Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan UPDATE: Santorum DEMOTES Nicolas Sarkozy from PRESIDENT to PRIME MINSITER.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Santorum: Obama makes US 'less safe'
By NBC's Andrew Rafferty

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/18/10440251-santorum-obama-makes-us-less-safe



He was especially critical of the president's relationship with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, saying the European country has done little help America over the past two decades.

"He actually went to France a year or so ago and was with Nicolas Sarkozy and said that, 'Here I am with the French Prime Minister, our best ally in the world.' Now think about this. Name one time in the last 20 years that the French stood by us with anything," Santorum said.

"But in Barack Obama's eyes, that makes them our best ally, because they fought what was in the best interest of our country."

Sarkozy is actually France's president, not prime minister.

[Scuba]

1. Yeah, but he can name ALL the Popes!

[JackintheGreen]

2. Dunno how much of a demotion it is

The PM of India is MUCH more powerful than the president.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. But the French PM is not; he is appointed by the President

to be someone who has support of the majority in parliament (they can chuck him out with a vote). The PM doesn't even need to be in Parliament - de Villepin, PM from 2005 to 2007, was a career diplomat who never ran in any election.

[tanyev]

3. Um...does Afghanistan count, Ricky?

French forces in Afghanistan have been involved in the ongoing War in Afghanistan since late 2001. They operate within two distinct frameworks:
the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), carried out by NATO on a United Nations mandate
"Operation Enduring Freedom", under US command, as part of the so-called "War on Terror".

French forces have contributed to both chapters in several national operations:
Opération Pamir with the ISAF,
Opération Héraklès for the naval and air components
Opération Épidote for training of the Afghan Army
Opération Arès for special operations within "Operation Enduring Freedom"

As of 1 November 2009, 4,000 French personnel were deployed in Afghanistan, including the air support of Combined Task Force 150 in the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, 150 gendarmes were deployed in late 2009.

Operations in 2009 alone cost 450 million Euros, amounting to over half the 870 million Euros devoted to military operations abroad. 82 men have been killed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_forces_in_Afghanistan