More on the August 18 French-Taliban fight

Remember that story about the 10 Frenchmen who were killed in Afghanistan last month?

Well, Canada's Globe and Mail has more on the story, and it's not good.

The French did not have enough bullets, radios and other equipment, the report said. The troops were forced to abandon a counterattack when the weapons on their vehicles ran out of ammunition only 90 minutes into a battle that stretched over two days.

Graeme Smith, the journalist, seems to have gotten a great scoop here. His story is supported by my demi-god Michael Yon. It looks like there's a few bits to point out:

1. The French were woefully supplied and utterly defeated in this fight. They lacked ammunition, they lacked protection. Smith hints at the awful possibility that the French troops were captured and executed at close range. 

2. The Taliban have armor-piercing bullets and accurate snipers now. They've had time and sanctuary to train, no doubt. It's also difficult to suggest that this was a pure Taliban attack. The Smith article mentions Hekmatyar, and suggests other thuglords from lawless Pakistan might have contributed fighters or materiel. Thanks, "ally." Keep this in mind next time you whine about your "national sovereignty" in the FATA, and save yourself the trouble of complaining.

3. Amazingly, this could have been even worse. Both Yon and Smith report that the French were saved by international troops, possibly U.S. Special Forces. Too many died, but many more should have been killed, given the ingredients of the ambush: undersupplied and surprised NATO force against well-stocked and improved Taliban.

4. We got a looooong way to go on the ANA front. Apparently, the dozen-or-so Afghan troops simply ran away on foot from the battle. This is going to take years to change.

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I'll say it again, Europe has to decide soon: they make the effort to win the war in Afghanistan, or they get the hell out, if only for their own troops sake.

Sarkozy and the French Defense minister have responded quickly and strongly to this incident, with Sarkozy visiting troops and the defense minister exhorting Europe to increase involvement in region. Good for them. As we learn more about the August 18 attack, such a reaction seems more reasonable. No matter a political leader's posturing, none save KJ-Il would wish the troops harm. Hopefully all the talk leads to longer-termed commitments from our European allies.