Stardate 20011004.1250 (On Screen): The contribution of
one frigate to participate in US fleet activity in the Indian Ocean next to Pakistan does not give the French veto power or necessarily even consultation on any attack we might launch. French Defense Minister Richard apparently hasn't twigged to the fact that he and his nation are not yet involved in this; this is, so far, a US war and not a NATO war, and we'll attack when we feel ready to do so, and not when we get permission from NATO to do so. Richard may find out about the attack the same way the rest of us will, by reading the newspapers. As to "haste",
lead, follow, or get out of the way. (discussion in progress)Update: And if Richard was privy to our war planning, he probably won't be any longer. It is not generally a good idea to let your enemy know ahead of time that you're not actually ready to attack. "OK, Taliban, you've got several weeks yet to prepare." Thanks heaps, buster. Of course, a different possibility is that this is deliberate misinformation, intended to lull the Taliban. I, myself, wouldn't be surprised if bombing began within a week. The situation inside Afghanistan appears to be near crisis, and it might not take much of a nudge for things to fall apart completely.
