Controversy Over Afghan Ambush Erupts Between France and Italy

Le Monde's Natalie Nougayrède brings us an article concerning the Afghans' alleged hostility against French troops, while Jacques Follorou points out that the battle deaths of a dozen French soldiers in an ambush last year has led to controversy between the French and the Italians, who were in the area previous to the French taking over.

According to the Times of London, the French let down their guard because the Italians had not informed them that if the area seemed peaceful, it was because they were paying bribes to the local Taliban chieftans. Conversely, gli Italiani failed to inform the local Talibans that they were going to be replaced by the French, and the latter's patrols were seen as a break in the agreement…

Besides being fairly insulting to les Ritals, Le Monde's readers included one saying that we might as well replace Hervé Morin (the defense minister) with Jean Sarkozy…