French soldiers unprepared for Taliban ambush

I guess this is what can happen when your military avoids international conflict.

No shit Sherlock.....BTW did you check out the graphics on the battle?

I did.

Oh come on. They weren't supplied with enough ammo and radios? Nice freaking job. God I feel sorry for those guys if they have to fight like that. Plus, aren't the French one of the better equipped armies of the world?

(Sarcasm)
"Come on.. we're the French army. These rebels will run away when they see us comming. "

Eisensapper is right.

I have a feeling when they arrived at the village the word "Ambush" didnt come to mind. The Taliban probably literally saw them coming from miles away got into position and waited. It sounds like the French were completely unprepared, and I hate to say this but, this would have never happened if Canadian Soldiers were sent in. These are the hard lessons the French will learn by being the tip of the spear. I hope that their government gives them the proper support they need from now on.

well at least they weren't sitting around the campfire with elders and then have one of them decide to bury a hatchet in someone's head.

ummm ok...

No idea what you are talking about, or where that came from?

I'm just saying that over there you need o think of almost any place as a possible site for an attack/ambush. The reference to the hatchet was from last year when that Captain(can't remember his name) was sitting down to discuss matters with some village elders. Out of the blue, one of them jumped out of the crowd and buried an axe in his skull, which he thanfully survived. Part of the French problem may have been that they assumed they were safe, and became lax. Is anywhere truly safe there?

I was in Somalia in the late 80s and early 90s as a non combatant, and I learned to think of nowherre as safe....not even the schools I worked in.

Lieut. Trevor Greene

I remember that now, from what I was told the officer asked his close protection to wait outside while the shura (sp) was going on. He sat down removed his helmet, then one of the mullahs pulled out a hatchet and stuck him. Seconds later the cp rushed in and double tapped the assailant. I think the officer has permanent brain damage now and will need a care taker for the rest of his life. PENITRATOR would know more about this then I would though.

Still though, if I rolled into the place the French were at I would have been thinking ambush. You get calls that the Taliban are at a hamlet, and when you show up the hamlet is deserted? Not to mention the high points on either side of the hamlet. Again this is due to inexperience with combat, give the french a couple of years in Afghanistan and they should be good to go.

My experiences with the French military have never been good.

Do tell