csua.org/u/d6g -> news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050828/ap_on_re_eu/france_us_allies_again_1
French fighters have been flying sorties under US command in Afghanista n since Aug. France has kept about 900 troops in Afghanistan since 2003, including 200 Special Forces soldiers fighting alongside the Americans. Its air force periodically has joined the US-led coalition since taking its biggest role in the war's opening weeks in 2002, when France had 5,500 troops i n the region. "It's France's wish to show that we are cooperating in the fight against terror and in support of you in Afghanistan," said French Air Force Col. Gilles Michel, who oversees his country's air force role in the theater . "We had a very clear position when it comes to Iraq," the Paris-based off icial said.
Since earlier this month, French Mirage-2000 fighters have been flying al ongside US Air Force A-10 Warthogs to assist American and Afghan groun d troops near Kabul, Ghazni, Delaram and Qalat, said Capt. David Small, spokesman for US Central Command Air Forces in Qatar. Mirage F1-CR fighters also are handling reconnaissance missions, shooting intelligence video and imagery for targeting purposes, while French car go planes supply bases in the theater. A pair of French C-135 tanker planes, a version of the Boeing 707, are ru nning air-to-air refueling for Mirages and Belgian and Dutch F-16s. By m onth's end, French tankers also will be refueling US A-10s, said Miche l "From the US side, having their different types of aircraft at our disp osal certainly benefits us," Small said. Having the Mirages there also provides a differe nt skill set." France's current deployment is its largest since the Afghan campaign's ea rly days, Michel said from Afghanistan's Bagram air base. It includes so me 500 French pilots, air controllers and ground crew who arrived this m onth at US-operated bases in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Q atar. But even as it takes a larger role alongside the United States in Afghani stan, France has not diluted its opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq, a policy that enraged Americans and led to boycotts of French prod ucts. The bad blood even harmed military ties, especially after US Defense Se cretary Donald Rumsfeld derided France as part of "old Europe." Now, at the military and political levels, Paris and Washington are dusting off their old friendship, said the Brookings Institution's Michael O'Hanlon. "US-France military ties have always been good, except for a brief peri od when Rumsfeld sought payback over Iraq," O'Hanlon said. "And more gen erally, there's even an effort to mend fences at a political level." French and US officials make clear that France still takes no direct ro le in Iraq. But the French-led sea patrols between Pakistan and the Horn of Africa in directly bolster the US mission there by preventing sea-borne aid for Iraqi insurgents or Gulf-based terrorists allied with them.
Iran and Pakistan, halting suspect vessels heading for the Strait of Hormuz, w hich guards the entrance to the Persian Gulf and Iraq. France's current command of the naval task force, which is under overall US control, is its third. Warships from Germany, Pakistan, Canada, Bri tain and the United States also participate in three regional task force s France's air force deployment in Afghanistan started Aug. It also incr eased its role in the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom, putting aircr aft under US command when they are available. None of the six Mirage 2000 pilots flying close air support for US grou nd troops have dropped bombs since they started flying eight to 10 weekl y missions Aug.
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