Comments on: Working with the French Army

By: Mchess

Mchess — Wed, 19 May 2021 19:57:53 +0000

About the french army and the “miracle” of Dunkirk

By: Alain Letort

Alain Letort — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 21:26:14 +0000

In reply to chrishernandezauthor. No problem, Chris, you are most welcome ! And may I say that you, and your French former comrades, *rock* ? Thanks for everything, merci pour tout, Alain in Washington, D.C.

By: chrishernandezauthor

chrishernandezauthor — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 14:52:58 +0000

In reply to Alain Letort. Alain, That is interesting, thank you. And thank you for your prior comments as well. Sorry, I’ve been busy as hell with life lately and haven’t been able to write or comment like I used to.

By: Alain Letort

Alain Letort — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 05:36:53 +0000

Chris, I was interested in your comment about the Italian government making payments to the Taliban in order to avoid trouble for Italian troops serving in Afghanistan. I just found on the Internet evidence supporting your assertion. The newspaper “The Australian,”writing on August 12, 2011, wrote that according to leaked U.S. diplomatic cables, President George W. Bush made a personal plea to Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi to stop Italian forces paying bribes to the Taliban in Afghanistan. The U.S. Ambassador to Rome also raised this issue with Berlusconi, who did not deny that such payments had been made.

Moreover, the Italian news magazine “L’Espresso” has quoted sources from within SISMI, the Italian military intelligence agency, who claimed that the Italian Government signed off payments to warlords and insurgents. You can read all about this at https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/politics-news/us-president-bush-begged-italian-pm-berlusconi-to-stop-bribing-the-taliban-in-afghanistan/news-story/74eec50f1342c231fb732e2efac2bf4b. Best regards, Alain, Washington, D.C.

By: Alain Letort

Alain Letort — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 04:45:06 +0000

As a French-American dual national, I would like to thank you, Chris, for this amazing tribute to the French Marines alongside whom you fought so bravely in Afghanistan. By the end of your story I was sobbing uncontrollably. I bow low before your — and their — valor, bravery, and selfless dedication. Honor and deepest respect to you all. Thank you very much for defending us and our shared values !

En tant que double national franco-américain, je voudrais vous remercier, Chris, pour cet hommage époustouflant aux militaires français aux côtés desquels vous avez combattu si vaillamment en Afghanistan. A la fin de votre récit, je ne parvenais plus à étouffer mes sanglots. Je m’incline très bas devant votre — et leur — bravoure, vaillance et abnégation. Honneur et respect le plus profond à vous tous ! Merci beaucoup de nous défendre, nous et nos valeurs communes !

A Foreign Service retiree in Washington, D.C. | Un retraité du Départment d’État à Washington, D.C.