Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Macron Challenges the French Military-Industrial Complex; General Explodes: "I Won't Let Myself Be F***ed"

Gone.
France's armed forces chief, Pierre de Villiers, resigned this morning in a dispute with French President Emmanuel Macron over defense budget cuts.

"In the current circumstances I see myself as no longer able to guarantee the robust defense force I believe is necessary to guarantee the protection of France and the French people, today and tomorrow, and to sustain the aims of our country," Villiers said in a statement.

According to Reuters,  at a closed-door hearing of parliamentarians, de Villiers used strong language to protest a 850 million euro ($980 million) defense budget cut.

Here's Reuters with the play-by-play:
According to sources at the hearing, he also gave a stark warning about their impact; "There is no fat in our army. We are attacking the muscle here - and this as the security situation worsens," he told the lawmakers.
Macron quickly fired back with a rebuke, saying: "I have made commitments. I am your boss."
Telrus adds: "I won't let myself be fucked like that," de Villiers said according to two parliamentary sources. "I may be stupid, but I know when I am being had."

"If the military chief of staff and the president are opposed on something, the military chief of staff goes," Macron told Le Journal du Dimanche.

Macron quickly replaced de Villiers by appointing General Francois Lecointre to fill the role. He served in Rwanda in 1994 and as part of the United Nations force in Bosnia in 1995. In 2013, he commanded a European military training mission in Mali.

 -RW

5 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Nobody wants that hat.

      Delete
    2. Once you get past the fondant, I'm sure it's delicious.

      Delete
  2. Maybe a smaller military budget will result in less overseas French military adventures and will keep the people of France safer. Less blowback!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rob Goldstone wants that hat.

    ReplyDelete