France Is As France Does

I know this will come as a complete shock, but France is abandoning it's allies and running from a fight. I know, I know, it's unprecedented.

France to Pull Troops From Afghanistan

PARIS -- France is to withdraw its 200-strong special forces from Afghanistan, all of its ground troops engaged in the U.S anti-terror operation there, authorities announced Sunday.

The decision to pull the elite troops, based in the southeastern city of Jalalabad, comes as the Taliban militia are gaining strength despite the strong engagement _ some 32,800 troops _ in NATO's International Security Assistance Force. France has balked at sending its 1,100-strong NATO contingent outside the relatively safe Afghan capital, Kabul.

On Saturday, U.S. Sen. John McCain said Afghan, U.S., Canadian, British and Dutch forces have done most of the fighting in Afghanistan over the past year at a time when ambushes, suicide bombings and other attacks have multiplied. Those nations have also borne the brunt of the casualties, and McCain called on NATO nations to send troops into more dangerous areas of Afghanistan.

It's like Jed Babbin, a former deputy undersecretary of defense said: "...frankly, going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion. You just leave a lot of useless noisy baggage behind."