Quote:
Originally Posted by MarquezRazor
4.During the build-up the French defence minister was jean piere Chevenement who appeared to have a sympathy for Iraq and asked the French allied commander to pass on all the allied planned decisions to Paris.the defence minister,at that time was also the chairman of France-Iraq Friendship Society!  So the french commander,General Michel Roquejoffre was excluded from all planning councils.Later the defence minister was replaced by Peirre Joxe when this situation ended. 
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I doubt that actually happened, Gen Roquejoffre not being in on the planning.
The 6th Light Armored Div, with the 82d Airborne's 2d Bde attached,
were the extreme left flank of the "Left Hook". They had some mission critical task (As-Salman airbase in Iraq)that you don't just wing-it.
Also French AF planes were integrated in the ATO and flew CAS and reconnaissance missions.
If they did that without being in on the planning, All I can say is that they must have one heck of a military.
The hang up had nothing to do with the French military "Spying" for the Iraqis. There was disagreement on French troops being under US Command. This was the First time that French Soldiers had deployed (except FFL) outside of the home country. Same argument that they had about NATO control of French troops.
Lots of talk between the 2 Presidents which was OBE when Gen Roquejoffre placed his Units under Stormin Norman.