Hollande stands by pledge to pull troops from Afghanistan

President Barack Obama meets with French President Francois Hollande in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Friday, May 18, 2012.

/ Pool,AP Photo/Eric Feferberg

(CBS News) Newly-inaugurated French President Francois Hollande stood by his campaign promise to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012 at the White House Friday, though he vowed to "continue to support Afghanistan in a different way."

Hollande, who was elected less than two weeks ago, made the comments during a brief appearance with President Obama in the Oval Office ahead of the Group of Eight (G-8) and NATO summits. Under his predecessor, Nikolas Sarkozy, France had initially planned to keep troops from Afghanistan through 2014.

Hollande vowed during his campaign to remove all 3,300 French troops from Afghanistan, but he later softened that to say that all "combat units" would be out by the end of the year. On Friday in the Oval Office, he vowed to find the "right means" by which to France can "continue and comply" with its in-country commitments.

On Thursday, President Obama's national security adviser Tom Donilon said this "different" French commitment in Afghanistan will be a topic of discussion at the NATO summit, to be held in Chicago on Sunday and Monday. He did not rule out the possibility that France would adopt something like the training-focused role for troops the U.S. plans to adopt after its combat troops leave the country 2014.

In conjunction with his first meeting with Hollande Friday, Mr. Obama said the two agreed that "even as we transition out of a combat phase in Afghanistan... it's important that we sustain our commitment to helping Afghans build security and continue down the path to development."

He also said resolution of the Eurozone crisis is of "extraordinary importance," adding that a "strong growth agenda" will be the focus at this weekend's G-8 Summit at Camp David. His French counterpart agreed, pushing for both growth and a resolution that keeps Greece in the Eurozone. Mr. Obama is expected to push German Chancellor Angela Merkel to move away from austerity measures and toward stimulus spending during the summit, a position shared by Hollande.

At the end of the appearance, Mr. Obama joked about Hollande's foray studying fast food on a business grant in the United States years ago, and said he looked forward to "his views on cheeseburgers in Chicago."

"Cheeseburgers go very well with French Fries," he added with a smile.

[Molly-Pchr]

What the H#ll does "continue down the path to development" mean? With whose money? Such nonsense. Their development doesn't ensure the safety of Americans on American soil. This is nuts.

[nohater]

just some 3K french troops, combat or not, can be withdrawn sooner than eoy. USA should withdraw all troops, combat or not, by eoy too. obama just signed an agreement with karzai that the USA would support afghans for the next 10 years. the USA is not done with them thanks to obama. taxpayer monies will be used by obama to float afghanistan and no doubt troops if needed. obama has got to be voted out of office.

[wizardlady]

Who do you think got us involved in this "MESS"? Presently our population is suffering from 'amnesia' for their short-term memory only goes back to 2008, and everything bad about 2000-2008 is totally forgotten.

NO, this country does not need anymore REPUBLICANS, but it DOES need leadership that keeps its promises.

[jbrote47]

Interesting to see two socialists set down and figure out how to really demean the deaths of those already killed in Afganistan.

[redbeachvn]

Your argument was used toward the end of Vietnam War and the over whelming response was better to cut our loss at 57K dead than 60,000. Same applies to the useless and expensive Afghan War. You may be interested to know 1.2 trillion dollar debt that Chinese owe is roughly the combined cost of Iraq and Afghan wars. 40Watt George and Chaney, the Draft Dodger, though the cost of Iraq War would be 60 billion or less. Go Figure. Oh, by the way, Afghans love us over there so much so that their police and army troops are killing our GIs.

[robert1129]

France the right idea. Let's follow its lead and get out by the end of 2012. Certainly by the end of 2013. Whatever is going to happen whenever we do leave will happen anyway no matter what year we leave.

[sdemaggie]

Boy, from look on BO's face he didn't get his way. I'm with the French-all American troops out this year.

[hypnotoad72]

The photographer gets kudos for some very interesting timing.

Was it Obama's photographer, or someone else's?

[hypnotoad72]

And, yes, I read the tagline under the photo... so, no, your first guess is wrong and I do have an ulterior motive...

[steph20ld]

are you sure that france has done nothing in afghanistan since 2001 ? 90 soldiers dead is it nothing ?
with sarkosy we would stay until 2014 but the new president has decided to leave in 2012 for the combat troops . the others will stay . and we ' ll help after 2014 the afghanistan . canada has already leave ...

[Anotheryahoo]

True what a total waste of our tax dollars, The republican Congress loves endless war with our tax dollars, the democrats love endless social programs with our tax dollars. They take turns blowing every single dollar our kids will ever make. Both partys are a disgrace.

[hypnotoad72]

Democrats love giving endless social programs our tax dollars...

Republicans love giving offshoring corporationsd our tax dollars...

Wait, who are the communists again?

[roth5101]

US should do the same - get out in 2012, The sooner the better.