LOL
15 March 2009, 11:48 AM
France is back in the game.
Nicolas Sarkozy has made the most symbolic foreign policy gesture of his presidency by announcing France's return to Nato's military command, and reversing Charles de Gaulle's decision to walk out in protest at US domination more than 40 years ago.
In an impassioned speech at Paris's military academy, Sarkozy said France's return to Nato's inner sanctum was long overdue. He dismissed as "lies" his political opponents' fears that French independence would now be sacrificed to America.
"A nation alone is a nation with no influence," he said of France's self-imposed exile from Nato's military command at the height of the cold war. He said it was logical that France, which is the fourth-biggest provider of troops to Nato and has led missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan, should cement years of growing influence in Nato by retaking its place at the table of the integrated military command structure that plans and conducts operations.
Full article (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/11/france-sarkozy-nato)
Discuss.
Nicolas Sarkozy has made the most symbolic foreign policy gesture of his presidency by announcing France's return to Nato's military command, and reversing Charles de Gaulle's decision to walk out in protest at US domination more than 40 years ago.
In an impassioned speech at Paris's military academy, Sarkozy said France's return to Nato's inner sanctum was long overdue. He dismissed as "lies" his political opponents' fears that French independence would now be sacrificed to America.
"A nation alone is a nation with no influence," he said of France's self-imposed exile from Nato's military command at the height of the cold war. He said it was logical that France, which is the fourth-biggest provider of troops to Nato and has led missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan, should cement years of growing influence in Nato by retaking its place at the table of the integrated military command structure that plans and conducts operations.
Full article (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/11/france-sarkozy-nato)
Discuss.