. I cant believe me eyes!

10 000 Poles?

Edit:Damn, that actually makes sense...

[VALIS]

Wikipedia actually has a nice little deployment list, current as of October 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_...nt_deployments

Just looking at the link and the training...

Basic training is conducted in the 4th Foreign Regiment with a duration of 15 weeks:

Initial training of 4 weeks - initiation to military lifestyle; outdoor and field activities; learning legion traditions.
March "Képi Blanc" and graduation ceremony - 1 week.
Technical and practical training (alternating with barracks and field training) - 3 weeks.
Mountain training (Chalet at Formiguière in the French Pyrenees) - 1 week.
Technical and practical training (alternating barracks and field training) - 2 weeks.
Examinations and obtaining of the elementary technical certificate (CTE) - 1 week.
March ending basic training - 1 week.
Light vehicle / trucks school - 1 week.
Return to Aubagne before reporting to the assigned regiment - 1 week.

15 weeks isn't very long and probably not long enough to constitute being considered special forces.

Anyway, the Legion are in Afghanistan, one member of 2 REP was killed in that ambush, so they are over there.

[Fianóglach]

Nobody considers the Legion to be special forces. Their tenacity and morale makes them elite, but they are hardly special forces. Even the 2nd Foreign Airborne Regiment which is highly trained, I would not consider Special Forces. Their role is that of a regular Airborne Infantry Regiment and they are structured that way with 4 full strength companies. They are part of the Rapid Reaction Force, they are not even part of the French Special Forces Brigade. Elite yes. Special? No.

[hellheaven1987]

Kind of wrong. Dunno bout Lebanon, but their in Balkans, Chad, Djibouti, Cote D'Ivoire, and French Guyana. Not Brazil.

Yes, Foreign Legion did station in Lebanon when the last conflict broke out (the one of Israel invasion), even it is just an Engineer regiement (there are two in Legion).

By the way, modern Legion is full of Russian... Lol (a lot are veterans)...

Another thing, para is Special Force in France (low-tier anyway).

[Lord Consul]

Wrong board, mate.

[Noble Savage]

Wrong board, mate.

Agreed. Moved to the Pit' .

Ta

Noble Savage

[Sidus Preclarum]

Why don't they commit their most able force to Afghanistan?

Uh, they do. They just rotate them with as able forces, like light alpine infantry or marine airborne infantry regiments...

[Furious Mental]

I think it's busy in Africa doing the same thing it has done for the past five decades - preserving the rule of France's postcolonial puppets.